Moving to Hong Kong from Illinois
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Illinois to Hong Kong — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Illinois to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 10.8% more expensive than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly HK$831,906 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hong Kong averages 79°F vs 63°F in Springfield, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Illinois to Hong Kong.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → HK$831,906
To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 44.2% less
Groceries
pay 23.2% more
Transportation
pay 64.8% more
Housing
pay 18.9% more
Childcare
pay 20.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.9% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Illinois to Hong Kong, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Illinois and Hong Kong stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Illinois across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Illinois generally does better on employment & economy, though Hong Kong leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Illinois across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Springfield | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) |
National Weather Service
Hong Kong ObservatoryVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Hong Kong. To live, work, or study long-term in Hong Kong, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Hong Kong's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Hong Kong than Illinois?
Day-to-day costs in Hong Kong run about 41% higher than Illinois on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to Hong Kong?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around HK$207,976 in Hong Kong for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?
Working remotely from Hong Kong's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Hong Kong?
The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In Illinois, the official language is English.
