Should you visit Hong Kong or Singapore?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hong Kong or Singapore, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong you will find a predominantly Cantonese population that has long been influenced by British occupation. Most residents speak English and you can see the obvious effects of years of capitalism. Shopping malls are everywhere and most are thriving. Along the waterfront every night the buildings light up in a dramatic and festive light show that highlights such businesses as Sony and Canon, which are fixtures in the city. The city is a major financial hub, and is very international in nature. The city itself is very densely packed and there are narrow high rises that look vulnerable due to their height. There are two main areas to the city, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Hong Kong Island is the location of the original British settlement. Today it is where you will find the highest skyscrapers, the most modern buildings, and the most popular shopping areas. Kowloon is located on a peninsula that is to the north of Hong Kong Island. The tip of the peninsula is a popular destination for backpackers as it has many of the city's hostels. This area is referred to as Tsim Sha Tsui. There are also a few high end hotels in the area. It is possible to head outside of the city so that you can escape into some rural regions where you can take a break from the crowds.
Singapore
Singapore is a city-state that was originally founded in 1819 as a British trading colony. Today it is a very international country that is incredibly modern and cosmopolitan. There is a strong financial industry in this country, and a correspondingly strong work ethic. It is one of the most prosperous cities in the world, and has one of the world's busiest ports.
Which city is cheaper, Singapore or Hong Kong?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Hong Kong is $128, while the average daily cost in Singapore is $119. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Hong Kong and Singapore in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Hong Kong can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $60, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $120.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $76. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Singapore the cost is $152 on average.
Food
In Hong Kong travelers spend around $26 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Singapore food costs typically run travelers around $22 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Hong Kong $26
Singapore $22
Typical Food prices in Hong Kong
For Hong Kong, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hong Kong
For Hong Kong, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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E-Ticket: Symphony of Lights Dinner Cruise and Free Transfer:
$64
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2-Hour Dinner & Shows on Victoria Harbour Night Cruise:
$81
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Hong Kong Market Tour and Cantonese Cooking Class with a Local Chef:
$154
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Private Food Tour: The Best Bites of Mongkok:
$204
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Private Food Tour: The Best Bites of Hong Kong Island:
$204
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Private Romantic Dinner for 2 on Luxury Yacht:
$1,549
Typical Food prices in Singapore
Some typical examples of dining costs in Singapore are as follows:
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Breakfast
$4.54
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Sugarcane Juice
$1.49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Singapore
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Singapore.
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Half-Day Walking and Food Tour in Singapur:
$28
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Dinner Only at Singapore Flyer:
$28
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Israeli Breakfast Virtual Cooking Class Live from Singapore:
$35
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Authentic Chinese Dim Sum Virtual Cooking Class Live from Singapore:
$35
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Lonely Planet Experience: Hawker Centre Food Tour:
$46
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Cooking Class & Culinary Exchange Singapore:
$51
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Singapore Flyer Ticket + Dinner:
$53
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Chinatown Food Tour in Singapore:
$66
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Private South Indian Cooking Class in Singapore:
$71
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(Semi-Private) Everyday Street Art and Street Food Tour:
$74
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Fun Singaporean Cooking Class with Local Chef:
$76
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Experience Cultural Cooking Class:
$77
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Hong Kong than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $7.02 on transportation in Hong Kong on average per day.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $8.29 per day to get around in Singapore.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Hong Kong
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hong Kong:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hong Kong
Also for Hong Kong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Hong Kong Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$30
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Hong Kong Shared Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$30
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Private Airport Transfer: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong:
$32
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Private Airport Transfer: from Hong Kong to Hong Kong Int. Airport (HKG):
$32
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HongKong airport Private transfer to Tsim Sha Tsui or Kowlong City maxi 9 person:
$35
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Private Arrival Transfer: Hong Kong Airport to Hong Kong Island or City Center:
$38
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Private Departure Transfer from Hong Kong Island or City to Hong Kong Airport:
$38
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HongKong airport Private transfer to or from HongKong Island maximum 9 person:
$39
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HKG Private Arrival Transfer from Hong Kong Airport to Hotel:
$48
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HKG Private Departure Transfer from Hong Kong/Kowloon Hotel to Hong Kong Airport:
$48
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Hong Kong City to Cruise Port Hong Kong - Private Car Transfer:
$49
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Hong Kong City to Hong Kong Airport (HKG) - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
Typical Local Transportation prices in Singapore
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Singapore:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Singapore
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Singapore:
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Universal Studios And Trick Eye Museum Combo Ticket With Return Transfer:
$125
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Transfer from Marina Bay Cruise Centre to Singapore Changi Airport:
$74
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Transfer Singapore Cruise Centre To Changi Airport (Pvt):
$53
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Transfer Marina Bay Cruise Centre To City Hotel (Pvt):
$28
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Transfer Marina Bay Cruise Centre To Changi Airport ( Pvt ):
$28
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Transfer City Hotel To Marina Bay Cruise Centre ( Pvt ):
$28
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Transfer City Hotel To Changi Airport (Private):
$54
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Super Luxury Limousine Service (Rolls Royce) - Airport Transfer:
$334
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Skip the Line: VIP Tour of Universal Studios Singapore with Private Transfer:
$329
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Private Changqi Airport (SIN) Transfer to Singapore City:
$35
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Private Airport(SIN) Transfer from Singapore City to Changqi Airport:
$33
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Singapore to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$36
Is it cheaper to fly into Hong Kong or Singapore?
Prices for flights to both Singapore and Hong Kong change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Hong Kong, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $76 per day, per person.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $26 per person, per day in Singapore. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Typical Entertainment prices in Hong Kong
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Hong Kong's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Hong Kong
For Hong Kong, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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A Food Adventure in Hong Kong with a Local Foodie:
$2.64
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Peak Tram Sky Pass: Tram Ticket, Hong Kong Sky Tour and Sky Terrace 428 Entry:
$13
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E-Ticket: Peak Tram Round Trip and Sky Terrace:
$17
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sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck Admission Ticket:
$19
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Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ticket on Lantau Island:
$21
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Skip the line: E-Tickets in Macau:
$23
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Victoria Peak Hong Kong (Tai Ping Shan) Ticket:
$24
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Hong Kong Sky100 Admission Ticket:
$24
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Victoria Harbour Cruise by Aqua Luna:
$28
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Central Street Art Walking Tour:
$28
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sky100 Admission Ticket for Two Person with One Free Café 100 Dining Voucher:
$31
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Skip The Line: Ngong Ping Cable Car Round Trip Voucher:
$31
Tours and Activities in Singapore
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Singapore are as follows:
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(Semi-Private) Everyday Art-chitecture Tour:
$68
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(Semi-Private) Everyday Secrets of Singapore Public Housing Tour:
$70
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1 Altitude Gallery + 1 Day Unlimited Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing:
$36
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1 Day Hopper Pass - Unlimited Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing:
$22
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16 Hrs Melaka Flexible Day & Night Car Tour from Singapore:
$1,015
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16 Hrs Melaka Ultimate Day & Night Car Tour from Singapore:
$508
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16 Hrs Tailored Melaka Highlights Van Tour from Singapore:
$145
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17 or 19 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Exclusive Escorted Car Tour from Singapore:
$556
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17 or 19 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Flexible Day & Night Car Tour from Singapore:
$1,112
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17 or 19 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Flexible Day & Night Van Tour from Singapore:
$173
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19 Hrs Kuala Lumpur & Melaka Touch & Go Car Fun Tour from Singapore:
$629
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3 Days The Iconic Singapore – Private Tour:
$1,082
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Hong Kong spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $22 on alcoholic beverages in Singapore per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Singapore
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Singapore:
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Tour of Tiger Brewery in Singapore:
$14
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Tiger Brewery Tour:
$14
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Singapore Pub Crawl:
$24
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★The Singapore Halloween Pub Crawl 2019★:
$40
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Private Tour - Singapore Tiger Brewery Tour:
$83
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Singapore's First Distillery & Brewery Tour:
$123
When comparing the travel costs between Hong Kong and Singapore, we can see that Hong Kong is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Related Articles for Hong Kong
Related Articles for Singapore
