Moving to Hong Kong from Israel

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Israel to Hong Kong? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Israel to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong costs about the same as Israel overall. A ₪230,000 salary in Israel would need to be roughly HK$581,000 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese and English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Is Hong Kong cheaper than Israel?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 64.6% less

Groceries

pay 15.5% more

Transportation

pay 9.3% more

Housing

pay 30.5% more

Childcare

pay 10.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 0.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ILS = 2.53 HKD (October 2026)

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 Hong Kong?

What does your salary buy?

₪230,000 → HK$581,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong

Calculate with your salary →

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Hong Kong compared to Israel.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

IL
1.6
HK
0.4

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Israel across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IL
5.8t
HK
4.6t

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Israel across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IL
29.2
HK
40.3
Electricity per capita World Bank, 2024

annual consumption — reflects grid capacity

IL
7,186 kWh
HK
6,359 kWh

Hong Kong generally does better on infrastructure, though Israel leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

IL
3.5%
HK
2.8%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

IL
$60,337
HK
$56,983

Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though Israel leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

IL
83.2 yrs
HK
85.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IL
2.7
HK
2.5

Hong Kong generally does better on family life, though Israel leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2014–2022), Israel Ministry of Finance Tax Authority (2016), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Hong Kong vs Israel

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Jerusalem Rain: 21.1 in/yr (537 mm)
72° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Hong Kong Rain: 95.7 in/yr (2431 mm)
79° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jerusalem Hong Kong
Jan–Mar 58°/46°F (15°/8°C) 68°/61°F (20°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/60°F (25°/15°C) 83°/75°F (28°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/67°F (29°/20°C) 88°/80°F (31°/27°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/55°F (20°/13°C) 76°/68°F (24°/20°C)
View all months
Month Jerusalem Hong Kong
Jan 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C) 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C)
Feb 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C) 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C)
Mar 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C) 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C)
Apr 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C) 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C) 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C)
Jun 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C) 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C)
Jul 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C) 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C)
Aug 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C) 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C)
Sep 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C) 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C)
Oct 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C) 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C)
Nov 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C) 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C)
Dec 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C) 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C)

Data: Israel Meteorological Service Israel Meteorological Service, Hong Kong Observatory Hong Kong Observatory

Can you move from Israel to Hong Kong?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Israel 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.

Israel passport

Israel passport holder visiting Hong Kong

Visa Free
Israel passport holders can enter Hong Kong without a visa.
Hong Kong passport

Hong Kong passport holder visiting Israel

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Hong Kong passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Israel.

Data: 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 Israel?

Hong Kong and Israel are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.

How much money do I need to move to Hong Kong?

Budget about HK$145,250 for 3 months in Hong Kong (based on a ₪230,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?

Connectivity is usually fine (Hong Kong: 40.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Hong Kong offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Hong Kong safe for expats?

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Israel across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in Israel.

What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to Israel?

The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 72°F in Jerusalem. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Jerusalem gets 21.1 in.

What language do they speak in Hong Kong?

The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In Israel, the official languages are Arabic and Hebrew.

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At a Glance

IL HK
Population 10,122,800 7,498,900
Currency Israeli New Sheqel (₪) Hong Kong Dollar (HK$)
Languages Arabic, Hebrew Chinese, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +972 +852
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 100 999