Moving to Hong Kong from Sri Lanka

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sri Lanka to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 8.5 times more expensive than Sri Lanka overall. A LKR25,173,710 salary in Sri Lanka would need to be roughly HK$1,706,742 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese and English.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.

What does your salary buy?

LKR25,173,710 HK$1,706,742

To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.0 times more

Groceries

pay 2.2 times more

Transportation

pay 3.9 times more

Housing

pay 6.2 times more

Childcare

pay 39.2 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.2 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 LKR = 0.0234 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.

Get free moving quotes to Hong Kong

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Sri Lanka to Hong Kong.

Living there in 2020
815 ↑ 4% vs 2015

people born in Sri Lanka 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

The numbers behind daily life in Hong Kong compared to Sri Lanka.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LK
3.4
HK
0.4

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Sri Lanka across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LK
1.1t
HK
4.6t

Sri Lanka performs better than Hong Kong 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

LK
10.1
HK
39.8
Electricity per capita World Bank, 2022

annual consumption — reflects grid capacity

LK
684 kWh
HK
6,375 kWh

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Sri Lanka across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LK
6.4%
HK
3.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LK
$13,000
HK
$64,400

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LK
77.5 yrs
HK
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LK
8.2
HK
2.5

Hong Kong performs significantly better than Sri Lanka across all family life metrics.

Data: Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Colombo Rain: 99.4 in/yr (2524 mm)
87° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Colombo Hong Kong
Jan–Mar 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) 68°/61°F (20°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) 83°/75°F (28°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) 88°/80°F (31°/27°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) 76°/68°F (24°/20°C)
View all months
Month Colombo Hong Kong
Jan 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C)
Feb 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C)
Mar 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C)
Apr 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C)
May 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C)
Jun 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C)
Sep 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C)
Oct 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C)
Nov 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C)
Dec 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C) 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C)

Data: National Meteorological Centre National Meteorological Centre, Hong Kong Observatory Hong Kong Observatory

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sri Lanka 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.

Sri Lanka passport

Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Hong Kong

Visa Required
Sri Lanka passport holders need a visa to enter Hong Kong.
Hong Kong passport

Hong Kong passport holder visiting Sri Lanka

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

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 Sri Lanka?

On average Hong Kong is around 190% pricier than Sri Lanka, with notable variation by city.

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

Budget about HK$426,686 for 3 months in Hong Kong (based on a LKR25,173,710 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: 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 Sri Lanka across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.4 in Sri Lanka.

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

The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 87°F in Colombo. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Colombo gets 99.4 in.

What language do they speak in Hong Kong?

The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In Sri Lanka, the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.

Share this

At a Glance

LK HK
Population 23,187,516 7,276,588
Currency Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) Hong Kong Dollar (HK$)
Languages Sinhala, Tamil Chinese, English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +94 +852
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119 999