For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $3,046 in Hong Kong (China), rent and utilities included – about $31,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in India and in Hong Kong (China)
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in India and in Hong Kong (China) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $399 per month in India vs $3,046 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
India $399
Hong Kong (China) $3,046
A couple spends around $639 per month in India vs $4,715 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
India $639
Hong Kong (China) $4,715
A family of three spends $879 per month in India vs $6,384 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
India $879
Hong Kong (China) $6,384
📏
The regional cost range is wider in India ($230–$813) than in Hong Kong (China) ($3,028–$3,028), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in India is roughly 87% lower than in Hong Kong (China) on average.
📊
India sits 71% below the global median, while Hong Kong (China) is 124% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14₹204
$8.47HK$66.5
-74.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.46₹995
$64.7HK$508
-83.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.80₹361
$6.25HK$49.02
-39.20%
Cappuccino
$1.68₹160
$5.17HK$40.58
-67.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₹35.99
$1.31HK$10.28
-70.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.60
$1.13HK$8.88
-86.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹178
$7.44HK$58.4
-74.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18₹303
$6.54HK$51.3
-51.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹59.2
$2.90HK$22.76
-78.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50₹47.76
$2.35HK$18.47
-78.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63₹60.3
$2.25HK$17.68
-72.00%
Eggs
$0.96₹91.3
$3.45HK$27.10
-72.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.85₹461
$24.79HK$194
-80.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84₹271
$8.85HK$69.4
-67.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$18.08HK$142
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.00₹190
$4.05HK$31.77
-50.62%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65₹61.4
$2.62HK$20.55
-75.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₹92.3
$4.71HK$36.93
-79.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47₹44.30
$3.95HK$30.95
-88.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹31.87
$3.21HK$25.15
-89.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹39.73
$3.22HK$25.24
-86.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47₹44.39
$1.66HK$13.00
-71.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.67
$1.77HK$13.92
-82.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08₹483
$13.43HK$105
-62.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.31₹695
$15.22HK$119
-51.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63₹155
$1.98HK$15.50
-17.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₹262
$2.29HK$17.95
20.52%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.11₹486
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₹24.86
$1.34HK$10.50
-80.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.58₹816
$89.5HK$702
-90.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00₹94.7
$3.73HK$29.22
-73.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹25.74
$1.36HK$10.66
-80.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹146
$16.00HK$126
-90.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹102
$3.98HK$31.21
-73.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K₹1.1M
$44.5KHK$348.9K
-74.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₹1.9M
$37.6KHK$295.3K
-46.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.08₹3,527
$239HK$1,878
-84.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58₹340
$15.99HK$125
-77.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.15₹680
$21.59HK$169
-66.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.00₹1,427
$98.3HK$771
-84.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.17₹682
$9.38HK$73.6
-23.56%
Cinema Ticket
$3.20₹304
$12.59HK$98.8
-74.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.8₹5,592
$1,280HK$10.0K
-95.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,667₹158.5K
$22.6KHK$177.3K
-92.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.03₹2,191
$67.8HK$531
-66.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.17₹2,299
$43.21HK$339
-44.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.20₹3,918
$82.9HK$650
-50.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.62₹2,817
$124HK$973
-76.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146₹13.9K
$2,373HK$18.6K
-93.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.4₹9,165
$1,777HK$13.9K
-94.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343₹32.6K
$5,399HK$42.4K
-93.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234₹22.2K
$3,614HK$28.4K
-93.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,177₹111.9K
$29.5KHK$231.1K
-96.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹60.2K
$17.9KHK$140.2K
-96.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$409₹38.9K
$3,297HK$25.9K
-87.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.93
3.79
135.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Last update for Hong Kong (China): October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.6%
Hong Kong (China)
$412 13.5% ↑ 303%$309
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$96 24.1%
Hong Kong (China)
$1.8K 58.3% ↑ 1744%$1.7K
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.7%
Hong Kong (China)
$209 6.9% ↑ 214%$142
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.3%
Hong Kong (China)
$143 4.7% ↑ 169%$90
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$48 12%
Hong Kong (China)
$277 9.1% ↑ 479%$229
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$21 5.4%
Hong Kong (China)
$124 4.1% ↑ 478%$102
🚌Getting Around
India
$12 3%
Hong Kong (China)
$105 3.5% ↑ 780%$93
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$220 25.1%
Hong Kong (China)
$957 15% ↑ 334%$737
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$234 26.6%
Hong Kong (China)
$3.6K 56.6% ↑ 1446%$3.4K
🍽Eating Out
India
$181 20.6%
Hong Kong (China)
$732 11.5% ↑ 304%$551
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$118 13.4%
Hong Kong (China)
$318 5% ↑ 169%$200
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$51 5.9%
Hong Kong (China)
$293 4.6% ↑ 470%$242
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.7%
Hong Kong (China)
$256 4% ↑ 413%$206
🚌Getting Around
India
$24 2.8%
Hong Kong (China)
$213 3.3% ↑ 772%$189
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $120 in India vs $2,432 in Hong Kong (China). For reference, capital cities sit at $277 in Delhi and $2,432 in Hong Kong.
💰Average salary: $412 in India vs $3,264 in Hong Kong (China). The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1927% higher in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Dining out costs 473% more in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Public transport is 1000% more expensive in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Salaries are about 7.9 times higher in Hong Kong (China).
India→Hong Kong (China)3,760 km≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
India
Hong Kong (China)
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
India vs Hong Kong (China): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Hong Kong (China) or India?
India is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 87% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Hong Kong (China) or in India?
Housing costs more in Hong Kong (China): a central one-bedroom averages $2,432 versus $120 in India.
How do daily expenses compare in Hong Kong (China) vs India?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in India, adding to the overall 663% price gap.
Which country is better for expats: Hong Kong (China) or India?
India is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.