Hong Kong Travel Money Guide

Hong Kong is dense, fast and cheap to get around, and money is part of that. You can ride the metro, buy a snack and pay for dinner without ever fumbling with coins, as long as you have the right mix of Octopus, a contactless card and a modest amount of Hong Kong dollars.

When to exchange

The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar within a narrow band, so it tracks USD/MYR rather than moving on its own. If you've been watching the dollar, you already know the direction for HKD. For a short trip the difference is small, so choose the changer with the best rate and avoid the airport.

Tip: HKD is quoted per 100 on many boards, so check the unit before you compare. A rate that looks lower can simply be per 100.

How much cash to bring

Hong Kong is a short-trip destination and many travellers stay three to five days, so you will need less cash than a longer holiday. A rough daily budget for a comfortable mid-range trip:

• Food — HK$250–500/day (cha chaan teng and dim sum are good value, but restaurant dinners and cocktails are not)
• Local transport — HK$50–120/day on the MTR, buses and the Star Ferry
• Attractions — HK$150–400/day (the Peak Tram and theme parks sit at the top end)

Octopus card and contactless fares

• Octopus — the stored-value card works on the MTR, buses, trams, ferries and in many convenience stores and fast-food places. You can top it up with cash at MTR stations and convenience stores.
• Contactless cards on the MTR — Visa contactless cards have been accepted at MTR gates since December 2023, and Mastercard and UnionPay since August 2024. You must tap in and out with the same card or device, and the Airport Express and Light Rail are not covered, so check the MTR website for any updates.
• Why it still helps to carry an Octopus — if your card has foreign transaction fees, tapping it on every ride adds up. A cash-loaded Octopus avoids that.

Notes from three banks

Hong Kong banknotes are issued by three commercial banks, HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank of China (Hong Kong), so the same denomination can look completely different depending on the issuer. Don't be alarmed when your HK$100 note changes design between one till and the next: they're all genuine. The HK$10 note is issued by the government, and coins fill in below that.

When you exchange in KL you can ask for whichever notes the changer has in stock. Larger denominations are easier to carry, but remember that small shops may not break an HK$1,000 note.

Where to exchange in KL

These three changers currently post the best HKD rates. Tap to see their branches and live rates:

Payment tips on the ground

• Cash for small eateries — local cha chaan teng, street food and market stalls often prefer cash or Octopus.
• Check the bill for service charge — many restaurants add 10% automatically. If they do, you don't need to tip on top.
• Keep Hong Kong dollars separate from Macau patacas — if you're hopping across to Macau, HKD is widely accepted there but you will usually get change in patacas, which are hard to use elsewhere.
• Choose HKD when a card asks — if a terminal offers to charge you in MYR, choose Hong Kong dollars so your own bank does the conversion.