Moving to Hong Kong from Minnesota

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Minnesota to Hong Kong — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Minnesota to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 14.4% more expensive than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly HK$831,945 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 56°F in Saint Paul, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Minnesota to Hong Kong.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 HK$831,945

To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 47.1% less

Groceries

pay 17.6% more

Transportation

pay 71.3% more

Housing

pay 28.1% more

Childcare

pay 9.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 15.3% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 7.84 HKD (July 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Minnesota to Hong Kong, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
13,827 ↑ 4% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Hong Kong · UN DESA

Who's moving to Hong Kong?

Top countries of origin for Hong Kong's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Minnesota and Hong Kong stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MN
91.0%
HK
93.0%

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Minnesota across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MN
4.3%
HK
3.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MN
$68,478
HK
$64,400

Minnesota generally does better on employment & economy, though Hong Kong leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MN
79.1 yrs
HK
83.6 yrs

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Minnesota 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.

Saint Paul Rain: 28.5 in/yr (724 mm)
56° / 38°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Saint Paul Hong Kong
Jan–Mar 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) 68°/61°F (20°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) 83°/75°F (28°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 88°/80°F (31°/27°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) 76°/68°F (24°/20°C)
View all months
Month Saint Paul Hong Kong
Jan 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C)
Feb 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C)
Mar 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C)
Apr 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C)
May 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C)
Jun 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C)
Jul 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C)
Aug 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C)
Oct 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C)
Nov 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C)
Dec 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Hong Kong Observatory Hong Kong Observatory

Visitor 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

United States passport holder visiting Hong Kong

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

Hong Kong passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Hong Kong passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 Minnesota?

Day-to-day costs in Hong Kong run about 42% higher than Minnesota 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$207,986 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 Minnesota and Hong Kong.

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

The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 56°F in Saint Paul. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Saint Paul gets 28.5 in.

What language do they speak in Hong Kong?

The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In Minnesota, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

HK
Population 5,303,925 7,276,588
Currency United States Dollar ($) Hong Kong Dollar (HK$)
Languages English Chinese, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +852
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 999