What if you were born in Hong Kong?

If you had grown up in Hong Kong instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Hong Kong could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Victoria Harbour skyline at night from the Peak. Photo: Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Hong Kong

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in HKD and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Hong Kong: HKD 38,700Rs 1,360,000
Rent (city centre): HKD 11,200
Transport (public transport): HKD 1,480
Food: HKD 5,590
Saved: HKD 5,800

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Hong Kong: HKD 88,800Rs 3,130,000
Rent (suburbs): HKD 22,600
Transport (public transport): HKD 3,400
Food: HKD 15,100
Saved: HKD 13,300

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Hong Kong: HKD 144,000Rs 5,080,000
Rent (city centre): HKD 35,200
Transport (car): HKD 13,500
Food: HKD 17,600
Saved: HKD 40,300

Try it with my own income

A day in Hong Kong

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Hong Kong, a city of mild winters around 16°C and warm summers around 29°C.
Commute
You take the metro or train: about 25 to 35 minutes, door to door, and it runs on time.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Chinese (Cantonese) at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Evening
You get home with HKD 13,300 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

Hong Kong compared with Pakistan

	Hong Kong	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	3.2× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	85 years	68 years
Unemployment	2.8%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	23°C	26°C
Languages	Chinese (Cantonese), English	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	HKD	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Hong Kong, living in Hong Kong and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Hong Kong?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around HKD 88,800 a month at the same level in Hong Kong (about Rs 3,130,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Hong Kong more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 3.2 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Hong Kong?

Mainly Chinese (Cantonese), English. English is an official language.

Can I actually move to Hong Kong?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Hong Kong page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.