For one person, living is cheaper in Italy: $1,825 a month against $3,015 in Hong Kong (China), rent and utilities included – about $14,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Italy 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 Italy and in Hong Kong (China) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,825 per month in Italy vs $3,015 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
Italy $1,825
Hong Kong (China) $3,015
A couple spends around $2,790 per month in Italy vs $4,640 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
Italy $2,790
Hong Kong (China) $4,640
A family of three spends $3,756 per month in Italy vs $6,265 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
Italy $3,756
Hong Kong (China) $6,265
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Italy ($1,044–$2,560) than in Hong Kong (China) ($3,005–$3,005), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Italy is roughly 39% lower than in Hong Kong (China) on average.
📊
Both Italy and Hong Kong (China) are pricier than the global median – Italy by 35%, Hong Kong (China) by 122%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.90€17.70
$8.11HK$63.6
145.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1€68.6
$64.4HK$506
19.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41€10.15
$6.19HK$48.57
84.33%
Cappuccino
$2.01€1.78
$4.97HK$38.97
-59.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13€2.78
$1.28HK$10.01
144.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.24
$1.12HK$8.77
25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.76€5.12
$7.53HK$59.1
-23.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73€5.10
$6.36HK$49.88
-9.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62€1.44
$2.99HK$23.50
-45.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38€2.12
$2.40HK$18.82
-0.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.60
$2.13HK$16.75
37.09%
Eggs
$4.17€3.70
$3.38HK$26.52
23.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.28€15.37
$25.36HK$199
-31.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.73€11.32
$8.62HK$67.7
47.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.39€18.13
$18.24HK$143
11.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61€2.32
$4.25HK$33.36
-38.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12€1.88
$2.57HK$20.18
-17.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63€2.34
$4.59HK$36.00
-42.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34€2.97
$3.89HK$30.53
-14.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.79
$3.21HK$25.16
-37.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.69
$3.16HK$24.77
-40.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56€1.39
$1.62HK$12.73
-3.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.49
$1.79HK$14.05
-69.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84€6.08
$13.41HK$105
-48.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.64€6.80
$15.28HK$120
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.61
$2.05HK$16.08
-12.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.14
$2.21HK$17.38
8.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.86€1.65
$1.33HK$10.41
39.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.27€38.49
$88.3HK$693
-50.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.64€5.01
$3.59HK$28.17
57.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71€1.52
$1.36HK$10.68
25.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.04€29.39
$16.23HK$127
103.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.87
$4.06HK$31.85
-48.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K€31.8K
$45.4KHK$356.2K
-21.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K€33.3K
$37.7KHK$296.0K
-0.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$230€204
$245HK$1,926
-6.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60€10.32
$15.79HK$124
-26.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.40€27.04
$21.90HK$172
38.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.9€47.96
$91.1HK$715
-40.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.24€21.56
$9.34HK$73.3
159.53%
Cinema Ticket
$10.58€9.41
$12.72HK$99.8
-16.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$545€485
$1,156HK$9,070
-52.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K€10.3K
$22.6KHK$177.7K
-49.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4€78.7
$67.7HK$531
30.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.60€35.22
$43.32HK$340
-8.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€89.8
$82.1HK$644
23.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€118
$122HK$958
9.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$799€711
$2,288HK$18.0K
-65.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$624€555
$1,753HK$13.8K
-64.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,423€1,266
$5,142HK$40.4K
-72.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,030€916
$3,518HK$27.6K
-70.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,601€3,203
$28.8KHK$225.7K
-87.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,270€2,019
$17.6KHK$138.3K
-87.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,893€1,684
$3,265HK$25.6K
-42.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.56
3.79
-6.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: October 18, 2026
Last update for Hong Kong (China): October 19, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$624 34.2%
Hong Kong (China)
$1.8K 58.2% ↑ 181%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$350 19.2%
Hong Kong (China)
$413 13.7% ↑ 18.2%$64
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$276 15.1%
Hong Kong (China)
$203 6.7% ↓ 26.4%$73
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$272 14.9%
Hong Kong (China)
$283 9.4% ↑ 4.2%$11
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$163 8.9%
Hong Kong (China)
$142 4.7% ↓ 13%$21
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$75 4.1%
Hong Kong (China)
$116 3.9% ↑ 55.2%$41
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$65 3.6%
Hong Kong (China)
$104 3.5% ↑ 60.2%$39
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$1K 27.4%
Hong Kong (China)
$3.5K 56.2% ↑ 242%$2.5K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$828 22.1%
Hong Kong (China)
$961 15.3% ↑ 16.1%$133
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$945 25.2%
Hong Kong (China)
$718 11.5% ↓ 24%$227
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$283 7.5%
Hong Kong (China)
$299 4.8% ↑ 5.5%$16
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$362 9.6%
Hong Kong (China)
$315 5% ↓ 13%$47
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$174 4.6%
Hong Kong (China)
$242 3.9% ↑ 38.9%$68
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$134 3.6%
Hong Kong (China)
$211 3.4% ↑ 57.7%$77
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $724 in Italy vs $2,255 in Hong Kong (China). For reference, capital cities sit at $1,191 in Rome and $2,255 in Hong Kong.
💰Average salary: $1,892 in Italy vs $3,285 in Hong Kong (China). The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 211% higher in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Dining out costs 12% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 120% more expensive in Hong Kong (China).
Italy→Hong Kong (China)9,280 km≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
Italy
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
Italy vs Hong Kong (China): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Hong Kong (China) or Italy?
Italy is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 65% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Hong Kong (China) or in Italy?
Housing costs more in Hong Kong (China): a central one-bedroom averages $2,255 versus $724 in Italy.
Can you live in both Hong Kong (China) and Italy on $2,500 per month?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Italy, 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 Italy?
Italy 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.