Yes, Hong Kong's cost of living is low (ignoring housing costs) if you live like a local

[dear giant]

I read in another thread in this forum the truism that a bowl of dumplings and glass of soy milk cost more in a Western country than in HK.

This is true beyond even the shadow of a doubt.

If you're content to live off dumplings and soy milk (and sticky rice, congee [rice gruel], rice noodles, chicken feet, gristle, steamed fish, etc.) and eschew time-and-labor-saving services and technology in favor of pseudo-indentured imported human servants, and basically regress your standard of living to early-20th-century levels (but with worse nutrition and cell phones. iPods, and Octopus cards tacked on), then yes, HK can be an inexpensive place to live.

In fact, if we were all willing to live like Ben Gunn (the character from Treasure Island pictured above), then we could save ourselves so much money that we'd all be billionaires!

[packy_crusher]

They probably would because they would be imported, unless it was the U.S. Anyway, the housing negates everything, especially living in a shoebox...

[jimbo]

Oh come on DG

Meat and fresh fruit and vegetables you can get for less than half the price of 360, Great etc
Everybody knows that, apart from you it seems.

[HowardCoombs]

Dont worry DG : the west is best. Lookie here for some non-local, western recipe ideas to keep you happy:
What Makes "Garbage Soup" - Business Insider

And also, just in case you were missing some of that good down home cooking of NYC, a review of some of its finest restaurants:
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-d...ew-york-2012-6

[bryant.english]

One can still enjoy a high protein diet on a budget...

How to eat roadkill!

[Fatelvis]

Dont worry DG : the west is best. Lookie here for some non-local, western recipe ideas to keep you happy:
What Makes "Garbage Soup" - Business Insider

And also, just in case you were missing some of that good down home cooking of NYC, a review of some of its finest restaurants:
The Dirtiest Restaurants in New York - Business Insider

Hooked him!

[Fatelvis]

One can still enjoy a high protein diet on a budget...

How to eat roadkill!

Then there's always Freeganism .. Freegans | Photographers Blog

[Morrison]

I pay less for my imported cheese than at the cremerie in La France.
Gym "membership" is free,many fruits are inexpensive,
and all else the girls bring along with them

[gilleshk]

Yet you can live close to a half decent beach accessible virtually year round for less than a couple of thousand US(even a thousand is easy) with a commute that is under an hour. Try that in Paris, London or NY... Small one bedroom in Manhattan is over 2K US...

It would cost around that on St Kilda in Melbourne or Manly in Melbourne. Nicer neighborhoods and much nicer beaches in my opinion but not necessarily nicer buildings.

[Mat]

Gilles no need to even discuss. IT'S HK, IT'S BAD.