Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Waco, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Waco, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,752 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,692 in Waco, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,269 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,789 in Waco, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,787 per month in Hong Kong vs $4,886 in Waco, TX, rent included.

Hong Kong costs about 2% more than Waco, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hong Kong and Waco, TX sit above the global median – Hong Kong by 105%, Waco, TX by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.00 HK$70.5

$19.98 $19.98

-54.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.9 HK$509

$62.4 $62.4

4.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.50 HK$50.9

$9.91 $9.91

-34.41%

Cappuccino

$5.08 HK$39.77

$5.67 $5.67

-10.41%

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

$1.31 HK$10.23

$2.22 $2.22

-40.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 HK$8.23

$1.47 $1.47

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.77 HK$53.0

$6.09 $6.09

11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.42 HK$50.3

$5.13 $5.13

25.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.07 HK$24.03

$1.00 $1.00

207.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 HK$17.21

$2.84 $2.84

-22.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 HK$15.39

$2.69 $2.69

-27.14%

Eggs

$3.50 HK$27.45

$4.29 $4.29

-18.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.62 HK$201

$11.83 $11.83

116.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.17 HK$79.7

$10.53 $10.53

-3.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.56 HK$177

$11.93 $11.93

89.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 HK$27.32

$4.05 $4.05

-13.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 HK$17.45

$1.17 $1.17

90.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 HK$29.98

$4.02 $4.02

-4.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 HK$24.05

$3.86 $3.86

-20.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 HK$17.80

$2.74 $2.74

-17.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 HK$17.77

$2.86 $2.86

-20.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 HK$13.33

$1.58 $1.58

7.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 HK$13.39

$1.74 $1.74

-1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.78 HK$100

$8.18 $8.18

56.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.49 HK$153

$13.99 $13.99

39.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 HK$14.42

$1.75 $1.75

5.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 HK$21.03

$3.56 $3.56

-24.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.70 HK$13.29

$1.46 $1.46

16.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.0 HK$501

$39.77 $39.77

60.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 HK$29.15

$4.29 $4.29

-13.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 HK$10.74

$1.82 $1.82

-24.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.62 HK$115

$35.53 $35.53

-58.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.08 HK$24.15

$0.72 $0.72

327.78%

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

$38.7K HK$302.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

53.59%

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

$32.2K HK$252.5K

$25.8K $25.8K

24.87%

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

$227 HK$1,778

$170 $170

33.29%

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

$17.78 HK$139

$59.6 $59.6

-70.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.40 HK$176

$67.0 $67.0

-66.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.5 HK$591

$27.93 $27.93

170.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.53 HK$66.8

Cinema Ticket

$12.54 HK$98.3

$9.62 $9.62

30.35%

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

$987 HK$7,730

$834 $834

18.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.6K HK$169.2K

$21.9K $21.9K

-1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.5 HK$583

$52.6 $52.6

41.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.85 HK$304

$46.48 $46.48

-16.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 HK$698

$78.2 $78.2

13.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 HK$1,102

$119 $119

18.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,235 HK$17.5K

$1,179 $1,179

89.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,543 HK$12.1K

$1,576 $1,576

-2.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,752 HK$37.2K

$2,381 $2,381

99.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,041 HK$23.8K

$2,252 $2,252

35.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$27.9K HK$218.9K

$1,938 $1,938

1341.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.3K HK$135.6K

$1,915 $1,915

804.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,166 HK$24.8K

$3,153 $3,153

0.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.97

6.45

-38.45%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: May 30, 2026

Last update for Waco, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,235 in Hong Kong versus $1,179 in Waco, TX. 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 0% 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 $62.0 in Waco, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $424 vs $338 – making Waco, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Waco, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,752 in Hong Kong, $2,692 in Waco, TX – roughly 2% apart. Hong Kong costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,128 per month in Hong Kong and $4,039 in Waco, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Waco, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Hong Kong and $62.0 in Waco, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,752 in Hong Kong and $2,692 in Waco, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Waco, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,692, than in Hong Kong at $2,752. In Waco, TX 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 $2,692 in Waco, TX to $2,752 in Hong Kong. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Waco, TX. 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.