Moving to Hong Kong from Netherlands

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Netherlands to Hong Kong — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Netherlands to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 0.9% more expensive than Netherlands overall. A €64,304 salary in Netherlands would need to be roughly HK$667,442 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hong Kong averages 79°F vs 56°F in Amsterdam, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Netherlands to Hong Kong.

What does your salary buy?

€64,304 HK$667,442

To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 59.9% less

Groceries

pay 27.4% more

Transportation

pay 9.4% less

Housing

pay 8.3% more

Childcare

pay 32.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 16.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 9.14 HKD (June 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?

How many people actually move from Netherlands to Hong Kong, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
1,063 ↑ 4% vs 2015

people born in Netherlands 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Netherlands to Hong Kong.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.8
HK
0.4

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

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
HK
4.6t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NL
44.4
HK
39.8
Electricity per capita World Bank, 2023

annual consumption — reflects grid capacity

NL
6,189 kWh
HK
6,375 kWh

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NL
3.6%
HK
3.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
HK
$64,400

Netherlands generally does better on employment & economy, though Hong Kong leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NL
82.2 yrs
HK
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
HK
2.5

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

Data: Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Hong Kong
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 68°/61°F (20°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 83°/75°F (28°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 88°/80°F (31°/27°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 76°/68°F (24°/20°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Hong Kong
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Hong Kong Observatory Hong Kong Observatory

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Netherlands 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.

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Hong Kong

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

Hong Kong passport holder visiting Netherlands

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

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 Netherlands?

No — Hong Kong is on average about 14% more expensive than Netherlands. City-level variation matters.

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

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly HK$166,860 in Hong Kong on a €64,304 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Hong Kong has 39.8 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 Hong Kong safe for expats?

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Netherlands across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.

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

The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Hong Kong?

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

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At a Glance

NL HK
Population 17,400,824 7,276,588
Currency Euro (€) Hong Kong Dollar (HK$)
Languages Dutch Chinese, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +31 +852
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 999