Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Waco, TX and Hong Kong

For one person, living is cheaper in Waco, TX: $2,147 a month against $3,028 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Waco, TX, United States
Hong Kong, Hong Kong (China)
Waco, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,147
/mo nomad
Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
$3,028
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Waco, TX and in Hong Kong

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Waco, TX and in Hong Kong actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,147 per month in Waco, TX vs $3,028 in Hong Kong, rent included.

  • Waco, TX $2,147
  • Hong Kong $3,028

A couple spends around $2,955 per month in Waco, TX vs $4,727 in Hong Kong, rent included.

  • Waco, TX $2,955
  • Hong Kong $4,727

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Waco, TX vs $6,426 in Hong Kong, rent included.

  • Waco, TX $3,763
  • Hong Kong $6,426

Waco, TX is about 29% cheaper than Hong Kong, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Waco, TX and Hong Kong sit above the global median – Waco, TX by 58%, Hong Kong by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waco, TX
Hong Kong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.17 $15.17
$8.11 HK$63.6
87.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4 $59.4
$62.9 HK$493
-5.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.10 $12.10
$6.33 HK$49.65
91.15%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.03 HK$39.44
11.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.27 HK$9.98
41.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.08 HK$8.47
37.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.90 $4.90
$7.74 HK$60.7
-36.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.42 $5.42
$6.55 HK$51.4
-17.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waco, TX
Hong Kong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$2.87 HK$22.51
-73.17%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.44 HK$19.11
36.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.13 HK$16.69
-3.29%
Eggs
$2.87 $2.87
$3.43 HK$26.88
-16.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.05 $12.05
$24.73 HK$194
-51.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.72 $9.72
$8.86 HK$69.5
9.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.86 $11.86
$17.81 HK$140
-33.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$4.21 HK$32.99
-10.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$2.60 HK$20.36
-55.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$4.65 HK$36.51
-17.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$4.05 HK$31.80
-8.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$3.18 HK$24.97
-25.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$3.25 HK$25.46
-8.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.59 HK$12.47
11.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.72 HK$13.50
-40.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.11 $10.11
$13.27 HK$104
-23.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.70 $13.70
$15.22 HK$119
-9.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.93 HK$15.17
-9.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 $3.88
$2.28 HK$17.91
70.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Waco, TX
Hong Kong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.28 HK$10.05
14.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.46 $39.46
$88.0 HK$691
-55.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.06 $10.06
$3.75 HK$29.38
168.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.30 HK$10.23
40.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.7 $60.7
$15.92 HK$125
281.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$4.05 HK$31.80
-79.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$44.6K HK$349.5K
-38.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$37.5K HK$294.3K
-31.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waco, TX
Hong Kong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 $180
$242 HK$1,895
-25.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.07 $40.07
$15.72 HK$123
154.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 $54.3
$21.12 HK$166
157.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waco, TX
Hong Kong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.65 $23.65
$99.8 HK$783
-76.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.52 HK$74.7
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.86 $8.86
$12.80 HK$100
-30.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waco, TX
Hong Kong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$760 $760
$1,287 HK$10.1K
-40.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K $17.7K
$22.0K HK$172.7K
-19.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waco, TX
Hong Kong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.06 $48.06
$66.7 HK$523
-27.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.56 $38.56
$42.46 HK$333
-9.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.8 $82.8
$83.6 HK$655
-0.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.6 $94.6
$122 HK$956
-22.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waco, TX
Hong Kong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 $1,227
$2,432 HK$19.1K
-49.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,057 $1,057
$1,764 HK$13.8K
-40.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,388 $1,388
$5,347 HK$41.9K
-74.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,396 $1,396
$3,677 HK$28.8K
-62.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,583 $2,583
$28.4K HK$223.0K
-90.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,753 $1,753
$18.1K HK$141.8K
-90.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waco, TX
Hong Kong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,230 $3,230
$3,264 HK$25.6K
-1.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
3.79
71.24%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Waco, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Hong Kong: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Waco, TX
$1.1K
Hong Kong
$1.8K 66.9% $707
Groceries & Markets
Waco, TX
$317
Hong Kong
$410 29.4% $93
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waco, TX
$274
Hong Kong
$278 1.4% $3.9
Eating Out
Waco, TX
$274
Hong Kong
$205 24.9% $68
Clothing & Footwear
Waco, TX
$119
Hong Kong
$142 19.2% $23
Getting Around
Waco, TX
$65
Hong Kong
$103 60.1% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Waco, TX
$41
Hong Kong
$125 203% $84

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,227 in Waco, TX versus $2,432 in Hong Kong. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Waco, TX versus $63 in Hong Kong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $317 vs $410 – making Waco, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Waco, TX
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🕒 Local time
04:13 4:13 AM
17:13 5:13 PM
13 h ahead of Waco, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
138,486
1,367,900 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

HKD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 7.84 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.73 HKD (1 HKD = 0.115 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Waco, TX Hong Kong 13,160 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Waco, TX
  • Hong Kong

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
Waco, TX vs Hong Kong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Waco, TX and in Hong Kong compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,147 in Waco, TX, $3,028 in Hong Kong – roughly 41% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Waco, TX compared to Hong Kong?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,220 per month in Waco, TX and $4,543 in Hong Kong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Waco, TX and Hong Kong?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Waco, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,227 there versus $2,432 in Hong Kong.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Waco, TX and $63 in Hong Kong. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Waco, TX or Hong Kong?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,147 in Waco, TX and $3,028 in Hong Kong. That’s a gap of about 41%.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Waco, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,147, than in Hong Kong at $3,028. In Waco, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hong Kong it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Waco, TX or Hong Kong?
Families tend to lean toward Waco, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: Waco, TX or Hong Kong?
For expats, Waco, TX is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 41% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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