Food and Drink Costs in Hong KongA meal at a dai pai dong (open-air food stall) or cha chaan teng (local diner) typically costs HK$50-100 (US$6-13), while dim sum can be enjoyed for HK$100-200 (US$13-26) per person.
Depends on where you go. Hong Kong is an international market, so there are high prices and Low prices. If you're a backpacker and just want a quick meal, the cheapest meals are around $50 HKD as an average. If you're going to a buffet, prices can cost up to $1000 HKD per person.
A typical tourist can expect to spend between HK$800-2,500 (US$100-320) per day depending on travel style, with budget travelers managing on HK$800 (US$100), mid-range travelers spending around HK$1,500-2,000 (US$190-260), and luxury travelers spending upwards of HK$3,000 (US$385) daily.
Plan to tip around 10-15% in Hong Kong restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in Hong Kong depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It's customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.
Is Uber available in Hong Kong? Yes. The Uber app gives you the power to request a ride to get around Hong Kong anytime, 24/7. Tip: Pickup times in Hong Kong may be longer than in larger cities, but you can instead reserve a ride in advance to get picked up at a time that works for you.
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How much is a cup of coffee in Hong Kong?
The Cost of Coffee in Hong Kong
While coffee shops provide a convenient and enjoyable hangout spot for coffee lovers, the prices can often be steep. The average cost of a standard cup of coffee in a Hong Kong coffee shop ranges from HKD$40 to HKD$70, depending on the location and type of coffee.
The currency in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong dollar. Each Hong Kong dollar is divided into 100 cents. When you're buying currency for Hong Kong, look out for the currency code HKD. And once you're in Hong Kong, you'll see the symbol HK$ used to show prices.
Hong Kong might be known for its luxury malls, but the city's real magic lies in its bargain corners. Whether you're hunting for sneakers at half the usual price, vintage treasures, or electronics that won't break the bank, this city delivers – if you know where to look.
While English is commonly used as an official language and is almost always used in business and government dealings, Cantonese is the dialect most often heard in the streets of Hong Kong. Many people in Hong Kong also speak Mandarin and the number of Mandarin speakers is now on the rise.
If you want nothing fancy, a single room will likely set you back around $55/£45/€50 per day. However, for grander flats or bigger spaces, you can easily triple that. So, while it may be cheaper than other cities like London and Amsterdam, it's not super cheap.
Tunisians pay the least for their daily coffee – on average just $0.56 per cup. The Finns drink 12kgs of coffee per head, per year, more than any other country. Indians are the least caffeinated – despite being a coffee-growing country, Indians only consume around 90g per head of population per year.
HKD150 to even HKD180 cocktails are the norm for the glitzier spots around Hong Kong. Rent, human labour, ingredients costs, among other factors, have determined the almost-standard price of cocktails in the city. Such factors offer operators and bartenders little wiggle room to balance margins and profit.
Dining out is a common and accessible option in Hong Kong. Meals at local diners or “cha chaan tengs” usually cost between HKD 50–HKD 100 (USD 6–13) per person. A three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant typically ranges from HKD 200–400 (USD 26–51) per person.
Hong Kong isn't entirely cash-centric, but it's not fully cashless either. Credit cards are the preferred payment method, followed by e-wallets. However, compared to mainland China, Hong Kong residents use cash much more frequently. In fact, some merchants prefer it and may even encourage customers to pay with cash.
To be clear, the etiquette experts aren't saying to avoid tipping at the counter — merely that it's at your discretion. A gratuity can reasonably be reserved for workers who provide a great experience. "It's a nice gesture to offer a tip to a worker who goes above and beyond the service," Swann says.
But if you're looking for a general rule for services in the U.S., 15% to 20% of the bill is a common guide, according to most etiquette experts we interviewed.
You only need a visa if: You plan to stay for more than 90 days. If needed, you can apply for a visa extension at the Hong Kong Immigration Department. You plan to work or study in Hong Kong.
The on-loan Octopus Card costs 150 HKD ( US$ 19.19) (70 HKD ( US$ 8.95) for seniors over 65 and children between 3 and 11), which includes an initial top-up value of 100 HKD ( US$ 12.79) to spend on transport, and a 50 HKD ( US$ 6.39) deposit which is refunded when you return the card (minus an 11 HKD ( US$ 1.40) ...
Hong Kong's international community is large, with plenty of English-speaking networking events, meetups, and expat groups. But if you want to build relationships with locals, knowing Cantonese will help you connect on a deeper level. So, can you live in Hong Kong with just English? Yes, but it has limits.
Think you can come to Hong Kong without speaking Cantonese? You certainly Can-to! However, there are certain phrases that you kinda need, and let's be honest, it's only respectable to actually speak a small bit of the local lingo when you are visiting. To the untrained ear, Cantonese is brute, rude and very direct.
