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

🙂 Solo nomad: Hong Kong is 4.6% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 35.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Hong Kong is 0.9% more expensive than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 36.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.18 HK$71.8
$16.08 $16.08
-42.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 HK$507
$79.5 $79.5
-18.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.43 HK$50.3
$12.19 $12.19
-47.25%
Cappuccino
$5.04 HK$39.40
$4.80 $4.80
5.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 HK$10.53
$2.38 $2.38
-43.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 HK$8.18
$1.86 $1.86
-43.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.76 HK$52.9
$5.07 $5.07
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50 HK$50.9
$6.90 $6.90
-5.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.13 HK$24.50
$0.96 $0.96
226.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 HK$18.12
$2.52 $2.52
-7.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 HK$15.96
$2.15 $2.15
-5.12%
Eggs
$3.34 HK$26.11
$3.55 $3.55
-5.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.40 HK$199
$12.78 $12.78
98.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 HK$81.8
$10.38 $10.38
0.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.32 HK$175
$12.69 $12.69
75.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 HK$27.55
$4.53 $4.53
-22.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 HK$18.06
$1.46 $1.46
58.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 HK$29.57
$3.70 $3.70
2.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 HK$23.03
$3.61 $3.61
-18.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.25 HK$17.62
$1.67 $1.67
34.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 HK$18.06
$3.03 $3.03
-23.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.70 HK$13.32
$2.24 $2.24
-24.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 HK$12.88
$1.07 $1.07
54.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.21 HK$103
$7.12 $7.12
85.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.36 HK$120
$14.31 $14.31
7.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 HK$13.84
$1.75 $1.75
1.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 HK$21.41
$4.01 $4.01
-31.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong
Des Moines, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.75 HK$13.70
$1.72 $1.72
1.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.1 HK$501
$58.4 $58.4
9.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.59 HK$28.11
$2.05 $2.05
75.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 HK$10.78
$1.22 $1.22
13.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.66 HK$115
$19.84 $19.84
-26.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.09 HK$24.17
$0.82 $0.82
276.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6K HK$294.3K
$25.5K $25.5K
47.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K HK$259.8K
$24.6K $24.6K
35.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$228 HK$1,782
$147 $147
55.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.21 HK$142
$51.4 $51.4
-64.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.01 HK$180
$54.4 $54.4
-57.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.9 HK$593
$67.3 $67.3
12.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.86 HK$69.3
$19.61 $19.61
-54.82%
Cinema Ticket
$12.68 HK$99.2
$15.02 $15.02
-15.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,009 HK$7,889
$1,348 $1,348
-25.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K HK$168.4K
$11.8K $11.8K
82.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.2 HK$573
$52.5 $52.5
39.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.61 HK$310
$42.52 $42.52
-6.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.5 HK$708
$71.7 $71.7
26.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 HK$1,097
$124 $124
13.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
Des Moines, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,242 HK$17.5K
$1,207 $1,207
85.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,570 HK$12.3K
$902 $902
74.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,868 HK$38.1K
$1,775 $1,775
174.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,040 HK$23.8K
$1,498 $1,498
102.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$25.6K HK$200.5K
$2,283 $2,283
1022.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.0K HK$124.9K
$2,303 $2,303
593.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong
Des Moines, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,364 HK$26.3K
$3,601 $3,601
-6.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.97
6.5
-38.92%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: March 3, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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