For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $3,046 in Hong Kong (China), rent and utilities included – about $31,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Hong Kong (China) and in India
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hong Kong (China) and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $3,046 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $399 in India, rent included.
Hong Kong (China) $3,046
India $399
A couple spends around $4,715 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $639 in India, rent included.
Hong Kong (China) $4,715
India $639
A family of three spends $6,384 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $879 in India, rent included.
Hong Kong (China) $6,384
India $879
📏
The regional cost range is wider in India ($230–$813) than in Hong Kong (China) ($3,028–$3,028), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Hong Kong (China) is about 663% higher than in India on average.
📊
Hong Kong (China) sits 124% above the global median, while India is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong (China)
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.47HK$66.5
$2.14₹204
295.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7HK$508
$10.46₹995
518.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.25HK$49.02
$3.80₹361
64.47%
Cappuccino
$5.17HK$40.58
$1.68₹160
207.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31HK$10.28
$0.38₹35.99
244.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13HK$8.88
$0.15₹14.60
653.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.44HK$58.4
$1.87₹178
297.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.54HK$51.3
$3.18₹303
105.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong (China)
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.90HK$22.76
$0.62₹59.2
367.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.35HK$18.47
$0.50₹47.76
370.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25HK$17.68
$0.63₹60.3
257.14%
Eggs
$3.45HK$27.10
$0.96₹91.3
259.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.79HK$194
$4.85₹461
411.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.85HK$69.4
$2.84₹271
211.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.08HK$142
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$4.05HK$31.77
$2.00₹190
102.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62HK$20.55
$0.65₹61.4
303.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.71HK$36.93
$0.97₹92.3
385.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.95HK$30.95
$0.47₹44.30
740.43%
Potato(1kg)
$3.21HK$25.15
$0.34₹31.87
844.12%
Onion(1kg)
$3.22HK$25.24
$0.42₹39.73
666.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66HK$13.00
$0.47₹44.39
253.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77HK$13.92
$0.31₹29.67
470.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.43HK$105
$5.08₹483
164.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.22HK$119
$7.31₹695
108.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98HK$15.50
$1.63₹155
21.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29HK$17.95
$2.76₹262
-17.03%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.11₹486
-
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong (China)
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.34HK$10.50
$0.26₹24.86
415.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.5HK$702
$8.58₹816
943.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.73HK$29.22
$1.00₹94.7
273.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36HK$10.66
$0.27₹25.74
403.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.00HK$126
$1.54₹146
938.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.98HK$31.21
$1.07₹102
271.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.5KHK$348.9K
$11.2K₹1.1M
296.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6KHK$295.3K
$20.1K₹1.9M
87.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong (China)
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239HK$1,878
$37.08₹3,527
545.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.99HK$125
$3.58₹340
346.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.59HK$169
$7.15₹680
201.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong (China)
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.3HK$771
$15.00₹1,427
555.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.38HK$73.6
$7.17₹682
30.82%
Cinema Ticket
$12.59HK$98.8
$3.20₹304
293.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong (China)
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,280HK$10.0K
$58.8₹5,592
2076.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.6KHK$177.3K
$1,667₹158.5K
1256.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong (China)
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8HK$531
$23.03₹2,191
194.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.21HK$339
$24.17₹2,299
78.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.9HK$650
$41.20₹3,918
101.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124HK$973
$29.62₹2,817
318.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong (China)
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,373HK$18.6K
$146₹13.9K
1519.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,777HK$13.9K
$96.4₹9,165
1743.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,399HK$42.4K
$343₹32.6K
1474.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,614HK$28.4K
$234₹22.2K
1445.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$29.5KHK$231.1K
$1,177₹111.9K
2403.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$17.9KHK$140.2K
$633₹60.2K
2721.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong (China)
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,297HK$25.9K
$409₹38.9K
706.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
8.93
-57.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hong Kong (China): October 25, 2026
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong (China)
$1.8K 58.3%
India
$96 24.1% ↓ 94.6%$1.7K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong (China)
$412 13.5%
India
$102 25.6% ↓ 75.2%$309
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong (China)
$277 9.1%
India
$48 12% ↓ 82.7%$229
🍽Eating Out
Hong Kong (China)
$209 6.9%
India
$67 16.7% ↓ 68.1%$142
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong (China)
$143 4.7%
India
$53 13.3% ↓ 62.9%$90
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong (China)
$124 4.1%
India
$21 5.4% ↓ 82.7%$102
🚌Getting Around
Hong Kong (China)
$105 3.5%
India
$12 3% ↓ 88.6%$93
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong (China)
$3.6K 56.6%
India
$234 26.6% ↓ 93.5%$3.4K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong (China)
$957 15%
India
$220 25.1% ↓ 77%$737
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong (China)
$293 4.6%
India
$51 5.9% ↓ 82.5%$242
🍽Eating Out
Hong Kong (China)
$732 11.5%
India
$181 20.6% ↓ 75.3%$551
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong (China)
$318 5%
India
$118 13.4% ↓ 62.9%$200
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong (China)
$256 4%
India
$50 5.7% ↓ 80.5%$206
🚌Getting Around
Hong Kong (China)
$213 3.3%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 88.5%$189
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $2,432 in Hong Kong (China) vs $120 in India. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,432 in Hong Kong and $277 in Delhi.
💰Average salary: $3,264 in Hong Kong (China) vs $412 in India. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1927% higher in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Dining out costs 473% more in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Public transport is 1000% more expensive in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Salaries are about 7.9 times higher in Hong Kong (China).
Hong Kong (China)→India3,760 km≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
Hong Kong (China)
India
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Hong Kong (China) vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Hong Kong (China) or India?
India is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 87% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Hong Kong (China) or in India?
Housing costs more in Hong Kong (China): a central one-bedroom averages $2,432 versus $120 in India.
How do daily expenses compare in Hong Kong (China) vs India?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in India, adding to the overall 663% price gap.
Which country is better for expats: Hong Kong (China) or India?
India is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
Hong Kong (China) vs other spots: cost of living compared