Moving to United Kingdom from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Hong Kong to United Kingdom — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Hong Kong to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 15.0% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly £48,200 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°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 ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Hong Kong to United Kingdom.
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → £48,200
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.0 times more
Groceries
pay 35.2% less
Transportation
pay 20.2% less
Housing
pay 28.0% less
Childcare
pay 18.3% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 13.6% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Hong Kong to United Kingdom, based on official data.
people born in Hong Kong live in United Kingdom · UN DESA
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Hong Kong to United Kingdom.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than United Kingdom across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United Kingdom 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 generally does better on infrastructure, though United Kingdom leads in broadband per 100 people.
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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016), HM Revenue & Customs (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 | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Met Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom than Hong Kong?
Yes — United Kingdom is on average about 15% cheaper than Hong Kong. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly £12,050 in United Kingdom on a HK$590,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?
Internet is rarely the blocker — United Kingdom has 42.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is United Kingdom safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than United Kingdom across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
