Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Gimhae

For one person, living is cheaper in Gimhae: $1,541 a month against $2,984 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $17,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
$2,984
/mo nomad
Gimhae
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,541
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hong Kong and in Gimhae

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hong Kong and in Gimhae actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,984 in Hong Kong versus $1,541 in Gimhae.

  • Hong Kong $2,984
  • Gimhae $1,541

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,584 in Hong Kong versus $2,437 in Gimhae.

  • Hong Kong $4,584
  • Gimhae $2,437

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,183 in Hong Kong versus $3,333 in Gimhae.

  • Hong Kong $6,183
  • Gimhae $3,333

Living in Hong Kong is roughly 94% more expensive than in Gimhae, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hong Kong 121% above, Gimhae 14% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong
Gimhae
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.75 HK$60.8
$7.67 ₩10.2K
1.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7 HK$508
$48.55 ₩64.6K
33.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.18 HK$48.51
$6.61 ₩8,790
-6.51%
Cappuccino
$5.08 HK$39.85
$3.59 ₩4,771
41.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 HK$10.31
$1.84 ₩2,451
-28.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 HK$8.56
$1.40 ₩1,865
-22.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.47 HK$58.6
$3.75 ₩4,979
99.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50 HK$51.0
$4.24 ₩5,632
53.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
Gimhae
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.89 HK$22.71
$2.25 ₩2,997
28.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 HK$18.14
$3.19 ₩4,237
-27.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 HK$16.71
$3.05 ₩4,052
-30.16%
Eggs
$3.52 HK$27.65
$2.70 ₩3,588
30.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.72 HK$194
$11.02 ₩14.7K
124.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.52 HK$66.9
$10.56 ₩14.0K
-19.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.00 HK$141
$25.32 ₩33.7K
-28.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 HK$32.79
$11.29 ₩15.0K
-62.98%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 HK$21.07
$3.59 ₩4,774
-25.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 HK$35.22
$8.31 ₩11.0K
-45.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 HK$31.66
$6.04 ₩8,034
-33.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.12 HK$24.51
$6.15 ₩8,173
-49.27%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 HK$24.72
$3.29 ₩4,380
-4.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 HK$12.75
$2.85 ₩3,795
-43.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 HK$13.66
$1.27 ₩1,695
37.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.50 HK$106
$3.38 ₩4,494
299.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.54 HK$130
$18.56 ₩24.7K
-10.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 HK$15.19
$2.39 ₩3,173
-18.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 HK$17.11
$3.50 ₩4,653
-37.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong
Gimhae
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 HK$11.04
$1.09 ₩1,451
29.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.6 HK$696
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 HK$28.94
$3.65 ₩4,859
1.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 HK$10.36
$0.77 ₩1,023
71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.77 HK$124
$16.84 ₩22.4K
-6.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$4.03 HK$31.65
$1.28 ₩1,707
214.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.7K HK$350.5K
$29.4K ₩39.2M
51.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K HK$296.6K
$33.7K ₩44.8M
12.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
Gimhae
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$250 HK$1,959
$202 ₩268.2K
23.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.60 HK$122
$35.95 ₩47.8K
-56.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.77 HK$171
$26.53 ₩35.3K
-17.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
Gimhae
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$94.2 HK$739
$51.5 ₩68.4K
83.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.29 HK$72.9
$12.05 ₩16.0K
-22.90%
Cinema Ticket
$13.91 HK$109
$12.09 ₩16.1K
15.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong
Gimhae
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,162 HK$9,122
$627 ₩833.8K
85.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.9K HK$171.6K
$21.5K ₩28.6M
1.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
Gimhae
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0 HK$534
$103 ₩137.3K
-34.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.91 HK$329
$66.3 ₩88.1K
-36.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 HK$626
$92.2 ₩122.6K
-13.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 HK$956
$127 ₩168.5K
-3.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
Gimhae
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,241 HK$17.6K
$491 ₩653.2K
356.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,718 HK$13.5K
$361 ₩480.5K
375.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,041 HK$39.6K
$1,146 ₩1.5M
339.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 HK$27.0K
$744 ₩989.1K
361.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.2K HK$229.0K
$7,025 ₩9.3M
315.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.6K HK$137.9K
$5,432 ₩7.2M
223.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong
Gimhae
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,271 HK$25.7K
$2,546 ₩3.4M
28.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.91
4.22
-7.35%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: October 10, 2026

Last update for Gimhae: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
$1.7K
Gimhae
$361 79% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
$411
Gimhae
$488 18.9% $78
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
$287
Gimhae
$264 7.9% $23
Eating Out
Hong Kong
$201
Gimhae
$164 18.4% $37
Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
$140
Gimhae
$175 24.8% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
$122
Gimhae
$76 38% $46
Getting Around
Hong Kong
$105
Gimhae
$12 * 88.6% $93

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,241 in Hong Kong and $491 in Gimhae. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hong Kong pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Hong Kong vs $49.00 in Gimhae. Groceries flip the comparison at $411 vs $488, with Hong Kong cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇰🇷 Gimhae
🕒 Local time
07:30 7:30 AM
08:30 8:30 AM
1 h ahead of Hong Kong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,367,900 Capital
532,132
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, USD, EUR to HKD – Hong Kong Dollar Converter

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 7.85 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.82 HKD (1 HKD = 0.113 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hong Kong Gimhae 2,030 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hong Kong
  • Gimhae

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 vs Gimhae: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hong Kong or Gimhae?
Gimhae wins on cost – living expenses run 94% lower than in Hong Kong. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gimhae the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hong Kong or in Gimhae?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Hong Kong, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Hong Kong compared to Gimhae?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,241 in Hong Kong versus $491 in Gimhae. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Hong Kong and in Gimhae?
Childcare runs $1,162 in Hong Kong versus $627 in Gimhae. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Hong Kong and in Gimhae?
Dining out is cheaper in Gimhae – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $65.0 in Hong Kong. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hong Kong or in Gimhae?
At $1,541 in Gimhae versus $2,984 in Hong Kong, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gimhae but tight or insufficient in Hong Kong. The gap between the two cities makes Gimhae the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hong Kong or Gimhae?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gimhae delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,541 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gimhae hard to pass up.
How safe is Hong Kong compared to Gimhae?
Safety-wise, Hong Kong and Gimhae are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gimhae gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Hong Kong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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