Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Hong Kong vs Semarang

Hong Kong vs Semarang

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Semarang 71% cheaper Hong Kong +38 Mbps High / Moderate

Hong Kong

Natalya Letunova/Unsplash

Semarang

Supri Yanto/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$2,870

Hong Kong

$825

Semarang

Internet

Mbps

Safety

High

Hong Kong

Moderate

Semarang

Air Quality

5/5

Hong Kong

5/5

Semarang

Healthcare

Moderate

Hong Kong

Moderate

Semarang

Population

7.2m

Hong Kong

1.6m

Semarang

Hong Kong (Hong Kong) and Semarang (Indonesia) are both in Asia, offering different takes on the nomad lifestyle. Here is how they compare across the metrics that matter most.

Cost of Living

The monthly savings are substantial — Semarang at $825/mo costs 71% less than Hong Kong at $2870/mo, adding up to $24540 over a year.

For families, Hong Kong costs $8177.503622021219/mo compared to Semarang's $1605.588646314858/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

For bandwidth-intensive work, Hong Kong has a clear edge at 70 Mbps (#0 globally) compared to Semarang's 32 Mbps (#0).

Quality of Life

Hong Kong has a stronger safety profile than Semarang, which may be a deciding factor for solo travelers or families.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Hong Kong and Semarang.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Hong Kong is October (around 30 degrees, 0mm rain, score 473), while Semarang peaks in July (35 degrees, 0mm rain, score 397). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

Hong KongSemarang

Nomad$2,870/mo$825/mo

Expat$2,538/mo$603/mo

Local$2,336/mo$459/mo

Family$8,178/mo$1,606/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

Hong KongSemarang

City Speed

70 Mbps

32 Mbps

Country Speed0 Mbps32 Mbps

Environment & Health

Hong KongSemarang

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionHighModerate

ClimateHighModerate

Humidity5488

Quality of Life

Hong KongSemarang

SafetyHighModerate

HealthcareModerateModerate

Monthly Weather Comparison

Hong Kong

Semarang

Jan

19°

0mm433

34°

8mm237

Feb

21°

0mm441

35°

5mm222

Mar

23°

1mm429

36°

6mm253

Apr

31°

9mm224

37°

5mm319

May

30°

3mm309

37°

1mm373

Jun

34°

9mm201

36°

1mm368

Jul

37°

4mm278

35°

0mm397

Aug

37°

4mm370

36°

0mm397

Sep

36°

4mm376

36°

0mm397

Oct

30°

0mm473

37°

0mm382

Nov

26°

0mm468

36°

7mm319

Dec

19°

0mm453

34°

15mm207

Who Should Choose Hong Kong?

High safety rating for peace of mind
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Major city energy with 7.2m residents
Peak season in October — 30 degrees, score 473

Who Should Choose Semarang?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $825
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1605.588646314858/mo for families
Peak season in July — 35 degrees, score 397

Overall Verdict

The data favors Semarang as the more well-rounded choice. At $825/mo versus Hong Kong's $2870/mo, that is a 71% saving that adds up significantly on an extended stay.

Granular Price Comparison

Hong Kong Semarang

ItemHong KongSemarangDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$7.7$1.3

83%

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$64.18$9.72

85%

McMeal or equivalent combo$5.52$3.24

41%

Cappuccino (regular)$5.09$1.34

74%

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$6.42$2.48

61%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$6.74$2.59

62%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$1.18$0.42

64%

Water (0.33L)$1.06$0.2

81%

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$3.11$1.13

64%

White bread (500g)$2.28$0.97

57%

White rice (1kg)$2.05$0.81

60%

Eggs (12)$3.41$1.29

62%

Chicken fillets (1kg)$9.35$2.96

68%

Beef round (1kg)$22.82$7.24

68%

Local cheese (1kg)$24.7$6.15

75%

Apples (1kg)$4.51$2.3

49%

Bananas (1kg)$2.46$1.3

47%

Oranges (1kg)$3.66$1.15

69%

Tomatoes (1kg)$3.03$0.86

72%

Potatoes (1kg)$2.61$1.15

56%

Onions (1kg)$2.6$1.38

47%

Lettuce (1 head)$1.57$0.55

65%

Water (1.5L bottle)$1.62$0.36

78%

Wine, mid-range bottle$19.25$12.15

37%

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$1.83$2.03

10%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.76$2.98

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$7.96$1.94

76%

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$1.54$0.23

85%

Monthly transport pass$64.18$18.18

72%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$3.47$0.58

83%

Taxi per 1km$1.22$0.32

74%

Taxi 1hr waiting$12.96$2.11

84%

Gasoline (1L)$2.77$0.79

71%

Volkswagen Golf (new)$33,375.05$23,334.86

30%

Toyota Corolla (new)$32,161.41$27,914.38

13%

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$199.78$40.19

80%

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$22.84$28.38

20%

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.09$0.1

10%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$72.41$29.17

60%

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$9.15$12.15

25%

Cinema, 1 ticket$12.84$3.24

75%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$768.16$75.62

90%

International primary school/yr$18,698.59$6,009.65

68%

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$83$32.39

61%

Summer dress (chain store)$40.35$22.69

44%

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$87.68$64.82

26%

Men's leather business shoes$135.72$37.81

72%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$2,294.53$259.28

89%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$1,649.35$194.46

88%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$4,623.04$680.6

85%

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$3,025.76$550.96

82%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$31,427.61$1,215.36

96%

Price per m², outside centre$20,906.86$378.11

98%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$2,994.43$269

91%

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$2.53$8.69

71%

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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