Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Puttalam

For one person, living is cheaper in Puttalam: $62.8 a month against $3,050 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $35,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Hong Kong
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Hong Kong Living Index

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Hong Kong

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

$3,050

/mo nomad

Puttalam

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

$62.8

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $3,050 per month in Hong Kong vs $63 in Puttalam, rent included.

Hong Kong $3,050
Puttalam $63

A couple spends around $4,786 per month in Hong Kong vs $109 in Puttalam, rent included.

Hong Kong $4,786
Puttalam $109

A family of three spends $6,522 per month in Hong Kong vs $156 in Puttalam, rent included.

Hong Kong $6,522
Puttalam $156

Hong Kong costs about 4757% more than Puttalam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Hong Kong sits 126% above the global median, while Puttalam is 95% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.37 HK$65.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.4 HK$497

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.53 HK$51.2

Cappuccino

$5.15 HK$40.33

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

$1.38 HK$10.80

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 HK$8.86

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.73 HK$60.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.56 HK$43.62

Milk (1 liter)

$2.94 HK$23.01

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 HK$18.91

$0.49 LKR 162

391.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 HK$17.42

$0.76 LKR 254

192.11%

Eggs

$3.41 HK$26.73

$1.28 LKR 424

166.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.18 HK$182

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.67 HK$68.0

$3.67 LKR 1,221

136.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.90 HK$140

$7.55 LKR 2,510

137.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 HK$33.02

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 HK$20.19

$0.77 LKR 255

235.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.68 HK$36.68

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 HK$31.33

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 HK$24.98

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 HK$25.60

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 HK$12.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 HK$13.44

$0.35 LKR 116

388.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.33 HK$105

$7.27 LKR 2,418

83.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 HK$122

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 HK$15.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 HK$17.83

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 HK$9.67

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.6 HK$686

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 HK$29.46

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 HK$10.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.93 HK$125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$4.27 HK$33.48

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

$45.0K HK$352.7K

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

$37.6K HK$294.8K

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

$237 HK$1,859

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

$15.46 HK$121

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.46 HK$176

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.4 HK$764

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.02 HK$70.7

Cinema Ticket

$12.98 HK$102

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

$1,302 HK$10.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K HK$237.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 HK$533

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.80 HK$335

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 HK$637

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 HK$949

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,385 HK$18.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 HK$14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,695 HK$44.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,786 HK$29.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.8K HK$226.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$18.9K HK$147.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,194 HK$25.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.89

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

Last update for Hong Kong: November 2, 2026

Last update for Puttalam: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Hong Kong

$1.8K 58.8%

Puttalam

–

Groceries & Markets

Hong Kong

$407 13.3%

Puttalam

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hong Kong

$275 9%

Puttalam

–

Eating Out

Hong Kong

$208 6.8%

Puttalam

–

Clothing & Footwear

Hong Kong

$141 4.6%

Puttalam

–

Sport & Entertainment

Hong Kong

$123 4%

Puttalam

–

Getting Around

Hong Kong

$103 3.4%

Puttalam

–

Good to know

🇭🇰 Hong Kong

🇱🇰 Puttalam

🕒 Local time

13:28 1:28 PM

10:58 10:58 AM

2 h 30 min behind Hong Kong

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,367,900 Capital

45,400

💱 Currency

Hong Kong Dollar HKD $

Sri Lankan Rupee LKR Rs

📈 Exchange rate

1 HKD = 0.128 USD

1 HKD = 0.114 EUR

1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD

1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇭🇰 Hong Kong Dollar ($)

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 7.84 HKD (1 HKD = 0.128 USD). 1 EUR = 8.8 HKD (1 HKD = 0.114 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 373 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

USD to HKD in detail →

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Hong Kong Puttalam 4,000 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

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Puttalam

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 Puttalam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,050 in Hong Kong, $63 in Puttalam – Puttalam comes out roughly 98% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,576 per month in Hong Kong and $94 in Puttalam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,050 in Hong Kong and $63 in Puttalam. That makes Puttalam about 98% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 547% more in Hong Kong, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Puttalam, where all-in costs run around $63, than in Hong Kong at $3,050. In Puttalam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hong Kong it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Hong Kong has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $63 in Puttalam to $3,050 in Hong Kong. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.