Moving to Hong Kong from United States
What to Expect
Considering a move from United States to Hong Kong? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United States to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 7.6% more expensive than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly HK$654,939 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hong Kong averages 79°F vs 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United States and Hong Kong.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → HK$654,939
To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 47.9% less
Groceries
pay 11.5% more
Transportation
pay 63.2% more
Housing
pay 2.7% more
Childcare
pay 14.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 18.7% 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 United States to Hong Kong.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Hong Kong compared to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than United States across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
United States 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
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Hong Kong leads in top income tax 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 States leads in education spending.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) |
National Weather Service
Hong Kong ObservatoryVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 States passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 States?
On average Hong Kong is around 11% pricier than United States, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Hong Kong?
Budget about HK$163,735 for 3 months in Hong Kong (based on a $75,000 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 United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Hong Kong?
The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In United States, the official language is English.
