Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Burnie

For one person, living is cheaper in Burnie: $1,614 a month against $2,984 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $16,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
$2,984
/mo nomad
Burnie
🇦🇺 Australia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hong Kong and in Burnie

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,984 in Hong Kong versus $1,614 in Burnie.

  • Hong Kong $2,984
  • Burnie $1,614

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,558 in Hong Kong versus $2,472 in Burnie.

  • Hong Kong $4,558
  • Burnie $2,472

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,132 in Hong Kong versus $3,330 in Burnie.

  • Hong Kong $6,132
  • Burnie $3,330

Living in Hong Kong is roughly 85% more expensive than in Burnie, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hong Kong 123% above, Burnie 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong
Burnie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.46 HK$66.4
$18.28 A$26.16
-53.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2 HK$496
$90.6 A$130
-30.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.20 HK$48.66
$5.42 A$7.75
14.39%
Cappuccino
$4.90 HK$38.41
$3.96 A$5.66
23.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 HK$10.01
$3.52 A$5.03
-63.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 HK$8.31
$1.69 A$2.42
-37.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.68 HK$60.3
$4.17 A$5.97
84.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.28 HK$49.24
$5.97 A$8.54
5.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
Burnie
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.86 HK$22.45
$1.84 A$2.63
55.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.43 HK$19.10
$2.50 A$3.57
-2.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 HK$17.09
$1.91 A$2.73
14.14%
Eggs
$3.54 HK$27.80
$4.88 A$6.98
-27.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.12 HK$197
$9.64 A$13.80
160.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.89 HK$69.8
$6.16 A$8.81
44.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.63 HK$138
$17.17 A$24.57
2.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 HK$32.22
$2.80 A$4.01
46.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 HK$21.32
$2.80 A$4.01
-2.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 HK$36.05
$2.07 A$2.97
121.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 HK$31.52
$2.75 A$3.93
46.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.25 HK$25.50
$2.64 A$3.78
23.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 HK$25.70
$2.11 A$3.02
54.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.60 HK$12.54
$2.06 A$2.94
-22.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 HK$13.56
$1.61 A$2.30
7.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.14 HK$103
$35.56 A$50.9
-63.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.59 HK$130
$14.28 A$20.44
16.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 HK$15.80
$3.46 A$4.95
-41.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 HK$17.13
$5.55 A$7.94
-60.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong
Burnie
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.44 HK$11.31
$1.88 A$2.69
-23.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.1 HK$699
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 HK$28.53
$2.67 A$3.82
36.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 HK$10.29
$2.13 A$3.04
-38.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.82 HK$124
$42.27 A$60.5
-62.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$4.06 HK$31.89
$1.29 A$1.85
214.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.4K HK$348.2K
$26.4K A$37.8K
67.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K HK$293.2K
$31.4K A$44.9K
19.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
Burnie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$247 HK$1,942
$212 A$303
17.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.89 HK$125
$20.99 A$30.03
-24.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.46 HK$168
$48.19 A$69.0
-55.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
Burnie
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$91.4 HK$717
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.08 HK$71.3
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.96 HK$110
$14.01 A$20.06
-0.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong
Burnie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,155 HK$9,067
$2,000 A$2,862
-42.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K HK$174.6K
$20.8K A$29.8K
7.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
Burnie
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.9 HK$541
$78.7 A$113
-12.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.44 HK$317
$24.16 A$34.57
67.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 HK$627
$107 A$153
-25.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 HK$923
$92.8 A$133
26.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
Burnie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 HK$17.1K
$799 A$1,144
172.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,718 HK$13.5K
$575 A$823
198.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,047 HK$39.6K
$1,128 A$1,614
347.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,543 HK$27.8K
$838 A$1,199
323.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.1K HK$228.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.6K HK$137.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong
Burnie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,228 HK$25.3K
$5,051 A$7,229
-36.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.91
5.6
-30.18%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: October 4, 2026

Last update for Burnie: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
$1.7K
Burnie
$575 66.5% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
$415
Burnie
$331 20.2% $84
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
$285
Burnie
$281 1.4% $4.1
Eating Out
Hong Kong
$205
Burnie
$264 28.4% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
$138
Burnie
$136 1.5% $2.1
Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
$119
Burnie
$28 * 76.5% $91
Getting Around
Hong Kong
$105
Burnie
$21 * 80.2% $84

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,180 in Hong Kong and $799 in Burnie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Burnie pays 56% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Hong Kong vs $91.0 in Burnie. Groceries flip the comparison at $415 vs $331, with Burnie cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇦🇺 Burnie
🕒 Local time
18:46 6:46 PM
21:46 9:46 PM
3 h ahead of Hong Kong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,367,900 Capital
20,267
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 7.85 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.79 HKD (1 HKD = 0.114 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hong Kong Burnie 7,770 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hong Kong
  • Burnie

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 vs Burnie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burnie cheaper than Hong Kong?
Burnie is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hong Kong or Burnie?
On paper, salaries run 56% lower in Burnie. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Hong Kong and Burnie?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,180 in Hong Kong versus $799 in Burnie. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hong Kong and in Burnie?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Hong Kong. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hong Kong and in Burnie?
All in, you'll spend $2,984 per month in Hong Kong versus $1,614 in Burnie – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Hong Kong or in Burnie?
At $1,614 in Burnie versus $2,984 in Hong Kong, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Burnie but tight or insufficient in Hong Kong. The gap between the two cities makes Burnie the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hong Kong or Burnie more family-friendly?
For families, Burnie is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hong Kong, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hong Kong or Burnie?
Safety-wise, Hong Kong and Burnie are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Burnie gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Hong Kong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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