Moving to Hong Kong from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Hong Kong? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 29.2% more expensive than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly HK$895,983 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hong Kong averages 79°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and Hong Kong.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$125,240 → HK$895,983
To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 38.5% less
Groceries
pay 37.5% more
Transportation
pay 30.9% more
Housing
pay 69.6% more
Childcare
pay 64.3% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 30.0% 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?
What the data shows about people moving from New Zealand to Hong Kong.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Hong Kong compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than New Zealand across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than New Zealand across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Hong Kong leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand leads in unemployment rate.
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 New Zealand leads in education spending.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Hong Kong Observatory
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 New Zealand?
On average Hong Kong is around 52% pricier than New Zealand, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Hong Kong?
Budget about HK$223,996 for 3 months in Hong Kong (based on a NZ$125,240 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?
Connectivity is usually fine (Hong Kong: 39.8 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 New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Hong Kong?
The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
