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Asia · Cantonese, English · updated 2026-10

Moving to Hong Kong: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $3,500 a month to live in Hong Kong, and a family of four about $7,200, including rent. Hong Kong usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 7 yrs, with citizenship by naturalisation is very rare. You can move here without a job offer through the Top Talent Pass Scheme and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.

Monthly budget
$3,500
Very high cost
Safety
87
Very safe
Stability
80
Very stable
Family
90
Excellent
Main city
Hong Kong
Language
Cantonese, English
Permanent residence
7 yrs
Citizenship
Very rare
Dual citizenship
Not allowed
Digital nomad visa
No
What can your passport do in Hong Kong?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
Open the interactive index →

Cost of living in Hong Kong, per month in US$

One person
$3,500
Family of four
$7,200
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Hong Kong centre
$2,400
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$4,450
Estimate
Price level
74
US = 100
Income per person
$5,208
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
87
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.38
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.77
Rule of law+0.94
Control of corruption+1.64
Government effectiveness+1.54
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (80/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
90
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.813
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
n/a
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
85.4 yrs
at birth
Health spending
n/a
per person / year
Education spending
3.8%
of GDP

Visa & residence routes

Talent
Top Talent Pass SchemeHK$2.5M+ annual income, or a degree from a top-100 university in the last 5 years. No job offer.
Points
Quality Migrant Admission SchemePoints-based, now reserved for exceptional talent.
Job offer
General Employment PolicyWith a Hong Kong employer.

Some passports also get: Working Holiday Scheme for young people.

Who gets easier access to Hong Kong

Hong Kong is not part of a free-movement area in the index.

Working Holiday Scheme for young people (14 nationalities)

Working Holiday Scheme for young people.

Flag of AustraliaAustraliaFlag of AustriaAustriaFlag of CanadaCanadaFlag of FranceFranceFlag of GermanyGermanyFlag of HungaryHungaryFlag of IrelandIrelandFlag of ItalyItalyFlag of JapanJapanFlag of the NetherlandsNetherlandsFlag of New ZealandNew ZealandFlag of South KoreaSouth KoreaFlag of SwedenSwedenFlag of the United KingdomUnited Kingdom

Visiting: 147 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 49 can apply for an eVisa and 1 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePR024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
7 yrs
Right of abode after 7 years of continuous residence
Citizenship
Very rare
Chinese nationality by naturalisation is very rare
Dual citizenship
Not allowed

Low, simple income tax (15% top standard rate).

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.immd.gov.hk/eng

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Hong Kong?

About $3,500 a month for one person and $7,200 for a family of four in Hong Kong, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $2,400 a month and a 3-bedroom around $4,450. Prices are 74% of US levels. Hong Kong is the 72nd cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Hong Kong safe to live in?

Hong Kong scores 87/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 6th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.38 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Hong Kong politically stable?

Hong Kong scores 80/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 17th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Hong Kong good for families?

Hong Kong scores 90/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 3rd of 76. Life expectancy is 85.4 years.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Hong Kong?

Usually 7 yrs of legal residence. Right of abode after 7 years of continuous residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Hong Kong?

Citizenship by naturalisation is very rare. Chinese nationality by naturalisation is very rare. Dual citizenship: not allowed.

Can I move to Hong Kong without a job offer?

Yes. Top Talent Pass Scheme: HK$2.5M+ annual income, or a degree from a top-100 university in the last 5 years. No job offer. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme: Points-based, now reserved for exceptional talent.

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Hong Kong can move