Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Gizo

For one person, living is cheaper in Gizo: $2,121 a month against $2,984 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
$2,984
/mo nomad
Gizo
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
$2,121
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Gizo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,984 in Hong Kong versus $2,121 in Gizo.

  • Hong Kong $2,984
  • Gizo $2,121

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,558 in Hong Kong versus $3,041 in Gizo.

  • Hong Kong $4,558
  • Gizo $3,041

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,132 in Hong Kong versus $3,960 in Gizo.

  • Hong Kong $6,132
  • Gizo $3,960

Living in Hong Kong is roughly 41% more expensive than in Gizo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hong Kong 123% above, Gizo 58% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong
Gizo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.46 HK$66.4
$3.15 SBD 25.40
168.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2 HK$496
$56.5 SBD 456
11.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.20 HK$48.66
$15.76 SBD 127
-60.66%
Cappuccino
$4.90 HK$38.41
$2.76 SBD 22.25
77.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 HK$10.01
$1.26 SBD 10.17
0.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 HK$8.31
$1.25 SBD 10.10
-15.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.68 HK$60.3
$2.55 SBD 20.61
201.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.28 HK$49.24
$2.53 SBD 20.43
148.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
Gizo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.86 HK$22.45
$3.29 SBD 26.57
-13.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.43 HK$19.10
$1.32 SBD 10.65
84.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 HK$17.09
$1.40 SBD 11.32
55.71%
Eggs
$3.54 HK$27.80
$7.24 SBD 58.5
-51.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.12 HK$197
$8.64 SBD 69.8
190.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.89 HK$69.8
$6.33 SBD 51.1
40.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.63 HK$138
$8.74 SBD 70.6
101.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 HK$32.22
$6.88 SBD 55.5
-40.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 HK$21.32
$6.01 SBD 48.50
-54.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 HK$36.05
$6.33 SBD 51.2
-27.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 HK$31.52
$3.04 SBD 24.56
32.24%
Potato (1kg)
$3.25 HK$25.50
$3.03 SBD 24.49
7.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 HK$25.70
$2.41 SBD 19.50
35.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.60 HK$12.54
$2.43 SBD 19.61
-34.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 HK$13.56
$1.33 SBD 10.77
30.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.14 HK$103
$4.27 SBD 34.49
207.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.59 HK$130
$12.57 SBD 102
31.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 HK$15.80
$1.89 SBD 15.24
6.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 HK$17.13
$2.19 SBD 17.67
-0.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong
Gizo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.44 HK$11.31
$0.39 SBD 3.12
269.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.1 HK$699
$31.04 SBD 251
186.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 HK$28.53
$1.23 SBD 9.91
195.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 HK$10.29
$2.45 SBD 19.76
-46.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.82 HK$124
$12.41 SBD 100
27.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$4.06 HK$31.89
$1.77 SBD 14.25
129.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.4K HK$348.2K
$20.6K SBD 166.3K
115.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K HK$293.2K
$21.5K SBD 173.4K
74.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
Gizo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$247 HK$1,942
$756 SBD 6,107
-67.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.89 HK$125
$13.69 SBD 111
16.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.46 HK$168
$125 SBD 1,008
-82.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
Gizo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$91.4 HK$717
$18.41 SBD 149
396.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.08 HK$71.3
$6.05 SBD 48.87
50.08%
Cinema Ticket
$13.96 HK$110
$4.39 SBD 35.43
218.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong
Gizo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,155 HK$9,067
$121 SBD 981
851.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K HK$174.6K
$1,253 SBD 10.1K
1675.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
Gizo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.9 HK$541
$24.88 SBD 201
176.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.44 HK$317
$92.0 SBD 743
-56.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 HK$627
$100 SBD 809
-20.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 HK$923
$90.5 SBD 731
30.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
Gizo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 HK$17.1K
$608 SBD 4,908
258.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,718 HK$13.5K
$594 SBD 4,799
189.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,047 HK$39.6K
$618 SBD 4,991
716.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,543 HK$27.8K
$1,234 SBD 9,964
187.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.1K HK$228.7K
$86.8K SBD 700.6K
-66.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.6K HK$137.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong
Gizo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,228 HK$25.3K
$395 SBD 3,192
716.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.91
16.33
-76.06%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: October 4, 2026

Last update for Gizo: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
$1.7K
Gizo
$594 65.4% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
$415
Gizo
$354 14.7% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
$285
Gizo
$895 214% $610
Eating Out
Hong Kong
$205
Gizo
$133 35% $72
Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
$138
Gizo
$138 0.2% $0.3
Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
$119
Gizo
$27 77.2% $92
Getting Around
Hong Kong
$105
Gizo
$46 56.2% $59

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,180 in Hong Kong and $608 in Gizo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hong Kong pays 717% 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: $63.0 in Hong Kong vs $56.0 in Gizo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $354 per month, with Gizo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇸🇧 Gizo
🕒 Local time
19:29 7:29 PM
22:29 10:29 PM
3 h ahead of Hong Kong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,367,900 Capital
7,177
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 7.85 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.79 HKD (1 HKD = 0.114 EUR).

Solomon Islands Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 8.08 SBD (1 SBD = 0.124 USD). 1 EUR = 9.05 SBD (1 SBD = 0.111 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hong Kong Gizo 5,740 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hong Kong
  • Gizo

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 Gizo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hong Kong or Gizo?
Gizo wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Hong Kong. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gizo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hong Kong or in Gizo?
Average pay runs 717% 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 Gizo?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,180 in Hong Kong versus $608 in Gizo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Hong Kong or in Gizo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Hong Kong. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Hong Kong and in Gizo?
Dining out is cheaper in Gizo – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $63.0 in Hong Kong. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Hong Kong or in Gizo?
At $2,121 in Gizo versus $2,984 in Hong Kong, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gizo but tight or insufficient in Hong Kong. The gap between the two cities makes Gizo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hong Kong or Gizo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gizo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,121 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gizo hard to pass up.
How safe is Hong Kong compared to Gizo?
Safety-wise, Hong Kong and Gizo 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 Gizo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% 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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