Hong Kong and Macau - Are there any bargains at all left in HK?

I've been wandering around and I've seen no merchandise (or food, for that matter) that isn't as cheap or cheaper in the US. HK is a great place, but my tentative conclusion is that there is no longer any reason to come here for the shopping.

The only things I've found that are cheaper than in a US city are public transit and prepaid mobile SIMs.

I'd love to be contradicted -- can someone tell me what bargains I have been missing?

Anything that involves people's time can be cheaper than the US: massages, whores, etc. But not as cheap as some other places around Asia. It is still possible to eat very cheaply here at local places if you wish, but anything "non-local" is pretty much the same price as anywhere else. The "expat-oriented" places are up there with the most expensive cities in the world.

Overall, I agree - the only people who could reasonably justify coming here for shopping now are mainlanders, and their justification is on the basis of (more or less) guaranteed originals of luxury brand goods rather than rip-offs.

Sadly for those of us who live here this is resulting in whole malls being turned into outlets aimed at this market leaving nothing of interest to locals.

Having recently come back from a fantastic week in HK I can say that I had the same experience when comparing to UK prices. In the tourist/expat areas food and drink prices were right up there with Central London. Having said that, apart from some of the 'trendy' bars in LKF, I never really felt that I wasn't getting value for money.

Transportation was the noticeable thing with not only the MTR, buses and ferries being dead cheap but also taxis. I guess the price of cabs is largely about the service element mentioned above and maybe the price of fuel. Hotel prices I found reasonable with an excellent service ethic. I was pleasantly surprised by the HK$10 entry fee to Happy Valley given that you pay the equivalent of around HK$200 over here for an evening's racing.

I didn't do much shopping apart from an evening visit to the markets of Mong Kok, where of course you can get anything cheap as long as you are prepared to spend half an hour shaking your head, employing fake incredulity and walking away - or haggling as I believe it is called :D

The only bargains I have seen in HKG are at the airport. The duty-free shops are not run by the boutiques themselves (eg. Gucci, Hermes, et al) but by an airport entity. Thus, there are times when I see stuff on "sale" at these shops that would be far lower than anything I'd see on the street.

Other than that, I just enjoy walking around and eating dim sum.

Unfortunately, the days of Hong Kong as a bargain for shoppers are long gone. They still have anything and everything you could want. But not at bargain prices.

I have been traveling to Hong Konk since the mid 80s. It has always been my favorite city to spend time in. It still is. But it is certainly not a bargain.

I grew up in Hong Kong and had just moved back here after over 20 years in the US. So far, the biggest bargain I've found for tourists is the motorboat ride from Tai O to watch the pink dolphins. 20-minute ride for HK$20 each. That's under US$3.

Well, mainlanders now see plenty of bargains in Hong Kong, especially for luxury goods where they cost far more in China due to import taxes. With a surging RMB, many everyday necessities are also cheaper in Hong Kong, with the added benefit they may not be contaminated by some industrial chemical mix.

Other than that, I just enjoy walking around and eating dim sum.

Hey, that's exactly what I do!

I haven't been to Hong Kong for 3 or 4 years, but when I was there, I got a great deal on some tailored clothing. Fits perfectly and has held up well for a long time. I'm considering going back just to have a couple nice suits made.

I haven't been to Hong Kong for 3 or 4 years, but when I was there, I got a great deal on some tailored clothing. Fits perfectly and has held up well for a long time. I'm considering going back just to have a couple nice suits made.

I took a look at the website for a tailor that many people here recommend. Still a bit pricey I think.

If you want some suits made, I'd head to Seoul. :cool:

I haven't been to Hong Kong for 3 or 4 years, but when I was there, I got a great deal on some tailored clothing. Fits perfectly and has held up well for a long time. I'm considering going back just to have a couple nice suits made.

Yes, it is true that there are some great tailors in HK who will make you a suit for 1/3-1/2 of the price on Savile Row with the same quality. It's not really "cheap" by any standards though... there's no such thing as a high quality US$400 suit.

There are tons of things that are cheap in Hong Kong, but it takes time and effort.

I love to shop in Tsuen Wan, Shamshuipo, Fa yuen street...... hawker stands and small stops (sells export clothes). You can get dirt cheap things in those places, e.g a pair of lady underwear that costs HKD 3. My family wouldn't even bother going to places like that (not that they are well off - they just don't bother). I didn't go to those place when I was living in HK. McDonalds, Parknshop in those areas are also cheaper too!

Mr.Nacho absolute favourite muffin is from Parknshop - in the Tsuen Wan shop you get them 3 for HKD10, but if you go to Taste (their nicer brand) it costs HKD12 a piece. It's basically the same stuff (even though official from Parknshop claims they use different kind of flour).

For computers etc. the price is similar to US (before sales tax). My favourite Campbells soup is cheaper in HK than the US (normally it costs 99cents in Walmart), and in HK you can sometimes get them 3 for HKD 20.

Living in Seoul, I find prices of most things (aside from meals in restaurants and some public transit) to be cheaper in HK. Household goods, electronics (if you buy them in Sham Shui Po), and groceries having the biggest savings.

Last year I purchased a beautiful knee-length dark brown wool coat with typical Chinese-style high neck, satin "frog" closures for around $46 US at the Stanley Market. I get complements and "Where did you get that coat?!" comments whenever I wear it. Don't be surprised by the sizes, though. I wear a size 10 US, but the HK coat is tagged XXL. As others have said, you can find bargains in the street markets and along Granville Road if you're willing to haggle.

I think the cheaper things are all hidden in local areas now too. I live in Shau Kei Wan, way over eat on HK island, and I find things still cheap there.

I've also heard from local friends that a lot of the bargains have moved "up north" now, to places like Tai Po and Lo Wu in the New Territories. Street hawkers in the more "central" Kowloon area is now becoming more and more of a tourist destinations; they seem less likely to haggle with you and give you a good deal...

i agree; hkg is actually quite expensive. it's no longer the shopper's bargain that it used to be. Even though Ladies Market, etc. in Mong Kok obviously are tourist areas, their prices are actually quite expensive$$$ for my tastes! granted, taxis are still cheap....

The ferry is still a bargain!

+1 on the Star Ferry ride, especially at night crossing the harbour. Besides that, IDD calls to (and, from) the US on my prepaid mobile SIM card at HKD 0.45 a minute (less than USD $0.06) - same rates at local, in-town calls. There are probably better rates out there, but they are good enough of a bargain for me.

Both business & leisure trips to HKG these days are easy with a single carry-on - shopping is no longer on the checklist. It's cheaper to vacation in Hawaii .... especially when factoring in the mass transit option & not having to do a car rental.

The ferry is still a bargain!

Not really, the harbor is considerably smaller [shorter] :D

Sound and light show also a bargain (given it's free). C'mon guys, HK is not that expensive. I ate seafood in the night market much cheaper than Sydney, bags and Converse's in the night markets were also very cheap.

Surprised by some of the opinions here...coming from Australia I find shopping in Hong Kong very cheap - mind you, so is London! Exchange rate is important of course with AUD having a lot of buying power these days. If we were to rewind 10 years things would seem very different!

Surprised by some of the opinions here...coming from Australia I find shopping in Hong Kong very cheap - mind you, so is London! Exchange rate is important of course with AUD having a lot of buying power these days. If we were to rewind 10 years things would seem very different!
Agree, no doubt that some other places (including just over the border) may be better for SUPERCHEAP but still cheap in my books.

+1 on the Star Ferry ride, especially at night crossing the harbour. Besides that, IDD calls to (and, from) the US on my prepaid mobile SIM card at HKD 0.45 a minute (less than USD $0.06) - same rates at local, in-town calls. There are probably better rates out there, but they are good enough of a bargain for me.

The SIM you use is priced for cheap IDD but high local rate. There are SIMs that have much lower local rate (HK0.05 or HK$0.10/min) but higher IDD rates.

Not really, the harbor is considerably smaller [shorter] :D

^ When the harbor is finally filled, Star Ferry can just put a retired one on land without having to pay for fuel or staff or maintenance. And they can still just charge someone HK$2 to get on. That's more than the retire Peak Tram outside the Peak Plaza when one can get on for free.

Sound and light show also a bargain (given it's free). C'mon guys, HK is not that expensive. I ate seafood in the night market much cheaper than Sydney, bags and Converse's in the night markets were also very cheap.

Surprised by some of the opinions here...coming from Australia I find shopping in Hong Kong very cheap - mind you, so is London! Exchange rate is important of course with AUD having a lot of buying power these days. If we were to rewind 10 years things would seem very different!

Exactly, with the AUD at this level, things are super expensive in Australia. Especially when compared to the US.

The SIM you use is priced for cheap IDD but high local rate. There are SIMs that have much lower local rate (HK0.05 or HK$0.10/min) but higher IDD rates.



^ When the harbor is finally filled, Star Ferry can just put a retired one on land without having to pay for fuel or staff or maintenance. And they can still just charge someone HK$2 to get on. That's more than the retire Peak Tram outside the Peak Plaza when one can get on for free.





Exactly, with the AUD at this level, things are super expensive in Australia. Especially when compared to the US.
That's a different forum isn't it! This would be why all Australian retailers are telling is how hard they are doing it (mainly because smart customers are buying online from overseas).

That's a different forum isn't it! This would be why all Australian retailers are telling is how hard they are doing it (mainly because smart customers are buying online from overseas).

Having a very strong currency definitely have its issues. Look at Switzerland, which had to take extreme measures to keep it currency in check.

The SIM you use is priced for cheap IDD but high local rate. There are SIMs that have much lower local rate (HK0.05 or HK$0.10/min) but higher IDD rates.

Not just HK it is similiar in many SE Asian countries. I swap SIM when I need to call Canada or US.

... ^ When the harbor is finally filled, ...

When I was young after the land fill at WanChai started and the first cross harbour tunnel was proposed I jokingly thought that it might be cheaper to just fill in the harbour. @:-):D

Speaking of harbour, is there still a cross harbour swimming race?

What about crossing the harbor by the Star Ferry & cross island tram ride? They cost next to nothing! ^

Speaking of harbour, is there still a cross harbour swimming race?

There was one just 4 weeks ago. First time after 33 years. But they moved it over the east side of the harbor, from Lei Yue Mun to Quarry Bay.

There was one just 4 weeks ago. First time after 33 years. But they moved it over the east side of the harbor, from Lei Yue Mun to Quarry Bay.

I think they stopped the race due to strong undertow and many swimmer who swam at Lantau, or south side of the island got into trouble in the harbour and the unknown currents many years ago.

Exactly, with the AUD at this level, things are super expensive in Australia. Especially when compared to the US.

Not for me they're not :D

There was one just 4 weeks ago. First time after 33 years. But they moved it over the east side of the harbor, from Lei Yue Mun to Quarry Bay.
That would be a good swim but not so sure about the pollution. Nice to say you have done it though I must say.

I think they stopped the race due to strong undertow and many swimmer who swam at Lantau, or south side of the island got into trouble in the harbour and the unknown currents many years ago.

No, the sole reason was the poor water quality. It has improved in the recent decades, but is probably still very marginal for swimming.

No, the sole reason was the poor water quality.
That matches what I read too.