🙂A single person spends $388 per month in India vs $2,752 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $617 per month in India vs $4,270 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $846 per month in India vs $5,787 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
🙂India is roughly 86% cheaper than Hong Kong (China) on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊India sits 71% below the global median, while Hong Kong (China) is 105% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏India has a wider regional cost range ($264–$888) than Hong Kong (China) ($2,752–$2,752), so location matters more when choosing where to live in India.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49₹237
$8.99HK$70.4
-72.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20₹1,353
$63.0HK$494
-77.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.98₹379
$6.56HK$51.4
-39.33%
Cappuccino
$1.88₹179
$4.98HK$39.04
-62.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₹41.98
$1.30HK$10.15
-66.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹18.57
$1.09HK$8.55
-82.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02₹192
$6.85HK$53.7
-70.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45₹329
$6.54HK$51.3
-47.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.72₹68.3
$3.07HK$24.02
-76.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52₹49.26
$2.22HK$17.43
-76.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72₹68.7
$1.96HK$15.35
-63.27%
Eggs
$0.93₹88.8
$3.52HK$27.56
-73.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.24₹499
$25.75HK$202
-79.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07₹292
$10.51HK$82.3
-70.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$21.77HK$171
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.17₹207
$3.62HK$28.35
-40.06%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76₹72.2
$2.31HK$18.12
-67.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05₹100
$3.88HK$30.38
-72.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53₹50.7
$3.08HK$24.16
-82.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39₹37.53
$2.34HK$18.31
-83.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49₹46.81
$2.22HK$17.41
-77.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52₹49.35
$1.68HK$13.15
-69.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33₹31.13
$1.72HK$13.51
-80.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05₹386
$13.10HK$103
-69.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.39₹704
$18.91HK$148
-60.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84₹175
$1.83HK$14.36
0.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90₹277
$2.66HK$20.81
9.02%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.65₹538
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₹34.59
$1.68HK$13.13
-78.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.74₹928
$62.5HK$490
-84.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95₹90.6
$3.59HK$28.16
-73.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30₹28.64
$1.31HK$10.27
-77.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.73₹165
$14.66HK$115
-88.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₹117
$3.11HK$24.35
-60.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K₹1.3M
$38.2KHK$299.7K
-63.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K₹2.2M
$32.9KHK$257.5K
-31.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.88₹3,894
$235HK$1,839
-82.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91₹372
$17.94HK$141
-78.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81₹744
$22.44HK$176
-65.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.15₹1,538
$76.2HK$597
-78.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49₹713
$8.51HK$66.7
-11.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42₹326
$12.82HK$100
-73.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$69.9₹6,660
$986HK$7,725
-92.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,793₹170.8K
$21.4KHK$167.5K
-91.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83₹2,460
$72.9HK$571
-64.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61₹2,535
$39.60HK$310
-32.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.24₹4,309
$90.8HK$711
-50.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68₹3,208
$143HK$1,123
-76.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$178₹17.0K
$2,224HK$17.4K
-91.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115₹10.9K
$1,571HK$12.3K
-92.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$407₹38.8K
$4,893HK$38.3K
-91.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$264₹25.1K
$3,105HK$24.3K
-91.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,240₹118.1K
$27.4KHK$214.6K
-95.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$631₹60.1K
$17.0KHK$133.6K
-96.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$432₹41.2K
$3,187HK$25.0K
-86.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.02
3.97
127.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: June 2, 2026
Last update for Hong Kong (China): May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $127 in India vs $2,235 in Hong Kong (China). For reference, capital cities sit at $239 in Delhi and $2,235 in Hong Kong.
💰Average salary: $398 in India vs $3,166 in Hong Kong (China). The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 1660% higher in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Dining out costs 491% more in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Public transport is 611% more expensive in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Salaries are 695% higher in Hong Kong (China), giving Hong Kong (China) stronger purchasing power.
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 378% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Hong Kong (China) or India?
Housing costs more in Hong Kong (China), and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Hong Kong (China) consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Hong Kong (China) vs India?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in India, contributing to the overall 378% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Hong Kong (China) and India on $1,000 per month?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in India, but in Hong Kong (China) it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Hong Kong (China) or India?
India is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.