Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong (China) and Australia

Name: Australia
Address: AU

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.

147

Cost of Living Index in Hong Kong (China)
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Hong Kong (China) Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Australia
Learn more

Australia Living Index

Jump to prices

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

$3,046

/mo nomad

🇦🇺 Australia

$2,626

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hong Kong (China) and in Australia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hong Kong (China) and in Australia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,046 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $2,626 in Australia, rent included.

Hong Kong (China) $3,046
Australia $2,626

A couple spends around $4,715 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $3,810 in Australia, rent included.

Hong Kong (China) $4,715
Australia $3,810

A family of three spends $6,384 per month in Hong Kong (China) vs $4,994 in Australia, rent included.

Hong Kong (China) $6,384
Australia $4,994

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 Hong Kong (China) is about 16% higher than in Australia on average.

Both Hong Kong (China) and Australia are pricier than the global median – Hong Kong (China) by 124%, Australia by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.47 HK$66.5

$17.65 A$25.08

-52.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 HK$508

$85.2 A$121

-24.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.25 HK$49.02

$11.09 A$15.76

-43.64%

Cappuccino

$5.17 HK$40.58

$3.90 A$5.54

32.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 HK$10.28

$2.85 A$4.05

-54.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 HK$8.88

$2.31 A$3.29

-51.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.44 HK$58.4

$7.53 A$10.70

-1.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 HK$51.3

$8.59 A$12.20

-23.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.90 HK$22.76

$1.76 A$2.50

64.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 HK$18.47

$2.81 A$3.99

-16.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 HK$17.68

$2.24 A$3.19

0.45%

Eggs

$3.45 HK$27.10

$5.02 A$7.14

-31.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.79 HK$194

$9.87 A$14.02

151.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.85 HK$69.4

$9.32 A$13.24

-5.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.08 HK$142

$14.86 A$21.13

21.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.05 HK$31.77

$3.82 A$5.42

6.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 HK$20.56

$2.92 A$4.16

-10.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 HK$36.93

$3.13 A$4.46

50.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 HK$30.95

$4.81 A$6.83

-17.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 HK$25.15

$2.80 A$3.98

14.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 HK$25.24

$2.38 A$3.38

35.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 HK$13.00

$2.37 A$3.37

-29.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 HK$13.92

$1.65 A$2.35

7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.43 HK$105

$39.13 A$55.6

-65.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 HK$119

$13.93 A$19.80

9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 HK$15.50

$4.96 A$7.05

-60.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 HK$17.95

$5.17 A$7.35

-55.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 HK$10.50

$2.42 A$3.44

-44.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.5 HK$702

$94.6 A$134

-5.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 HK$29.22

$3.49 A$4.97

6.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 HK$10.66

$1.60 A$2.27

-15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.00 HK$126

$39.84 A$56.6

-59.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.98 HK$31.21

$1.39 A$1.97

186.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$44.5K HK$348.9K

$30.0K A$42.7K

48.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.6K HK$295.3K

$25.8K A$36.6K

46.18%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$239 HK$1,878

$205 A$291

16.76%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.99 HK$125

$28.33 A$40.27

-43.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.59 HK$169

$58.8 A$83.5

-63.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.3 HK$771

$55.7 A$79.1

76.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.38 HK$73.6

$19.57 A$27.82

-52.07%

Cinema Ticket

$12.59 HK$98.8

$15.38 A$21.86

-18.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,280 HK$10.0K

$2,145 A$3,049

-40.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.6K HK$177.3K

$18.3K A$26.1K

23.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 HK$532

$78.3 A$111

-13.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.21 HK$339

$56.3 A$80.0

-23.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.9 HK$650

$115 A$164

-27.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 HK$973

$123 A$175

0.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,373 HK$18.6K

$1,591 A$2,261

49.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,777 HK$13.9K

$1,293 A$1,837

37.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,399 HK$42.4K

$2,524 A$3,588

113.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,614 HK$28.4K

$2,005 A$2,850

80.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.5K HK$231.1K

$8,751 A$12.4K

236.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.9K HK$140.2K

$6,260 A$8,898

185.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,297 HK$25.9K

$3,984 A$5,663

-17.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

5.93

-36.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hong Kong (China): October 25, 2026

Last update for Australia: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Hong Kong (China)

$1.8K 58.3%

Australia

$1.3K 49.2% 27.3% $484

Groceries & Markets

Hong Kong (China)

$412 13.5%

Australia

$374 14.3% 9.1% $38

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hong Kong (China)

$277 9.1%

Australia

$292 11.1% 5.5% $15

Eating Out

Hong Kong (China)

$209 6.9%

Australia

$297 11.3% 42.2% $88

Clothing & Footwear

Hong Kong (China)

$143 4.7%

Australia

$168 6.4% 17.3% $25

Sport & Entertainment

Hong Kong (China)

$124 4.1%

Australia

$86 3.3% 30% $37

Getting Around

Hong Kong (China)

$105 3.5%

Australia

$116 4.4% 9.9% $10

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $2,432 in Hong Kong (China) vs $1,383 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,432 in Hong Kong and $1,749 in Canberra.

Average salary: $3,264 in Hong Kong (China) vs $3,874 in Australia. 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.

Good to know

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

🇦🇺 Australia

🕒 Local time

13:56 1:56 PM

16:56 4:56 PM

3 h ahead of Hong Kong (China)

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

7,413,070

26,473,055

💱 Currency

Hong Kong Dollar HKD $

Australian Dollar AUD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 HKD = 0.127 USD

1 HKD = 0.114 EUR

1 AUD = 0.704 USD

1 AUD = 0.63 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to HKD – Hong Kong Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇭🇰 Hong Kong Dollar ($)

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 7.84 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.76 HKD (1 HKD = 0.114 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 AUD (1 AUD = 0.63 EUR).

USD to HKD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Hong Kong (China) Australia 7,390 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Hong Kong (China)
Australia

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

Hong Kong (China) vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Australia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 14% lower on average.

Housing costs more in Hong Kong (China): a central one-bedroom averages $2,432 versus $1,383 in Australia.

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.