Questioning how a lot a Hong Kong journey value? I’ve lived in Hong Kong for 8 months and I’ve to be trustworthy – it’s not an affordable nation. Nonetheless, there are various methods to journey to Hong Kong on a finances and this information provides you with an perception.
📬 Reader Mail: Good day Trisha! I like all of your solo journey and digital nomad content material! The explanation why I’m writing to you at present is that I made a decision to fly to Hong Kong from Australia.
I’ve not traveled out of Sydney since 2020 and this yr, I plan to do some little bit of Asia beginning with Hong Kong. I noticed in your Instagram that you just spent numerous time there so right here I’m asking for suggestions!
First, I simply wish to know the way a lot I would like to organize for the Hong Kong journey value. I used to be pondering US$50 a day can be sufficient. It’s simply my estimate so I’m all ears along with your recommendation!
Thanks once more for all of your blogs about ladies touring solo. I recognize you and I hope to return throughout you in Asia.
-Dylan Enderby, Australia
💲 Is Hong Kong costly?
Hong Kong is each costly and low cost on the identical time. Hong Kong is actually a first-world metropolis and the price of residing is fairly excessive. Simply an condominium rental in Hong Kong begins at US$1,800 per thirty days for a small area!
Nonetheless, in relation to journey finances, there are various methods on learn how to journey Hong Kong low cost. There are additionally many free issues to do in Hong Kong so that you received’t should pay rather a lot for excursions and actions.
💵 Can you utilize US {dollars} in Hong Kong?
Sadly, US {dollars} are usually not accepted in Hong Kong. The forex in Hong Kong is known as the Hong Kong greenback (HKD). US$1 is roughly $8 HKD.
You possibly can’t actually purchase rather a lot for $8 HKD as costs normally begin at US$3 (i.e. a home beer on the grocery store is US$3 or $20 HKD).
As quickly as you arrive in Hong Kong, you need to change your US {dollars} at cash change homes on the airport or within the metropolis middle.
Extra info might be offered intimately on the place to change USD for higher charges in downtown Hong Kong – preserve studying!
💷 Can you utilize British kilos in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong could also be a former British colony however they don’t use British kilos. They’ve their very own forex and you may solely use Hong Kong {dollars} to your journey. £1 = $10 HKD.
📅 Least expensive time to go to Hong Kong
The most affordable time to go to Hong Kong is throughout the summer time months of Could and June. It is going to be extraordinarily sizzling and humid however these are the months the place you get the most effective offers.
A few of you might be cautious of touring to Asia when it’s sizzling and humid so to save lots of on money, the easiest way to go is to journey to HK in the summertime and mix it with Southeast Asian locations with seashores equivalent to The Philippines or Thailand.
In case you are not a fan of sizzling climate, the most effective time to go to Hong Kong (weather-wise) is from November to February which is winter.
This season isn’t as low cost as Could and June due to the massive holidays and festivals happening throughout these months.
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💰 Hong Kong prices: fast data
Cash change in Hong Kong
It’s extremely advisable to deliver US {dollars} or British kilos to Hong Kong. Each are broadly accepted however take word which you could’t use these to pay something in Hong Kong.
It is advisable to go to cash change homes in HK and listed below are the most effective ones with the most effective charges, together with their places:
Greatest ATMs in Hong Kong
There are numerous ATMs throughout Hong Kong. You can see them on each nook they usually normally settle for Visa and Mastercard ATM playing cards. Nonetheless, my greatest tip is to withdraw Hong Kong {dollars} from respected banks like HSBC, Citibank, Commonplace Chartered, and Grasp Seng.
Worldwide banks that function in Hong Kong embody Financial institution of America, Citibank, HSBC, DBS, and Financial institution of East Asia. I’ve each Financial institution of America and HSBC and they didn’t cost me charges after I was in Hong Kong. I used to be even allowed to withdraw money over-the-counter!
Relying in your financial institution (and the ATM machine in Hong Kong), you need to have the ability to withdraw as much as $20,000 HKD per day restrict. In any other case, you need to use a number of ATM machines to withdraw the quantity you want to your journey.
As for withdrawal costs, your financial institution at dwelling might cost charges equivalent to overseas transaction charges however you have to test what these charges are direct to your financial institution. Additionally, ask if it’s a flat withdrawal charge or a share charge which can aid you higher choose which Hong Kong ATMs to make use of.
Credit score/debit playing cards
Visa and Mastercard are accepted all over the place in Hong Kong, as long as the institution has a terminal. Sadly, Uncover and Amex are usually not accepted in Hong Kong so depart these playing cards at dwelling.
Avenue meals carts and small retailers don’t settle for bank cards so it’s nonetheless higher to have some money with you, particularly in case you are going buying in Hong Kong.
Tipping in Hong Kong
Tipping isn’t required in Hong Kong and isn’t a part of their tradition however be at liberty to tip 10% when you assume the service is phenomenal. You might obtain bizarre seems from servers as tipping could be very unusual.
Most eating places already add the ten% service cost with the invoice so that you don’t essentially want to depart a tip.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong Journey Price: lodges, actions, and meals
Fly to Hong Kong low cost
The principle service from Hong Kong that operates internationally is Cathay Pacific. Nonetheless, it’s not the most affordable airline to fly from the US to Hong Kong. A round-trip ticket from Los Angeles, California (LAX) is round US$1,500 (direct, continuous, September journey dates).
For cheaper flight choices from the US, you may ebook a flight with a cease in Tokyo or Taipei however word that that is simply US$200 much less.
Canadians can take direct flights from Toronto and Vancouver to Hong Kong by way of Air Canada (13h 20m, roughly US$2,000 round-trip).
Cathay Pacific additionally does the London (Heathrow) to Hong Kong flight continuous (12h 15m). Lastly, Australians can fly to Hong Kong by way of Singapore on a 3-hour layover. Most flights from Australia to Hong Kong cease in Singapore, irrespective of which airline.
Hong Kong Lodge Costs
Hong Kong resort costs rely on the kind of lodging you wish to avail. Price range vacationers ought to go for staying in hostels in Hong Kong to save lots of on prices.
A mattress in a hostel dorm in Hong Kong (shared) begins at US$17. I all the time use Hostelworld for reserving Hong Kong hostels as you solely have to pay a 12% reservation charge and your keep might be confirmed!
Be aware that lodging affirmation is required when coming into Hong Kong so this can be a superb reserving platform so that you can have resort keep proof.
Beneath are a number of the greatest hostels in Hong Kong:
Boutique lodges in Hong Kong (for 2) begin at US$139 with a superb breakfast. Some HK neighborhoods to take a look at which might be good areas to remain in are Central, Kowloon, and Wan Chai. Beneath are some recommended lodges to remain in:
Lastly, when you’ve got an additional finances, you may select to remain in luxurious lodges in Hong Kong however word that they don’t seem to be all-inclusive. The bottom value for fancy lodging is US$290 per evening (2 pax). Listed below are a few of my favourite luxurious lodges in HK:
Hong Kong Meals Costs
Hong Kong meals costs are fairly inexpensive. The most affordable road meals is about US$5 and a few of them are Michelin-star road meals.
In Asia, Hong Kong is a road meals capital so that you’ll save much more on consuming in slender alleys and markets.
After all, as a meals capital, Hong Kong’s superb eating eating places are the most effective of the most effective. A tasting menu in Hong Kong begins at US$145 est per individual (7-course with out wine/drinks pairing).
Hong Kong Actions Costs
Count on to pay from US$35 – US$150 for Hong Kong excursions and actions. These are principally metropolis excursions and actually, when you go across the metropolis by yourself, there are such a lot of issues to do this don’t require you to spend.
Hong Kong Transportation Costs
Practice is the most affordable mode of transportation in Hong Kong. A one-way prepare journey begins at US$0.45 and the worth varies relying in your last vacation spot. For individuals who are staying longer in HK, the month-to-month prepare move is US$74 (30 days).
One other low cost choice to go round Hong Kong is by bus though you might encounter numerous site visitors within the metropolis. Hong Kong Island routes are about US$2.50 whereas airport and Lantau routes vary from US$3 – US$58 per journey.
Taxis are costly but when you end up needing to take a taxi, the flat charge is US$11 (8 km/5 miles).
Hong Kong Day by day Prices Abstract
🤑 Hong Kong money-saving suggestions
Use ATM locators
ATM or debit playing cards from US, Australia, Canada, and The UK shouldn’t have issues withdrawing money in HK however within the occasion that you have to discover an ATM machine that’s appropriate to your card kind, you need to use the next ATM locators in Hong Kong:
Contact your financial institution at dwelling earlier than touring to Hong Kong
Each time you might be touring overseas, the very first thing you have to prepare by way of funds is to name your financial institution at dwelling and allow them to know you might be touring.
This manner, you received’t threat your ATM/debit playing cards to be marked as suspicious transactions which occurs each time the financial institution sees your card has been used overseas with out informing them.
Your financial institution at dwelling can block your card (which makes it 100% ineffective) if this transaction is flagged. You don’t wish to run out of cash whereas in the midst of a global journey so be sure to tell them about your travels.
When you’re at it, you can too request to extend your each day withdrawal/spending restrict (if attainable). This manner, you should have sufficient money to make use of whereas touring in Hong Kong.
Verify Hong Kong DDC earlier than withdrawing money
This is without doubt one of the Hong Kong solo journey tips that I discovered while residing in Hong Kong: there’s an choice in ATMs to point out the transaction in your house nation’s forex. It’s referred to as Dynamic Foreign money Conversion (DCC).
With DCC, the ATM has its personal change charge which is normally set decrease than the mid-market charge or Google outcome charges.
Most ATMs in HK permit you to view your transactions within the native forex which can make you perceive when you’re dropping cash or not.
Easy methods to keep away from ATM charges in Hong Kong
Only a few vacationers know this however your financial institution again house is the one which’s imposing these worldwide ATM charges so I actually can’t say what your financial institution costs.
To keep away from ATM charges, withdraw one-time massive transactions so you’ll not should pay for particular person flat charges.
Use Sensible (previously Transferwise)
I’ve been utilizing Sensible for the final 5 years and that is the most effective financial institution for vacationers! If you find yourself selecting a financial institution that works nicely Worldwide overseas, your first {qualifications} ought to be decrease financial institution charges and reimbursement of charges.
Sensible has higher change charges than another third-party banking like Venmo. The app can also be tremendous straightforward to make use of and you may have a number of currencies in a single account.
Credit score/debit card costs: all the time select HKD
I do know the psychological math is complicated however imagine me, selecting to pay within the native forex and never in yours (i.e. USD, AUD, CAD, EUR) is means cheaper!
When paying with bank cards in Hong Kong, they are going to ask you your most well-liked forex so all the time say HKD (native).
✈️ Prepared to your journey to Hong Kong? This weblog thrives on reader questions so be at liberty to ask questions on Hong Kong journey value through the use of the remark field under. It’s also possible to join 1-on-1 teaching with me when you want extra assist!
