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 $2,817 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,775 in Waco, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,330 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,805 in Waco, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,842 per month in Hong Kong vs $4,834 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 111%, Waco, TX by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.76 HK$68.7

$20.10 $20.10

-56.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 HK$493

$63.3 $63.3

-0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 HK$50.7

$10.19 $10.19

-36.51%

Cappuccino

$5.20 HK$40.80

$5.79 $5.79

-10.19%

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

$1.28 HK$10.06

$2.22 $2.22

-42.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 HK$8.58

$1.47 $1.47

-25.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.85 HK$53.7

$5.94 $5.94

15.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.49 HK$50.9

$4.91 $4.91

32.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.99 HK$23.42

$1.01 $1.01

196.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 HK$17.89

$2.73 $2.73

-16.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 HK$15.32

$2.69 $2.69

-27.51%

Eggs

$3.38 HK$26.49

$4.43 $4.43

-23.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.12 HK$197

$11.88 $11.88

111.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.31 HK$80.8

$10.53 $10.53

-2.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.51 HK$176

$11.87 $11.87

89.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 HK$27.42

$3.87 $3.87

-9.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 HK$17.64

$1.18 $1.18

90.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 HK$29.58

$4.12 $4.12

-8.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 HK$23.25

$3.78 $3.78

-21.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 HK$17.82

$2.84 $2.84

-20.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 HK$17.18

$2.72 $2.72

-19.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 HK$13.87

$1.65 $1.65

7.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 HK$12.94

$1.78 $1.78

-7.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.90 HK$101

$7.98 $7.98

61.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.39 HK$136

$13.57 $13.57

28.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 HK$13.86

$1.77 $1.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 HK$20.67

$3.57 $3.57

-26.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.68 HK$13.18

$1.54 $1.54

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 HK$501

$39.92 $39.92

60.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 HK$29.49

$4.45 $4.45

-15.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 HK$10.48

$1.89 $1.89

-29.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.67 HK$115

$35.17 $35.17

-58.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.00 HK$23.54

$0.72 $0.72

316.67%

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

$38.4K HK$300.9K

$25.6K $25.6K

49.88%

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

$32.6K HK$255.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

25.37%

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

$228 HK$1,790

$172 $172

32.41%

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

$17.89 HK$140

$60.6 $60.6

-70.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.80 HK$179

$65.8 $65.8

-65.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 HK$594

$27.62 $27.62

174.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.72 HK$68.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.49 HK$97.9

$9.69 $9.69

28.90%

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

$1,005 HK$7,880

$843 $843

19.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K HK$168.0K

$22.0K $22.0K

-2.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.0 HK$588

$52.2 $52.2

43.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.47 HK$302

$45.90 $45.90

-16.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 HK$703

$78.1 $78.1

14.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 HK$1,102

$118 $118

19.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 HK$17.2K

$1,218 $1,218

80.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,569 HK$12.3K

$1,547 $1,547

1.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,769 HK$37.4K

$2,413 $2,413

97.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,070 HK$24.1K

$2,258 $2,258

35.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$28.0K HK$219.6K

$1,979 $1,979

1315.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.5K HK$137.4K

$1,982 $1,982

783.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,252 HK$25.5K

$3,195 $3,195

1.78%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Waco, TX: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,197 in Hong Kong versus $1,218 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 2% 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 $63.0 in Hong Kong versus $63.0 in Waco, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $416 in Hong Kong vs $337 in Waco, TX – so Waco, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $2,817 in Hong Kong, $2,775 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 $4,226 per month in Hong Kong and $4,163 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 $63.0 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 $2,817 in Hong Kong and $2,775 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 $2,775, than in Hong Kong at $2,817. 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 $2,775 in Waco, TX to $2,817 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.