Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Matsuyama

For one person, living is cheaper in Matsuyama: $1,324 a month against $2,984 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $19,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
$2,984
/mo nomad
Matsuyama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,324
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $2,984 per month in Hong Kong vs $1,324 in Matsuyama, rent included.

  • Hong Kong $2,984
  • Matsuyama $1,324

A couple spends around $4,584 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,006 in Matsuyama, rent included.

  • Hong Kong $4,584
  • Matsuyama $2,006

A family of three spends $6,183 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,689 in Matsuyama, rent included.

  • Hong Kong $6,183
  • Matsuyama $2,689

Hong Kong costs about 125% more than Matsuyama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Hong Kong sits 121% above the global median, while Matsuyama is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong
Matsuyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.75 HK$60.8
$6.39 ¥1,010
21.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7 HK$508
$31.11 ¥4,915
107.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.18 HK$48.51
$4.96 ¥784
24.60%
Cappuccino
$5.08 HK$39.85
$2.32 ¥367
118.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 HK$10.31
$1.17 ¥185
11.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 HK$8.56
$0.61 ¥97.0
78.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.47 HK$58.6
$2.00 ¥316
273.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50 HK$51.0
$2.28 ¥361
185.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
Matsuyama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.89 HK$22.71
$1.55 ¥245
86.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 HK$18.14
$1.27 ¥201
81.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 HK$16.71
$5.49 ¥868
-61.20%
Eggs
$3.52 HK$27.65
$2.08 ¥329
69.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.72 HK$194
$12.39 ¥1,957
99.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.52 HK$66.9
$9.30 ¥1,470
-8.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.00 HK$141
$31.67 ¥5,003
-43.16%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 HK$32.79
$3.65 ¥576
14.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 HK$21.07
$2.35 ¥371
14.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 HK$35.22
$6.48 ¥1,024
-30.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 HK$31.66
$4.23 ¥668
-4.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.12 HK$24.51
$3.86 ¥610
-19.17%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 HK$24.72
$3.39 ¥536
-7.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 HK$12.75
$1.25 ¥197
29.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 HK$13.66
$0.96 ¥152
81.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.50 HK$106
$3.51 ¥555
284.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.54 HK$130
$8.33 ¥1,317
98.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 HK$15.19
$1.95 ¥309
-0.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 HK$17.11
$1.52 ¥239
43.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong
Matsuyama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 HK$11.04
$1.70 ¥268
-17.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.6 HK$696
$49.46 ¥7,815
79.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 HK$28.94
$3.08 ¥486
19.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 HK$10.36
$3.08 ¥487
-57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.77 HK$124
$26.94 ¥4,257
-41.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$4.03 HK$31.65
$1.05 ¥167
283.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.7K HK$350.5K
$19.8K ¥3.1M
125.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K HK$296.6K
$16.6K ¥2.6M
127.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
Matsuyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$250 HK$1,959
$143 ¥22.5K
74.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.60 HK$122
$24.10 ¥3,808
-35.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.77 HK$171
$43.52 ¥6,876
-49.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
Matsuyama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$94.2 HK$739
$58.8 ¥9,293
60.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.29 HK$72.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.91 HK$109
$12.60 ¥1,990
10.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong
Matsuyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,162 HK$9,122
$327 ¥51.7K
255.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.9K HK$171.6K
$6,187 ¥977.5K
253.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
Matsuyama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0 HK$534
$48.97 ¥7,737
38.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.91 HK$329
$24.93 ¥3,938
68.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 HK$626
$46.50 ¥7,347
71.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 HK$956
$66.1 ¥10.4K
84.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
Matsuyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,241 HK$17.6K
$534 ¥84.4K
319.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,718 HK$13.5K
$374 ¥59.1K
359.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,041 HK$39.6K
$1,186 ¥187.3K
325.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 HK$27.0K
$654 ¥103.3K
425.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.2K HK$229.0K
$4,764 ¥752.6K
512.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.6K HK$137.9K
$1,942 ¥306.8K
804.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong
Matsuyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,271 HK$25.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.91
2.28
71.49%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: October 10, 2026

Last update for Matsuyama: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
$1.7K
Matsuyama
$374 78.2% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
$411
Matsuyama
$381 7.2% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
$287
Matsuyama
$210 26.7% $77
Eating Out
Hong Kong
$201
Matsuyama
$116 42.6% $86
Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
$140
Matsuyama
$84 40.1% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
$122
Matsuyama
$84 31.1% $38
Getting Around
Hong Kong
$105
Matsuyama
$75 28.5% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,241 in Hong Kong versus $534 in Matsuyama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Hong Kong versus $31.00 in Matsuyama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $411 vs $381 – making Matsuyama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇯🇵 Matsuyama
🕒 Local time
22:41 10:41 PM
23:41 11:41 PM
1 h ahead of Hong Kong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,367,900 Capital
511,192
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 7.85 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.82 HKD (1 HKD = 0.113 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hong Kong Matsuyama 2,230 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hong Kong
  • Matsuyama

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 Matsuyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hong Kong and in Matsuyama compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,984 in Hong Kong, $1,324 in Matsuyama – roughly 125% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Hong Kong compared to Matsuyama?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,476 per month in Hong Kong and $1,985 in Matsuyama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hong Kong and Matsuyama?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Matsuyama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Hong Kong and $31.00 in Matsuyama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hong Kong or Matsuyama?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,984 in Hong Kong and $1,324 in Matsuyama. That's a gap of about 125%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matsuyama, where all-in costs run around $1,324, than in Hong Kong at $2,984. In Matsuyama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hong Kong it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hong Kong and Matsuyama?
It depends on your priorities. Hong Kong has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,324 in Matsuyama to $2,984 in Hong Kong. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Hong Kong or Matsuyama safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Hong Kong and Matsuyama?
If budget matters most, go with Matsuyama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hong Kong makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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