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 $2,757 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,744 in Waco, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,210 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,748 in Waco, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,664 per month in Hong Kong vs $4,753 in Waco, TX, rent included.

Hong Kong and Waco, TX have comparable living costs — the differences are in the details.

Both Hong Kong and Waco, TX sit above the global median – Hong Kong by 106%, Waco, TX by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.91 HK$69.7

$19.87 $19.87

-55.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 HK$507

$62.0 $62.0

4.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.48 HK$50.8

$10.02 $10.02

-35.33%

Cappuccino

$5.17 HK$40.46

$5.56 $5.56

-7.01%

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

$1.29 HK$10.12

$2.13 $2.13

-39.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 HK$8.57

$1.48 $1.48

-26.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 HK$54.3

$5.90 $5.90

17.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.26 HK$48.98

$4.95 $4.95

26.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.13 HK$24.54

$1.02 $1.02

206.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 HK$17.40

$2.85 $2.85

-22.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 HK$15.87

$2.60 $2.60

-21.92%

Eggs

$3.45 HK$27.02

$4.40 $4.40

-21.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.99 HK$196

$12.22 $12.22

104.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.35 HK$81.1

$10.76 $10.76

-3.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.51 HK$176

$11.60 $11.60

94.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 HK$27.89

$3.86 $3.86

-7.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.34 HK$18.30

$1.17 $1.17

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 HK$30.50

$3.90 $3.90

Tomato (1kg)

$3.02 HK$23.68

$3.74 $3.74

-19.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 HK$17.86

$2.86 $2.86

-20.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 HK$18.08

$2.72 $2.72

-15.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 HK$13.22

$1.59 $1.59

6.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 HK$13.26

$1.79 $1.79

-5.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.07 HK$102

$7.85 $7.85

66.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 HK$119

$13.56 $13.56

11.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 HK$14.38

$1.72 $1.72

6.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 HK$21.36

$3.44 $3.44

-20.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.74 HK$13.65

$1.51 $1.51

15.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 HK$500

$39.98 $39.98

59.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 HK$29.69

$4.51 $4.51

-15.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 HK$10.66

$1.83 $1.83

-25.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.09 HK$118

$35.35 $35.35

-57.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.11 HK$24.32

$0.73 $0.73

326.03%

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

$38.7K HK$303.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

49.48%

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

$33.0K HK$258.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

26.41%

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

$234 HK$1,831

$172 $172

35.57%

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

$18.22 HK$143

$60.1 $60.1

-69.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.53 HK$176

$65.7 $65.7

-65.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.8 HK$601

$27.12 $27.12

183.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.74 HK$68.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.70 HK$99.5

$9.74 $9.74

30.39%

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

$989 HK$7,747

$866 $866

14.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.6K HK$169.4K

$22.1K $22.1K

-2.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 HK$581

$52.2 $52.2

42.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.99 HK$305

$46.56 $46.56

-16.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 HK$709

$79.6 $79.6

13.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 HK$1,119

$117 $117

22.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 HK$17.3K

$1,198 $1,198

84.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,587 HK$12.4K

$1,574 $1,574

0.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,751 HK$37.2K

$2,421 $2,421

96.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,003 HK$23.5K

$2,222 $2,222

35.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$25.7K HK$201.4K

$1,935 $1,935

1229.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.0K HK$125.4K

$1,940 $1,940

725.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,443 HK$27.0K

$3,273 $3,273

5.18%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Waco, TX: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,205 in Hong Kong versus $1,198 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 5% higher in Hong Kong. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65 in Hong Kong versus $62 in Waco, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $337 – 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,135 per month in Hong Kong and $4,116 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.

Public transport costs about 60% less in Waco, TX. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Waco, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,744, than in Hong Kong at $2,757. 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 $2,744 in Waco, TX to $2,757 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.