Moving to Spain from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hong Kong to Spain? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Spain, you would find that Spain is 38.4% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly €41,300 in Spain to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Madrid averages 68°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Hong Kong and Spain.
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → €41,300
To maintain the same standard of living in Spain
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 81.7% more
Groceries
pay 36.3% less
Transportation
pay 46.5% less
Housing
pay 52.8% less
Childcare
pay 59.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 48.7% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Spain compared to Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Spain across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Spain performs significantly better than Hong Kong across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Hong Kong performs better than Spain across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Hong Kong performs better than Spain across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Hong Kong generally does better on family life, though Spain leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016), Agencia Tributaria, Spain (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 55°/40°F (13°/4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 58°/44°F (14°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and Spain. To live, work, or study long-term in Spain, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Spain's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Spain
Visa Free
Spain passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Spain than Hong Kong?
On average Spain is about 38% less expensive than Hong Kong, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Spain?
Budget about €10,325 for 3 months in Spain (based on a HK$590,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Spain?
Connectivity is usually fine (Spain: 39.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Spain offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Spain safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Spain across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Spain is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Spain compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Madrid is 68°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Madrid receives around 16.6 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Spain?
The official languages in Spain are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
