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 $2,990 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,561 in Waco, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,601 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,290 in Waco, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,212 per month in Hong Kong vs $4,019 in Waco, TX, rent included.

Hong Kong costs about 17% more than Waco, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hong Kong and Waco, TX sit above the global median – Hong Kong by 117%, Waco, TX by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.06 HK$63.2

$19.77 $19.77

-59.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.7 HK$492

$59.0 $59.0

6.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 HK$49.15

$12.12 $12.12

-48.27%

Cappuccino

$5.05 HK$39.60

$5.52 $5.52

-8.51%

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

$1.27 HK$9.95

$1.79 $1.79

-29.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 HK$8.26

$1.46 $1.46

-28.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.22 HK$56.6

$6.34 $6.34

13.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.69 HK$44.62

$5.42 $5.42

4.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.92 HK$22.94

$0.97 $0.97

201.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 HK$18.58

$3.29 $3.29

-27.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 HK$16.93

$2.02 $2.02

6.93%

Eggs

$3.60 HK$28.21

$3.31 $3.31

8.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.02 HK$204

$12.99 $12.99

100.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 HK$65.5

$14.30 $14.30

-41.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.29 HK$151

$11.99 $11.99

60.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 HK$32.68

$3.66 $3.66

13.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 HK$18.97

$1.13 $1.13

114.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 HK$36.61

$3.89 $3.89

20.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.36 HK$26.36

$3.54 $3.54

-5.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 HK$25.00

$2.39 $2.39

33.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.35 HK$26.28

$2.79 $2.79

20.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 HK$12.37

$1.82 $1.82

-13.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 HK$13.63

$1.04 $1.04

67.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.54 HK$106

$9.56 $9.56

41.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.31 HK$128

$13.52 $13.52

20.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 HK$14.94

$1.76 $1.76

8.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 HK$16.64

$3.42 $3.42

-38.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 HK$10.68

$1.52 $1.52

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.5 HK$702

$39.59 $39.59

126.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 HK$29.46

$2.83 $2.83

32.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 HK$10.22

$1.59 $1.59

-18.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.80 HK$124

$35.48 $35.48

-55.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$4.02 HK$31.56

$0.84 $0.84

378.57%

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

$43.8K HK$343.3K

$36.0K $36.0K

21.75%

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

$36.7K HK$288.0K

$27.2K $27.2K

34.83%

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

$244 HK$1,913

$222 $222

9.90%

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

$14.90 HK$117

$59.6 $59.6

-75.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.47 HK$168

$67.3 $67.3

-68.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.1 HK$745

$27.02 $27.02

251.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.13 HK$79.5

Cinema Ticket

$13.44 HK$105

$9.20 $9.20

46.09%

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

$1,071 HK$8,397

$840 $840

27.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K HK$178.0K

$21.3K $21.3K

6.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 HK$527

$47.67 $47.67

40.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.17 HK$323

$42.93 $42.93

-4.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 HK$631

$90.9 $90.9

-11.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 HK$930

$96.4 $96.4

23.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,265 HK$17.8K

$1,227 $1,227

84.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,691 HK$13.3K

$1,340 $1,340

26.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,099 HK$40.0K

$1,565 $1,565

225.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,370 HK$26.4K

$1,350 $1,350

149.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.3K HK$229.7K

$1,956 $1,956

1397.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.6K HK$138.3K

$1,923 $1,923

817.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,137 HK$24.6K

$3,164 $3,164

-0.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

6.13

-38.01%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: September 6, 2026

Last update for Waco, TX: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,265 in Hong Kong versus $1,227 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 1% higher in Waco, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Hong Kong versus $59.0 in Waco, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 vs $344 – 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: $2,990 in Hong Kong, $2,561 in Waco, TX – roughly 17% apart. Hong Kong costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,486 per month in Hong Kong and $3,842 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 $63.0 in Hong Kong and $59.0 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 $2,990 in Hong Kong and $2,561 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 $2,561, than in Hong Kong at $2,990. 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 $2,561 in Waco, TX to $2,990 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.