Moving to Hong Kong from Spain

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Spain to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 62.3% more expensive than Spain overall. A €67,000 salary in Spain would need to be roughly HK$956,000 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hong Kong averages 79°F vs 68°F in Madrid, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → HK$956,000

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 45.0% less

Groceries

pay 57.0% more

Transportation

pay 86.9% more

Housing

pay 2.1 times more

Childcare

pay 2.5 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 95.0% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 8.79 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
418 ↑ 4% vs 2015

people born in Spain 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 Spain to Hong Kong.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

ES
0.7
HK
0.4

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

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ES
4.5t
HK
4.6t

Spain performs better than Hong Kong across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ES
39.2
HK
40.3
Electricity per capita World Bank, 2024

annual consumption — reflects grid capacity

ES
5,196 kWh
HK
6,359 kWh

Hong Kong generally does better on infrastructure, though Spain leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

ES
10.4%
HK
2.8%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

ES
$38,627
HK
$56,983

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Spain across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

ES
83.9 yrs
HK
85.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ES
2.6
HK
2.5

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

Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), Agencia Tributaria, Spain (2016), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Madrid Rain: 16.6 in/yr (421 mm)
68° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Madrid Hong Kong
Jan–Mar 55°/40°F (13°/4°C) 68°/61°F (20°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) 83°/75°F (28°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/64°F (30°/18°C) 88°/80°F (31°/27°C)
Oct–Dec 58°/44°F (14°/7°C) 76°/68°F (24°/20°C)
View all months
Month Madrid Hong Kong
Jan 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C) 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C)
Feb 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C) 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C)
Mar 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C) 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C)
Apr 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C) 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C)
May 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C) 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C)
Jun 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C) 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C)
Jul 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C) 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C)
Aug 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C) 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C)
Sep 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C) 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C)
Oct 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C) 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C)
Nov 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C) 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C)
Dec 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C) 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C)

Data: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, Hong Kong Observatory Hong Kong Observatory

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Spain 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.

Spain passport

Spain passport holder visiting Hong Kong

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

Hong Kong passport holder visiting Spain

Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holders can enter Spain 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 Spain?

No — Hong Kong is on average about 62% more expensive than Spain. 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$239,000 in Hong Kong on a €67,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Hong Kong has 40.3 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 Spain across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Spain.

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

The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 68°F in Madrid. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Madrid gets 16.6 in.

What language do they speak in Hong Kong?

The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In Spain, the official languages are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish.

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At a Glance

ES HK
Population 49,355,143 7,498,900
Currency Euro (€) Hong Kong Dollar (HK$)
Languages Basque, Catalan, Galician, Spanish Chinese, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +34 +852
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 112 999