Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for Hong Kong
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Pegged to the US dollar, so the rate against the AUD moves with the US dollar rather than with anything local.
Mostly - cards work in cities and tourist areas in Hong Kong, but you still need cash outside them.
5 travel card options for Hong Kong, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday
Orange Everyday
22k0% with monthly criteria
ubank Spend
Spend account
9k0% international fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Transaction account
6k0% international fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | Rebated if you meet the monthly criteria | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | $0 from ubank, ATM operator fees may apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | $0 from Macquarie | $0 |
Paying for things in Hong Kong
Can you pay by card in Hong Kong?
Very good in shops, malls and restaurants. Taxis, street food, markets and minibuses are cash-only.
Cash and ATMs in Hong Kong
HSBC, Hang Seng and Bank of China ATMs are everywhere and reliable.
Carry HKD $500-$1,000. Hong Kong is more cash-dependent at street level than its skyline suggests.
Do you tip in Hong Kong?
Not customary. Restaurants add a 10% service charge; leaving the coins from your change is plenty. Taxi fares are rounded up.
Worth knowing about paying in Hong Kong
An Octopus card is the single best purchase you make here - it covers transport, convenience stores and many restaurants.
Before you pay for anything in Hong Kong
Pay in Hong Kong dollar or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
How much cash to take overseas
What Hong Kong needs in cash, next to 35 other destinations.
How to avoid ATM fees overseas
Three fees stack on a withdrawal. Two of them are avoidable outright.
What one Australian dollar buys in Hong Kong
$5.46 HKD per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More Hong Kong essentials
Hong Kong visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Hong Kong
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Hong Kong eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Hong Kong travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Hong Kong airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in Hong Kong
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Hong Kong travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Hong Kong
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Hong Kong money & payments FAQs
Do I need cash in Hong Kong?
Yes, more than you would expect. Cards work in shops, malls and restaurants, but taxis, minibuses, markets and street food are cash-only. Carry HKD 500-1,000, and get an Octopus card for transport and convenience stores.
Planning Hong Kong?
We will send you the Hong Kong guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.