Moving to Switzerland from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hong Kong to Switzerland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 89.8% more expensive than Hong Kong overall. A HK$588,026 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly CHF77,398 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°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 Switzerland.
What does your salary buy?
HK$588,026 → CHF77,398
To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.8 times more
Groceries
pay 43.7% more
Transportation
pay 65.8% more
Housing
pay 36.8% more
Childcare
pay 2.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 30.3% more
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 Switzerland compared to Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Switzerland across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Switzerland 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
Switzerland performs significantly better than Hong Kong 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 generally does better on employment & economy, though Switzerland leads in gdp per capita.
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 Switzerland leads in education spending.
Data: Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa Free
Switzerland 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 Switzerland than Hong Kong?
On average Switzerland is around 28% pricier than Hong Kong, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?
Budget about CHF19,350 for 3 months in Switzerland (based on a HK$588,026 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Switzerland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Switzerland: 47.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Switzerland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Switzerland safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Switzerland across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
