Is Hong Kong Expensive? Complete Travel Cost Guide

Is Hong Kong Expensive? Complete Travel Cost Guide

Yes, Hong Kong can be expensive – but it doesn’t have to be! Accommodation is where you’re likely to spend the most, while food, public transport and many of the city’s best experiences can be surprisingly affordable.

I’ve spent more than a month exploring Hong Kong across multiple trips, and I’ve found that you can experience the city on a relatively modest budget if you know where to spend your money.

In this guide, I’ll break down the realistic costs of travelling Hong Kong. This includes accommodation, food, transport, activities as well as a suggested daily budget so you can work out exactly how much you’ll need for your trip.

How much does it cost to travel Hong Kong?

The amount you’ll spend in Hong Kong depends heavily on your travel style, particularly where you decide to stay.

For example, a backpacker staying in a hostel and eating local food will travel way cheaper than someone staying in a central hotel and eating in restaurants every night.

As a rough guide, I’d budget around HK$500-800 per person per day for budget travel. Or around HK$1000-1800 for a more comfortable trip.

These are per-person estimates and include accommodation, food, local transport and some activities, but exclude international flights. Couples sharing a private room may spend less per person than solo travellers.

One of the biggest things to remember is that Hong Kong isn’t equally expensive across all aspects. You can eat fantastic food for very little money and get around the city cheaply, but accommodation can quickly push up your overall budget.

Personally, I like to cheap out on accommodation, and use the money saved to enjoy a much more pleasant experience! Though recent trips have had me staying with friends which makes a big difference!

Is Hong Kong expensive?

Hong Kong is expensive by Asian standards, but not in every way.

Compared to destinations like Thailand , Vietnam or Indonesia, you’ll immediately notice the difference in accommodation prices. Hotels and even hostel beds can cost a lot, especially in central areas.

However, once you’ve paid for somewhere to sleep, prices in Hong Kong can be much more manageable. Public transport is cheap, local food can be affordable and plenty of the city’s best experiences cost nothing!

Therefore, I’d describe Hong Kong as an expensive place to stay, but not necessarily an expensive place to experience.

It actually represents reasonable value compared with cities like London, Singapore or New York. Public transport is cheaper, many attractions are free, and local food remains affordable.

Accommodation Costs

Accommodation will likely be your biggest expense in Hong Kong.

The city has everything from hostel beds to luxury hotels! Unfortunately, even budget accommodation in Hong Kong can feel pricey compared to your £5/night hostels in Southeast Asia!

If you’re travelling on a budget, staying in a hostel is the easiest way to keep costs down. If you’re travelling as a couple, splitting a private room can make a budget hotel much more reasonable.

Typical Accommodation Costs

*These prices are per room, rather than per person. Two people sharing a $HK1000 room are effectively spending HK$500 each on accommodation. Unfortunately, you can’t split hostel dorms though!

Consider looking beyond the most central parts of Hong Kong to save some money. Kowloon and areas such as Mong Kok can offer better value while still being very well connected by the MTR.

And since you’ll probably spend most of your time exploring the city, I’d always prioritise a convenient MTR location over a fancy hotel. But that’s just me…

Transport Costs

Getting around Hong Kong is surprisingly cheap. Especially considering how extensive and efficient the public transport network is!

Therefore, I wouldn’t expect local transport to be a major part of your Hong Kong budget. I’d allow around HK$30-80 per day.

Most MTR journeys cost a few Hong Kong dollars, while ding dings (trams) and buses are often even cheaper!

The biggest transport cost to watch out for is getting to and from the airport. The Airport Express is fast, but you pay for the convenience. If you’re on a short trip to Hong Kong, it’s fine. But if you’re on a tight budget, taking the bus is much more cost-efficient.

Typical Transport Costs

Food Costs in Hong Kong

One of the best things about Hong Kong is its food. And thankfully, it doesn’t have to be expensive.

You can easily a spend a fortune in high-end restaurants around Central. I’m sure they’re great, but the people spending HK$2000+ on a meal in those restaurants, probably aren’t the ones reading my blog!

Instead, I’ve found local restaurants, cha chaan tengs, noodle shops and cooked food centres offer filling meals for surprisingly little! As a rough guide, you can expect to pay around HK$40-80 for a cheap local meal. While a more substantial restaurant meal will cost a bit more.

Some of my favourite experiences in Hong Kong have been when chasing food! Grabbing things like dim sum or wonton noodles in authentic cafes, jam-packed with people.

If you’re smart about where you eat, a budget of around HK$150-250 per day for food is realistic for a budget-conscious traveller. Though it’s easy to blow all of that in just one meal if you try!

A cheap day of eating could look like:

• Breakfast from a bakery or at a cha chaan teng: HK$40-60
• Lunch: HK$40-70
• Dinner: HK$50-80
• Snacks/Drinks: HK$20-30
• Total = HK$150-250/day

To get the best out of Hong Kong’s food scene, I recommend a mix of eating cheap (but delicious) local meals for the majority of the time as outlined above. Then spend more on something special as desired.

Activity Costs

You really don’t have to spend a fortune to have a great time in Hong Kong!

Many of the city’s best experiences are completely free, including hiking, exploring neighbourhoods and markets, walking along Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront.

However, Hong Kong’s paid attractions vary considerably.

Here are some of the most popular activities and their typical costs:

* Prices may vary depending on age, time of year, and particular packages. Excludes transport costs to get there.

The easiest way to keep your Hong Kong budget down is to choose your paid attractions carefully, rather than trying to do everything. Pick one or two experiences you genuinely want to pay for, then fill the rest of your itinerary with free things!

You can have an excellent day in Hong Kong without spending much money on activities at all!

Miscellaneous Costs

I always stumble across a few miscellaneous costs that I’ve forgotten to budget for…

A few other expenses can impact the overall cost of your Hong Kong trip. However, they vary too much between travellers to include in my daily estimates.

• SIM Card: Buy these at the airport or in convenience stores. Or get an eSIM.
• Travel insurance: This depends on your policy and trip length.
• Alcohol and nightlife: Can quickly increase your daily spending.
• Shopping: This entirely depends on you! My wallet is glad I’m not a big shopaholic, as Hong Kong is great for shopping.
• Octopus Card: The Tourist Octopus card costs HK$39. You can top it up as needed and keep it as a souvenir. Alternatively, standard Octopus cards are available with a refundable HK$50 deposit.
• VISA costs: Depends on your nationality. Please look into your specific requirements (as a British citizen it was free).

I’d treat these as separate trip costs rather than part of your basic daily travel budget.

How much I spent in Hong Kong

I’ve been to Hong Kong on several occasions now, for different lengths of time and for different reasons.

My most recent trip, I spent 1 week in Hong Kong, and spent a total of £287.40 (HK$3050.90). This works out at £41.06 per day (HK$435.76).

Broken down, this was HK$341.90 on transport (11%), HK$1199 on food (39%), HK$334 on miscellaneous (SIM, laundry, shopping) (11%), and $150 USD on accommodation (39%).

Whilst the previous trip (11 days in Hong Kong), I spent a total of £342 (HK$3630) excluding accommodation. This works out at £31 per day (HK$330).

Broken down this was HK$514 on transport (14%), HK$2295 on food (63%), HK$647 on activities (18%), HK$174 on miscellaneous (SIM and shopping) (5%), and nothing on accommodation.

As I’ve returned to Hong Kong more, I’ve found that:

• Shorter HK trips have a higher cost per day. Whilst longer trips, I’ve been able to spread things out and reduce the daily spend.
• My activity spend has decreased since my first visit. Once you do the so-called ‘touristy’ activities once, you don’t need to do them again. Instead, I’m seeking more hikes or cafes.
• Accommodation is comfortably my biggest expense (excluding the time spent with friends).
• Transport is always pleasantly good value. I regularly spent less on getting around Hong Kong in a full day, than I would on a single journey in London…
• My food spend varies massively depending who I’m with. This depends on whether I was eating local dishes, or visiting fancier restaurants.

Daily Budget for Hong Kong

Still wondering how much you should budget for a day in Hong Kong?

I personally try to budget around £30 per day (HK$330), excluding accommodation. This gives me the flexibility to eat well, use public transport, visit a few attractions and not worry about every few dollars. If you include budget accommodation, this sits somewhere in the HK$500-800 range.

But here’s a breakdown of suggested Hong Kong budget depending on which category you fall into.

*Figures vary depending on when you visit Hong Kong. During peak season (October-December), costs often increase. Whilst during the quieter season, accommodation costs often drop.

How to save money in Hong Kong

If you’re trying to travel Hong Kong on a budget, don’t worry because it can be done!

Here are some of my top tips:

• Stay near an MTR Station rather than paying extra for the most central location. Being well-connected is more important than having the perfect postcode. Kowloon is often cheaper than Hong Kong Island.
• Eat local: Cha chaan tengs, noodle shops and local restaurants can be far cheaper (and often tastier) than bigger international restaurants. Look for small, busy restaurants with no English menu rather than big ones with flashing lights and a huge menu.
• Use public transport: This almost goes without saying, but the MTR, buses, trams and ferries are cheaper than taxis and easy to use.
• Airport bus over Airport Express: If you’re prioritising price over speed, this is an easy one.
• Enjoy free attractions: There are plenty of amazing free things to do in Hong Kong. From exploring markets and seeing the Avenue of Stars, to hiking mountains and relaxing on beaches.
• Avoid major holidays if possible. Accommodation prices can rise considerably during busy periods.
• Don’t book too late: Cheaper accommodation is limited, and can sell out and you could be stuck paying more than you want.

FAQs

How much money do I need per day in Hong Kong?

For most travellers, I’d recommend anywhere between HK$500-1800 for a typical day, depending on your travel style.

• Budget: HK$500-800 per day
  • A budget traveller could comfortably explore for around HK$500-$800 (including accommodation). You could go even cheaper if you only do free activities and cheap eats!
• Mid-range: HK$1000-1800 per day
  • This is the range I’d recommend for most first-time visitors. You’ll have more choice over where you stay, you can eat well, use public transport freely and include a few paid activities.
• Luxury: HK$2000+ per day
  • Hong Kong has no shortage of ways to spend money. High-end hotels, rooftop bars, fine dining and taxis can push your budget well beyond HK$2000 per day.

Your biggest expense will usually be accommodation, so take that into account.

Is Hong Kong expensive for tourists?

In my experience, Hong Kong sits in a curious middle ground. It’s certainly not a budget destination, but it’s also not as eye-wateringly expensive as many people make out.

Yes, it can be expensive – particularly when it comes to hotels. But it’s pretty reasonable compared with cities like London or Singapore.

How much does a meal cost in Hong Kong?

A simple local meal normally costs around HK$40-80. This should get you a nice noodle broth or some wonton.

Meanwhile, a sit-down restaurant meal is more likely to cost HK$100-250 per person.

If you’re visiting high-end restaurants, costs will increase significantly.

How much does a hotel cost in Hong Kong?

Hotel prices vary depending on location and season.

Central is most expensive, and prices gradually decrease as you get further out. Peak season (October-December) as well as holidays are the most expensive.

Broadly, a hotel in Hong Kong could cost anything from HK$400. That’s a rarity, so instead, I’d estimate that the average price for a night is probably around HK$1000.

Is Hong Kong more expensive than Singapore?

I’ve travelled Hong Kong and Singapore now, and I’d say they’re pretty comparable. Both are among Asia’s more expensive cities!

If I had to pick one, I’d say that Hong Kong is slightly cheaper than Singapore.

How long is a piece of string, in terms of luxury expenses? But in terms of budget travel in Hong Kong vs in Singapore, the difference isn’t huge.

Singapore has hawker centres where you can get cheap food. There are free activities to do in both. Transport is similarly low cost.

Can you travel Hong Kong on a budget?

Yes, absolutely!

Many of Hong Kong’s best experiences are either free or very cheap. By saving costs elsewhere, it’s entirely possible to experience Hong Kong without breaking the bank!

Final thoughts: Is Hong Kong expensive?

Hong Kong has a reputation for being expensive, and in some ways, it lives up to it!

However, I think it’s deeply misunderstood.

Whilst accommodation in Hong Kong is expensive, and there are plenty of ways to blow your cash in high-end restaurants and rooftop bars, I don’t think it’s as expensive as other parts of the world to travel (if you’re cautious).

Many travellers assume Hong Kong is crazily expensive and skip it altogether. But in reality, while accommodation can be expensive, everything else can be more affordable.

If you’re willing to stay in a modest room, use public transport and eat where the locals eat, Hong Kong is far more accessible and budget-friendly than its reputation suggests!

For me, the combination of incredible food, awesome transport, spectacular scenery, and accessible hiking makes Hong Kong well worth the cost!

So why not plan a trip now with one of my guides:

• How many days to spend in Hong Kong
• 24 hours in Hong Kong
• 1 Week Hong Kong itinerary
• Hong Kong transport guide

Before you go

Thank you for reading my guide on how long to spend in Hong Kong. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my Homepage to find out more.

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Happy travelling!