Cost of living comparison

compared to

Hong Kong vs. San Jose Cost of Living Summary

Hong Kong is 42.2% more expensive than San Jose.

Restaurants
pay 40.0% less in Hong Kong
Groceries
pay 5.7% more in Hong Kong
Transportation
pay 87.4% more in Hong Kong
Housing
pay 2.1 times more in Hong Kong
Childcare
pay 24.8% more in Hong Kong
Entertainment and Sports
pay 61.9% more in Hong Kong
Clothing
pay 20.5% less in Hong Kong

The cost of housing, transportation, entertainment and sports, childcare, and groceries in Hong Kong are more expensive than in San Jose. Expenses including restaurants and clothing are lower in Hong Kong. Notably, housing and transportation are significantly more expensive in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong vs. San Jose Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Hong Kong instead of San Jose, you would:

pay 40.0% less for restaurants

 
San Jose
Hong Kong
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $12.18
CRC5,543.94
$8.28
HK$65.00
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$11.62
CRC5,289.15
$6.37
HK$50.00
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.69
CRC1,222.04
$1.30
HK$10.24

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pay 5.7% more for groceries

 
San Jose
Hong Kong
Bread
1 loaf
$3.09
CRC1,407.40
$2.37
HK$18.59
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.33
CRC2,425.82
$12.52
HK$98.23
Milk (1 gallon) $8.95
CRC4,075.15
$11.07
HK$86.91

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pay 87.4% more for transportation

 
San Jose
Hong Kong
Gasoline (1 gallon) $5.80
CRC2,637.53
$15.51
HK$121.73
Monthly public transit pass $65.71
CRC29,903.89
$89.19
HK$700.01
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $21,990.00
CRC10M
$44,597.12
HK$350K

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pay 2.1 times more for housing

 
San Jose
Hong Kong
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$59.17
CRC26,929.00
$21.52
HK$168.90
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $942.15
CRC429K
$2,207.41
HK$17,324.05
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $758.77
CRC345K
$1,690.00
HK$13,263.34

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pay 24.8% more for childcare

 
San Jose
Hong Kong
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $980.95
CRC446K
$1,171.99
HK$9,197.98
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $17,102.76
CRC8M
$22,295.74
HK$175K

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pay 61.9% more for entertainment and sports

 
San Jose
Hong Kong
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $3.29
CRC1,495.19
$7.65
HK$60.00
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.44
CRC2,020.72
$5.04
HK$39.56
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$5.91
CRC2,691.35
$13.38
HK$105.00

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pay 20.5% less for clothing

 
San Jose
Hong Kong
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$71.32
CRC32,458.76
$67.63
HK$530.78
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$55.79
CRC25,389.75
$41.11
HK$322.62
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$128.46
CRC58,460.15
$80.54
HK$632.08

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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