Moving to Hong Kong from the US with Oz Moving & Storage
Key Takeaways
- Oz Moving provides full-service, transparent-price relocations from NYC to Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong offers safety, English-friendliness, and strong job opportunities.
- Overall costs are lower than NYC, except for housing and fuel.
If you are considering moving from NYC to Hong Kong, find out why you are not alone and why more Americans than ever are choosing to call Hong Kong home. See the essential moving tips for a seamless international transition below, how our tailored moving solutions can help you achieve a stress-free relocation, and why you should trust Oz Moving & Storage to handle all your international moving needs.
Our International Moving Services to Hong Kong
From packing your possessions to customs clearance in Hong Kong, we offer a comprehensive and detailed planning service to cover every eventuality. Our international moves provide a seamless transition, whether by sea or air. We have used our 30 years of experience as a premier international moving company to create an unrivaled moving experience, now focusing on expert relocations to Hong Kong from the US.
Our global services include comprehensive insurance coverage for all your possessions, underwritten by Lloyd’s of London, for peace of mind. Various coverage levels are available to suit your needs.
What You'll Discover in This Guide
Why People Are Moving to Hong Kong?
There are many reasons why increasing numbers of Americans are considering a move to Hong Kong. The most popular reasons in our experience include:
● Safety: Contrary to popular belief, Hong Kong boasts a low crime rate thanks to a professional police force, family-oriented values, and severe punishments for criminal behavior. The most common complaints are pickpocketing incidents. According to the Global Residence Index, Hong Kong is the 11th safest city in the world in the 2025 report.
● Landscape: Hong Kong offers an incredibly diverse and beautiful environment with beautiful beaches and stunning mountains just 15 minutes from the city. Hong Kong’s landscape is diverse with four regions (urban, coastal, countryside, and mountains). Each area has its own merits and given Hong Kong’s size, you’re never far away from each region.
● Job Opportunities: Hong Kong’s dynamic economy offers excellent career paths, especially in real estate, finance, and law. There are further opportunities in engineering, healthcare, life sciences, and manufacturing as well. The job market remains rich with opportunities for expats from the US.
● Language: Both Chinese and English are official languages in Hong Kong, a former British colony. So, expats with no knowledge of Chinese can get along just fine. That said, you can find more job opportunities if you familiarize yourself with the Chinese language.
Moving to Hong Kong: What You Need to Know
Like NYC, Hong Kong has different neighborhoods, each with its own identity. We recommend Discovery Bay on the East Shores of Lantau Island if you want a family-friendly area. This neighborhood is away from the hustle and bustle of the city, with gorgeous views, lovely beaches, and quality schools.
For young professionals, the hip and trendy Soho in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island is famous for many chic restaurants, shops, coffee shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island is the most upmarket area between the country parks’ hills and close to the Hong Kong Cricket Club and the Hong Kong Golf Club. Our pick for the up-and-coming area is Yuen Long in the New Territories.
Key Facts About Life in Hong Kong
● Language: Chinese and English are widely spoken, easing communication for English speakers, but learning Cantonese is recommended.
● Population: Approximately 7.5 million residents, so slightly less than New York City.
● Currency: The Hong Kong dollar is the official currency; one USD buys around 7.8 HKD.
● Timezone: Hong Kong Standard Time is GMT+8, whereas NYC Standard Time is GMT-5.
● Dialing Code: When making phone calls to Hong Kong, use +852.
● Transportation: Hong Kong offers a great public transit system of buses, trams, ferries, and walk ways. While it’s acceptable to have a car, it is quite costly to keep them, but if you live in the suburbs, a personal vehicle is often the transportation choice of expats. Bicycles are not ideal in Hong Kong due to the lack of bike lanes and air quality challenges.
● Finding Housing: Housing in Hong Kong is available, however it tends to be quite expensive in the city. Prepare to make fast decisions to secure your home and budget accordingly.
Requirements or US Expats to Move to Hong Kong
To move and live in Hong Kong, you will need proper documentation to support your stay there. You require a Hong Kong visa for any purposes requiring you to stay 90 days or more. You must determine which type of visa you need and apply in advance.
The Hong Kong work visa is a points-based system; you’ll need to score at least 80 points. The points are calculated based on your education, experience, language proficiency, and occupation. The work visa is valid for two years and is renewable.
Particular types of work visas are also available with schemes for those in the “Innovation and Technology” industry. It’s important to apply well in advance for whichever visa you think you will qualify for, as the application process can take months.
Cost of Living in Hong Kong vs. NYC
Hong Kong (aka the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China) is the world’s third most important international financial center after London and New York City. It’s also one of the world’s few Alpha + cities (New York City is rated Alpha ++) and the 37th most expensive city to live in according to the Numbero 2025.
With that sort of pedigree, you would expect that the cost of living in Hong Kong is not particularly cheap, and you would be correct. However, cost of living, rent included, in Hong Kong is 30.2% lower than in New York, NY. Groceries are 20% more affordable, and apartment rentals are around 40% cheaper.
The exceptions are owning cars and real estate; gas prices are almost triple the USA prices, and real estate can be 50% more expensive. Public transportation is much cheaper than NYC, so if you don’t own a car and rent rather than buy an apartment, Hong Kong offers a higher standard of living for the same salary.
Tip: Plan ahead and budget for your international move.
Hong Kong Moving Tips
Oz Moving & Storage will, of course, be on hand to help you plan the big move, but here are some helpful tips:
- Ensure you have all the correct paperwork to reside and work in Hong Kong.
- Don’t start packing too early. You will invariably pack things you need and will have to unpack them. On the other hand, don’t leave everything to the last minute either.
- Before planning and packing, remember that Hong Kong apartments tend to be small.
- Check that your salary expectations will fund your desired lifestyle.
- Hong Kong has a dual taxation agreement with most other countries. If you are moving with a young family, you should decide whether to use the free Hong Kong schools or the popular International Schools.
- Consider learning basic Cantonese phrases, as embracing the local lifestyle will enhance your overall living experience.
- Familiarize yourself with local Hong Kong customs, and research expat communities for support.
Why Choose Oz for Your Move to Hong Kong
If you’re an American planning to move to Hong Kong, the requirements of such an international relocation can initially seem overwhelming. At Oz Moving & Storage, we understand the challenges of moving clients abroad, as we have done this successfully many times over the years.
With over 30 years of experience, we are here to make your transition to Hong Kong as smooth as possible. We handle everything from personalized move planning to shipping, customs clearance, packing, and insurance. Our comprehensive international moving service offers a door-to-door moving experience designed to be hassle-free for you.
We understand every move is unique, so we provide a range of shipping methods via reliable overseas partners to ensure your belongings reach Hong Kong safely. Our pricing is transparent with competitive rates and no hidden fees. Get a free quote to learn more about Oz and why our customers recommend us.
Services Offered by Oz Moving for Relocation to HongKong
For a smooth and efficient international move, Oz Moving & Storage, as an agent for Movage, Inc. can handle all your international relocation to Hong Kong with the following services:
Full Service Packing for Your Relocation to Hong Kong
From start to finish, Our expert packers can make your international move to Hong Kong a breeze with full service packing options. We’ll properly pack your precious belongings in the most efficient and safe manner to ensure they arrive at your new home in the condition they left the US in.
Pickup and Transport of Your Belongings for Your International Move to Hong Kong
Oz Moving, as an agent for Movage, Inc., completes the US leg of our door-to-door international relocation service to Hong Kong, and coordinates with trusted partners to get your belongings where they need to go. We pride ourselves on stress free transportation of your goods, for you. Let us worry about the details.
Shipping of Your Belongings from the US to Hong Kong
Whether you choose air, land, sea, or a combination of the mix, we have trusted shipping partners to get your belongings where they need to go, safely. Whether shipping your things from the US to Hong Kong, or Hong Kong to the US, we are ready to help!
NYC to Hong Kong Customs Clearance Made Easy
Our team will handle all customs procedures, from paperwork to packing. Our experts will ensure every step of customs clearance for US expats to Hong Kong goes as smoothly as possible.
Get Peace of Mind With Insurance for Your Move to Hong Kong
We provide comprehensive international moving insurance coverage for your move from NYC to Hong Kong, via our partner, WTI. The insurance coverage gives you peace of mind for your relocation to Hong Kong.
Storage Solutions for your Relocation from NYC to Hong Kong
We have storage solutions to fit your relocation to Hong Kong timeline – short term or long term storage in the US or with one of our international partners to hold your belongings in Hong Kong until you’re ready for them.
FAQs About Moving to Hong Kong from NYC
