Why go
The biggest budget decisions happen before the bill arrives: where to stay and how often to eat in more expensive restaurants. At the table, separating a service charge from extras such as tea or towels makes the total easier to understand and helps you decide whether to leave an additional tip.
The full story
Accommodation deserves early attention when planning Hong Kong spending. Dining offers a broader range of choices: porridge or noodles can form a simple meal, while a fine-dining restaurant represents a different budget altogether. Decide which meals are part of the experience you want and which simply keep the day moving. Comparing those choices is more useful than building a trip around a single average daily figure. Restaurant bills can also contain more than the dishes ordered. Tea, peanuts and towels may appear as separate charges, sometimes described as cha-sui, or tea-and-water money. Ask about these items when you sit down if the total matters to your budget. Tipping has traditionally been discretionary rather than automatic in Hong Kong's inexpensive eateries. A restaurant service charge is a separate bill item; check for it before deciding on anything extra. Reading the actual bill avoids treating every dining setting as if it follows the same convention.