Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Hong Kong Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Hong Kong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,077 in Des Moines, IA versus $2,757 in Hong Kong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,127 in Des Moines, IA versus $4,210 in Hong Kong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,176 in Des Moines, IA versus $5,664 in Hong Kong.

Living in Des Moines, IA costs roughly 25% less than in Hong Kong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Moines, IA 55% above, Hong Kong 106% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.83 $15.83

$8.91 HK$69.7

77.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$64.7 HK$507

21.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.96 $11.96

$6.48 HK$50.8

84.57%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$5.17 HK$40.46

-5.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.29 HK$10.12

79.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.09 HK$8.57

76.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.93 HK$54.3

-25.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$6.26 HK$48.98

10.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$3.13 HK$24.54

-68.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.22 HK$17.40

9.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.03 HK$15.87

9.85%

Eggs

$3.65 $3.65

$3.45 HK$27.02

5.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.83 $12.83

$24.99 HK$196

-48.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 $10.59

$10.35 HK$81.1

2.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.72 $12.72

$22.51 HK$176

-43.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.56 HK$27.89

28.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.34 HK$18.30

-36.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$3.90 HK$30.50

-3.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.02 HK$23.68

14.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.28 HK$17.86

-26.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.31 HK$18.08

27.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.69 HK$13.22

36.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.69 HK$13.26

-33.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.98 $6.98

$13.07 HK$102

-46.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.86 $14.86

$15.18 HK$119

-2.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.84 HK$14.38

-8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.73 HK$21.36

44.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.74 HK$13.65

3.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.7 $57.7

$63.9 HK$500

-9.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.79 HK$29.69

-48.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.36 HK$10.66

-7.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.93 $19.93

$15.09 HK$118

32.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$3.11 HK$24.32

-73.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.5K $26.5K

$38.7K HK$303.1K

-31.57%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.9K $24.9K

$33.0K HK$258.4K

-24.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 $148

$234 HK$1,831

-36.83%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.3 $50.3

$18.22 HK$143

176.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 $52.8

$22.53 HK$176

134.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.9 $67.9

$76.8 HK$601

-11.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.01 $20.01

$8.74 HK$68.4

128.95%

Cinema Ticket

$15.07 $15.07

$12.70 HK$99.5

18.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,391 $1,391

$989 HK$7,747

40.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K $11.9K

$21.6K HK$169.4K

-44.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 $52.9

$74.2 HK$581

-28.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.50 $42.50

$38.99 HK$305

9.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 $73.9

$90.5 HK$709

-18.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$143 HK$1,119

-13.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 $1,209

$2,205 HK$17.3K

-45.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 $897

$1,587 HK$12.4K

-43.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,788 $1,788

$4,751 HK$37.2K

-62.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 $1,514

$3,003 HK$23.5K

-49.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,334 $2,334

$25.7K HK$201.4K

-90.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,352 $2,352

$16.0K HK$125.4K

-85.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,564 $3,564

$3,443 HK$27.0K

3.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

3.97

63.73%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Des Moines, IA: April 22, 2026

Last update for Hong Kong: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,209 in Des Moines, IA and $2,205 in Hong Kong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Moines, IA pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79 in Des Moines, IA vs $65 in Hong Kong. Groceries flip the comparison at $331 vs $416, with Des Moines, IA cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Des Moines, IA vs Hong Kong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Moines, IA wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Hong Kong. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Des Moines, IA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Des Moines, IA pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,209 in Des Moines, IA versus $2,205 in Hong Kong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Des Moines, IA – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $65.0 in Hong Kong. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,077 per month in Des Moines, IA versus $2,757 in Hong Kong – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,077 in Des Moines, IA versus $2,757 in Hong Kong, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Des Moines, IA but tight or insufficient in Hong Kong. The gap between the two cities makes Des Moines, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Des Moines, IA delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,077 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Des Moines, IA hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Des Moines, IA and Hong Kong are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Des Moines, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Hong Kong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.