Moving to Hong Kong from United Kingdom
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from United Kingdom to Hong Kong — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 3.7% more expensive than United Kingdom overall. A £55,766 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly HK$737,095 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hong Kong averages 79°F vs 60°F in London, 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?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from United Kingdom to Hong Kong.
What does your salary buy?
£55,766 → HK$737,095
To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 42.3% less
Groceries
pay 45.1% more
Transportation
pay 1.3% more
Housing
pay 17.6% more
Childcare
pay 8.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.8% 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?
Real numbers on people moving from United Kingdom to Hong Kong, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How United Kingdom and Hong Kong stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than United Kingdom across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Hong Kong leads in electricity per capita.
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
Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in poverty 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 United Kingdom leads in education spending.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, 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 | London | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) |
Data:
Met Office,
Hong Kong Observatory
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.
United Kingdom passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holder visiting United Kingdom
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 United Kingdom?
Day-to-day costs in Hong Kong run about 25% higher than United Kingdom on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to Hong Kong?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a £55,766 comparable salary, that's around HK$184,274 in Hong Kong for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?
With 39.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Hong Kong can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in United Kingdom and Hong Kong.
Is Hong Kong safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs significantly better than United Kingdom across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 60°F in London. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Hong Kong?
The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
