For one person, living is cheaper in Australia: $2,626 a month against $3,046 in Hong Kong (China), rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Hong Kong (China) outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
How much you'll spend in Australia and in Hong Kong (China)
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Australia and in Hong Kong (China) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,626 per month in Australia vs $3,046 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
Australia $2,626
Hong Kong (China) $3,046
A couple spends around $3,810 per month in Australia vs $4,715 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
Australia $3,810
Hong Kong (China) $4,715
A family of three spends $4,994 per month in Australia vs $6,384 in Hong Kong (China), rent included.
Australia $4,994
Hong Kong (China) $6,384
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,068–$3,303) than in Hong Kong (China) ($3,028–$3,028), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Australia is roughly 14% lower than in Hong Kong (China) on average.
📊
Both Australia and Hong Kong (China) are pricier than the global median – Australia by 93%, Hong Kong (China) by 124%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65A$25.10
$8.47HK$66.5
108.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.2A$121
$64.7HK$508
31.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09A$15.77
$6.25HK$49.02
77.44%
Cappuccino
$3.90A$5.54
$5.17HK$40.58
-24.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85A$4.05
$1.31HK$10.28
117.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31A$3.29
$1.13HK$8.88
104.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.53A$10.71
$7.44HK$58.4
1.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.59A$12.21
$6.54HK$51.3
31.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76A$2.50
$2.90HK$22.76
-39.31%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81A$3.99
$2.35HK$18.47
19.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24A$3.19
$2.25HK$17.68
-0.44%
Eggs
$5.02A$7.14
$3.45HK$27.10
45.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.87A$14.03
$24.79HK$194
-60.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32A$13.25
$8.85HK$69.4
5.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.86A$21.14
$18.08HK$142
-17.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82A$5.43
$4.05HK$31.77
-5.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92A$4.16
$2.62HK$20.55
11.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.13A$4.46
$4.71HK$36.93
-33.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.81A$6.84
$3.95HK$30.95
21.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.80A$3.98
$3.21HK$25.15
-12.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.38A$3.38
$3.22HK$25.24
-26.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.37A$3.37
$1.66HK$13.00
42.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65A$2.35
$1.77HK$13.92
-6.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$39.13A$55.7
$13.43HK$105
191.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.93A$19.81
$15.22HK$119
-8.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.96A$7.05
$1.98HK$15.50
150.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17A$7.36
$2.29HK$17.95
125.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.42A$3.44
$1.34HK$10.50
80.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.6A$135
$89.5HK$702
5.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49A$4.97
$3.73HK$29.22
-6.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60A$2.27
$1.36HK$10.66
17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.84A$56.7
$16.00HK$126
149.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39A$1.98
$3.98HK$31.20
-65.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0KA$42.7K
$44.5KHK$348.9K
-32.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KA$36.6K
$37.6KHK$295.3K
-31.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205A$292
$239HK$1,878
-14.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.33A$40.30
$15.99HK$125
77.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.8A$83.6
$21.59HK$169
172.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7A$79.2
$98.3HK$771
-43.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.57A$27.84
$9.38HK$73.6
108.64%
Cinema Ticket
$15.38A$21.87
$12.59HK$98.8
22.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,145A$3,051
$1,280HK$10.0K
67.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3KA$26.1K
$22.6KHK$177.3K
-18.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.3A$111
$67.8HK$531
15.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3A$80.0
$43.21HK$339
30.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115A$164
$82.9HK$650
38.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123A$175
$124HK$973
-0.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,591A$2,263
$2,373HK$18.6K
-32.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293A$1,839
$1,777HK$13.9K
-27.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,524A$3,591
$5,399HK$42.4K
-53.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,005A$2,852
$3,614HK$28.4K
-44.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,751A$12.4K
$29.5KHK$231.1K
-70.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,260A$8,904
$17.9KHK$140.2K
-64.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,984A$5,666
$3,297HK$25.9K
20.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.93
3.79
56.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Australia: October 27, 2026
Last update for Hong Kong (China): October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Australia
$1.3K 49.2%
Hong Kong (China)
$1.8K 58.3% ↑ 37.5%$484
🛒Groceries & Markets
Australia
$374 14.3%
Hong Kong (China)
$412 13.5% ↑ 10%$38
🍽Eating Out
Australia
$297 11.3%
Hong Kong (China)
$209 6.9% ↓ 29.7%$88
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
$292 11.1%
Hong Kong (China)
$277 9.1% ↓ 5.2%$15
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Australia
$168 6.4%
Hong Kong (China)
$143 4.7% ↓ 14.7%$25
🚌Getting Around
Australia
$116 4.4%
Hong Kong (China)
$105 3.5% ↓ 9%$10
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Australia
$86 3.3%
Hong Kong (China)
$124 4.1% ↑ 43%$37
🏠Accommodation & Living
Australia
$2K 40.2%
Hong Kong (China)
$3.6K 56.6% ↑ 80.2%$1.6K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Australia
$848 17%
Hong Kong (China)
$957 15% ↑ 12.8%$109
🍽Eating Out
Australia
$1K 20.4%
Hong Kong (China)
$732 11.5% ↓ 28.1%$286
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
$320 6.4%
Hong Kong (China)
$293 4.6% ↓ 8.6%$28
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Australia
$373 7.5%
Hong Kong (China)
$318 5% ↓ 14.7%$55
🚌Getting Around
Australia
$236 4.7%
Hong Kong (China)
$213 3.3% ↓ 9.7%$23
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Australia
$192 3.9%
Hong Kong (China)
$256 4% ↑ 33.3%$64
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,383 in Australia vs $2,432 in Hong Kong (China). For reference, capital cities sit at $1,749 in Canberra and $2,432 in Hong Kong.
💰Average salary: $3,874 in Australia vs $3,264 in Hong Kong (China). The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 76% higher in Hong Kong (China).
⭐Dining out costs 33% more in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 19% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
Australia→Hong Kong (China)7,390 km≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
Australia
Hong Kong (China)
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Australia vs Hong Kong (China): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Hong Kong (China)?
Australia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 14% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Hong Kong (China): a central one-bedroom averages $2,432 versus $1,383 in Australia.
Should I move to Australia or to Hong Kong (China)?
Australia is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.