Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Suwon

For one person, living is cheaper in Suwon: $1,363 a month against $3,005 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $19,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
$3,005
/mo nomad
Suwon
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,363
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $3,005 per month in Hong Kong vs $1,363 in Suwon, rent included.

  • Hong Kong $3,005
  • Suwon $1,363

A couple spends around $4,643 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,148 in Suwon, rent included.

  • Hong Kong $4,643
  • Suwon $2,148

A family of three spends $6,281 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,933 in Suwon, rent included.

  • Hong Kong $6,281
  • Suwon $2,933

Hong Kong costs about 120% more than Suwon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hong Kong and Suwon sit above the global median – Hong Kong by 122%, Suwon by 1%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong
Suwon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.80 HK$61.2
$5.96 ₩7,921
30.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7 HK$508
$30.15 ₩40.1K
114.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.24 HK$48.97
$7.57 ₩10.1K
-17.57%
Cappuccino
$5.01 HK$39.34
$3.39 ₩4,512
47.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 HK$10.12
$1.60 ₩2,126
-19.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 HK$8.74
$0.63 ₩836
76.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.77 HK$61.0
$3.86 ₩5,129
101.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.41 HK$50.3
$4.77 ₩6,336
34.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
Suwon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.90 HK$22.79
$2.65 ₩3,528
9.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 HK$18.29
$2.67 ₩3,546
-12.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 HK$17.51
$3.40 ₩4,517
-34.41%
Eggs
$3.45 HK$27.04
$3.15 ₩4,184
9.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.96 HK$196
$11.04 ₩14.7K
126.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.79 HK$69.0
$11.50 ₩15.3K
-23.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.71 HK$139
$11.06 ₩14.7K
60.13%
Apples (1kg)
$4.15 HK$32.59
$6.28 ₩8,355
-33.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 HK$20.62
$2.95 ₩3,916
-10.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 HK$35.65
$5.29 ₩7,030
-14.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 HK$32.08
$4.44 ₩5,910
-7.88%
Potato (1kg)
$3.22 HK$25.25
$3.45 ₩4,590
-6.67%
Onion (1kg)
$3.26 HK$25.56
$2.64 ₩3,516
23.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 HK$12.94
$4.86 ₩6,458
-66.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 HK$13.62
$1.30 ₩1,726
33.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.45 HK$106
$3.78 ₩5,029
255.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 HK$119
$13.86 ₩18.4K
9.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 HK$15.44
$2.53 ₩3,369
-22.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 HK$17.42
$3.71 ₩4,939
-40.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong
Suwon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 HK$10.04
$1.21 ₩1,603
5.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.1 HK$707
$47.15 ₩62.7K
91.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 HK$28.84
$2.81 ₩3,739
30.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 HK$10.60
$0.66 ₩882
104.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.21 HK$127
$8.80 ₩11.7K
84.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$4.20 HK$32.94
$1.40 ₩1,856
200.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K HK$352.2K
$28.4K ₩37.7M
58.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K HK$288.9K
$25.5K ₩33.9M
44.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
Suwon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$238 HK$1,865
$185 ₩246.1K
28.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.70 HK$123
$17.99 ₩23.9K
-12.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.91 HK$172
$17.72 ₩23.6K
23.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
Suwon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$91.1 HK$715
$44.21 ₩58.8K
106.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.14 HK$71.8
$11.73 ₩15.6K
-22.08%
Cinema Ticket
$12.96 HK$102
$11.21 ₩14.9K
15.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong
Suwon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,172 HK$9,201
$696 ₩925.0K
68.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.2K HK$174.2K
$18.0K ₩24.0M
23.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
Suwon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9 HK$533
$36.84 ₩49.0K
84.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.57 HK$342
$106 ₩140.4K
-58.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.1 HK$652
$73.8 ₩98.1K
12.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 HK$963
$59.2 ₩78.7K
107.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
Suwon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,255 HK$17.7K
$433 ₩575.7K
420.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,752 HK$13.7K
$351 ₩466.4K
399.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,173 HK$40.6K
$1,164 ₩1.5M
344.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,543 HK$27.8K
$813 ₩1.1M
335.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.3K HK$229.7K
$12.7K ₩16.8M
131.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.5K HK$137.1K
$7,005 ₩9.3M
149.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong
Suwon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,285 HK$25.8K
$2,576 ₩3.4M
27.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
6.5
-41.69%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: October 17, 2026

Last update for Suwon: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
$1.8K
Suwon
$351 80% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
$410
Suwon
$394 4% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
$275
Suwon
$221 19.8% $54
Eating Out
Hong Kong
$203
Suwon
$149 26.5% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
$143
Suwon
$124 13.2% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
$117
Suwon
$67 43.1% $50
Getting Around
Hong Kong
$106
Suwon
$58 45% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,255 in Hong Kong versus $433 in Suwon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 28% higher in Hong Kong, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Hong Kong versus $30.00 in Suwon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $394 – making Suwon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇰🇷 Suwon
🕒 Local time
04:20 4:20 AM
05:20 5:20 AM
1 h ahead of Hong Kong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,367,900 Capital
1,203,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 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 20, 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 Suwon 2,070 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hong Kong
  • Suwon

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 Suwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hong Kong and in Suwon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,005 in Hong Kong, $1,363 in Suwon – roughly 120% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Hong Kong compared to Suwon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,508 per month in Hong Kong and $2,045 in Suwon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hong Kong and Suwon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Suwon, 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 $30.00 in Suwon. 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 Suwon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,005 in Hong Kong and $1,363 in Suwon. That's a gap of about 120%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Suwon, where all-in costs run around $1,363, than in Hong Kong at $3,005. In Suwon 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 Suwon?
It depends on your priorities. Hong Kong has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,363 in Suwon to $3,005 in Hong Kong. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Hong Kong or Suwon 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 Suwon?
If budget matters most, go with Suwon. 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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