Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong (China) and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in the United States: $2,734 a month against $3,046 in Hong Kong (China), rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Hong Kong (China) outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Hong Kong (China)
Learn more

Hong Kong (China) Living Index
131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
Learn more

United States Living Index

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🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

$3,046

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hong Kong (China) and in the United States

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 the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,046 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.

Hong Kong (China) $3,046
United States $2,734

A couple spends around $4,715 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.

Hong Kong (China) $4,715
United States $3,985

A family of three spends $6,384 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.

Hong Kong (China) $6,384
United States $5,235

The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) 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 11% higher than in the United States on average.

Both Hong Kong (China) and the United States are pricier than the global median – Hong Kong (China) by 124%, the United States by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.47 HK$66.5

$20.03 $20.03

-57.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 HK$508

$80.0 $80.0

-19.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.25 HK$49.02

$11.80 $11.80

-47.03%

Cappuccino

$5.17 HK$40.58

$5.55 $5.55

-6.85%

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

$1.31 HK$10.28

$2.66 $2.66

-50.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 HK$8.88

$2.17 $2.17

-47.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.44 HK$58.4

$6.12 $6.12

21.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 HK$51.3

$7.94 $7.94

-17.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.90 HK$22.76

$1.04 $1.04

178.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 HK$18.47

$3.59 $3.59

-34.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 HK$17.68

$4.52 $4.52

-50.22%

Eggs

$3.45 HK$27.10

$4.28 $4.28

-19.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.79 HK$194

$13.22 $13.22

87.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.85 HK$69.4

$12.60 $12.60

-29.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.08 HK$142

$17.60 $17.60

2.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.05 HK$31.77

$5.30 $5.30

-23.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 HK$20.55

$1.69 $1.69

55.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 HK$36.93

$4.44 $4.44

6.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 HK$30.95

$4.77 $4.77

-17.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 HK$25.15

$2.97 $2.97

8.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 HK$25.24

$3.15 $3.15

2.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 HK$13.00

$2.20 $2.20

-24.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 HK$13.92

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.43 HK$105

$10.98 $10.98

22.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 HK$119

$15.05 $15.05

1.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 HK$15.50

$2.06 $2.06

-3.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 HK$17.95

$3.79 $3.79

-39.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 HK$10.50

$1.94 $1.94

-30.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.5 HK$702

$59.4 $59.4

50.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 HK$29.22

$3.58 $3.58

4.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 HK$10.66

$1.88 $1.88

-27.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.00 HK$126

$29.84 $29.84

-46.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.98 HK$31.21

$1.02 $1.02

290.20%

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

$44.5K HK$348.9K

$28.8K $28.8K

54.67%

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

$37.6K HK$295.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

43.65%

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

$239 HK$1,878

$218 $218

9.84%

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

$15.99 HK$125

$62.5 $62.5

-74.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.59 HK$169

$74.5 $74.5

-71.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.3 HK$771

$41.86 $41.86

134.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.38 HK$73.6

$22.81 $22.81

-58.88%

Cinema Ticket

$12.59 HK$98.8

$14.70 $14.70

-14.35%

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

$1,280 HK$10.0K

$1,489 $1,489

-14.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.6K HK$177.3K

$25.3K $25.3K

-10.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 HK$531

$54.3 $54.3

24.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.21 HK$339

$42.71 $42.71

1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.9 HK$650

$94.1 $94.1

-11.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 HK$973

$114 $114

9.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,373 HK$18.6K

$1,659 $1,659

43.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,777 HK$13.9K

$1,348 $1,348

31.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,399 HK$42.4K

$2,682 $2,682

101.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,614 HK$28.4K

$2,169 $2,169

66.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.5K HK$231.1K

$3,283 $3,283

797.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.9K HK$140.2K

$2,482 $2,482

620.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,297 HK$25.9K

$4,296 $4,296

-23.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

6.55

-42.14%

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 the United States: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Hong Kong (China)

$1.8K 58.3%

United States

$1.3K 49.3% 24.2% $429

Groceries & Markets

Hong Kong (China)

$412 13.5%

United States

$415 15.2% 0.9% $3.7

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hong Kong (China)

$277 9.1%

United States

$355 13% 28.1% $78

Eating Out

Hong Kong (China)

$209 6.9%

United States

$328 12% 57.2% $119

Clothing & Footwear

Hong Kong (China)

$143 4.7%

United States

$137 5% 4.2% $6

Sport & Entertainment

Hong Kong (China)

$124 4.1%

United States

$71 2.6% 42.3% $52

Getting Around

Hong Kong (China)

$105 3.5%

United States

$80 2.9% 24% $25

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $2,432 in Hong Kong (China) vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,432 in Hong Kong and $2,768 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $3,264 in Hong Kong (China) vs $4,549 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 50% higher in Hong Kong (China).

Dining out costs 19% more in the United States.

Public transport is 40% more expensive in Hong Kong (China).

Salaries are 39% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

15:25 3:25 PM

03:25 3:25 AM

12 h behind Hong Kong (China)

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

7,413,070

340,110,988

💱 Currency

Hong Kong Dollar HKD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 HKD = 0.127 USD

1 HKD = 0.115 EUR

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to HKD – Hong Kong Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇭🇰 Hong Kong Dollar ($)

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 7.84 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.73 HKD (1 HKD = 0.115 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

USD to HKD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Hong Kong (China) United States 13,200 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Hong Kong (China)
United States

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

The United States is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 10% lower on average.

Housing costs more in Hong Kong (China): a central one-bedroom averages $2,432 versus $1,620 in the United States.

The United States is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.