Moving to Hong Kong from Switzerland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Switzerland to Hong Kong? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Switzerland to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 31.8% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF60,598 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly HK$460,385 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 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.
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 Switzerland and Hong Kong.
What does your salary buy?
CHF60,598 → HK$460,385
To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 72.9% less
Groceries
pay 16.6% less
Transportation
pay 18.8% less
Housing
pay 8.5% less
Childcare
pay 47.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 18.3% less
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 Switzerland to Hong Kong.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Hong Kong compared to Switzerland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Switzerland across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Switzerland performs better than Hong Kong across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Switzerland performs better than Hong Kong across all infrastructure metrics.
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
share of people below the poverty line
Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Hong Kong 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 Switzerland leads in education spending.
Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, 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 | Bern | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
Hong Kong Observatory
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa FreeData: 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 Switzerland?
On average Hong Kong is about 22% less expensive than Switzerland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Hong Kong?
Budget about HK$115,096 for 3 months in Hong Kong (based on a CHF60,598 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 Switzerland across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland.
What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Hong Kong?
The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
