Moving to United States from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Hong Kong to United States — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Hong Kong to United States, you would find that United States is 9.4% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly $68,100 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°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 States.
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → $68,100
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.1 times more
Groceries
pay 7.7% less
Transportation
pay 45.3% less
Housing
pay 14.1% less
Childcare
pay 16.3% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 19.0% 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 States, based on official data.
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
37.230,584
Hong Kong
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Hong Kong to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than United States across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs better than United States 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 States leads in electricity per capita.
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 States 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 States leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook (2010–2022), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016), Internal Revenue Service (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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Hong Kong Observatory
National Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 States than Hong Kong?
Yes — United States is on average about 9% cheaper than Hong Kong. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $17,025 in United States 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 States?
Internet is rarely the blocker — United States has 38.9 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 States safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 5.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in United States compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
