Moving to Turkey from Hong Kong
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Hong Kong to Turkey — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 61.1% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly TRY1,450,000 in Turkey to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Turkish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Istanbul averages 65°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Turkey cheaper than Hong Kong?
The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 2.8% less
Groceries
pay 66.3% less
Transportation
pay 50.8% less
Housing
pay 76.9% less
Childcare
pay 43.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 54.8% 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.
What salary do you need in Turkey?
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → TRY1,450,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Turkey
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Hong Kong to Turkey, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Hong Kong and Turkey stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Turkey across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs better than Turkey 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 Turkey 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 Turkey leads in poverty rate.
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 performs better than Turkey across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016), Revenue Administration, Government of Turkey (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Turkey vs Hong Kong
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 49°/38°F (10°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 71°/54°F (21°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 60°/48°F (16°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 48°/37°F (8.7°/2.9°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 48°/37°F (9.1°/2.8°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 52°/39°F (11.2°/3.9°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 62°/46°F (16.5°/7.7°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.0°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 79°/61°F (26.0°/16.0°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.5°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 83°/66°F (28.5°/18.7°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.5°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 68°/54°F (20.1°/12.0°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 60°/47°F (15.3°/8.5°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 52°/42°F (11.1°/5.3°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Turkish State Meteorological Service
Can you move from Hong Kong to Turkey?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and Turkey. To live, work, or study long-term in Turkey, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Turkey's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Turkey
Visa Free
Turkey 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 Turkey than Hong Kong?
Generally yes: Turkey runs about 61% cheaper than Hong Kong on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Turkey?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a HK$590,000 comparable salary, that's around TRY362,500 in Turkey for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Turkey?
With 23.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Turkey can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Hong Kong and Turkey.
Is Turkey safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Turkey across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Turkey is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Turkey compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Istanbul is 65°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Istanbul receives around 26.7 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Turkey?
The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
