Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Ipswich Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Ipswich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,990 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,114 in Ipswich, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,601 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,014 in Ipswich, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,212 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,913 in Ipswich, rent included.

Hong Kong costs about 41% more than Ipswich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hong Kong and Ipswich sit above the global median – Hong Kong by 117%, Ipswich by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.06 HK$63.2

$32.72 A$45.62

-75.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.7 HK$492

$78.4 A$109

-20.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 HK$49.15

$10.27 A$14.31

-38.95%

Cappuccino

$5.05 HK$39.60

$4.56 A$6.36

10.75%

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

$1.27 HK$9.95

$4.04 A$5.63

-68.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 HK$8.26

$2.56 A$3.57

-58.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.22 HK$56.6

$9.65 A$13.45

-25.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.69 HK$44.62

$8.20 A$11.43

-30.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.92 HK$22.94

$2.57 A$3.58

13.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 HK$18.58

$2.59 A$3.61

-8.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 HK$16.93

$2.34 A$3.26

-7.69%

Eggs

$3.60 HK$28.21

$7.60 A$10.60

-52.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.02 HK$204

$7.46 A$10.40

248.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 HK$65.5

$8.81 A$12.28

-5.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.29 HK$151

$14.40 A$20.08

33.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 HK$32.68

$3.56 A$4.96

17.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 HK$18.97

$2.79 A$3.89

-13.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 HK$36.61

$2.85 A$3.97

63.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.36 HK$26.36

$4.02 A$5.61

-16.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 HK$25.00

$2.07 A$2.89

54.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.35 HK$26.28

$2.19 A$3.05

52.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 HK$12.37

$2.48 A$3.46

-36.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 HK$13.63

$1.77 A$2.47

-1.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.54 HK$106

$45.92 A$64.0

-70.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.31 HK$128

$22.46 A$31.31

-27.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 HK$14.94

$6.64 A$9.26

-71.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 HK$16.64

$7.68 A$10.71

-72.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 HK$10.68

$0.35 A$0.48

288.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.5 HK$702

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 HK$29.46

$2.26 A$3.16

66.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 HK$10.22

$1.62 A$2.25

-19.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.80 HK$124

$37.42 A$52.2

-57.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$4.02 HK$31.56

$1.39 A$1.94

189.21%

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

$43.8K HK$343.3K

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

$36.7K HK$288.0K

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

$244 HK$1,913

$93.4 A$130

161.02%

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

$14.90 HK$117

$32.56 A$45.39

-54.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.47 HK$168

$64.8 A$90.3

-66.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.1 HK$745

$17.76 A$24.76

435.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.13 HK$79.5

Cinema Ticket

$13.44 HK$105

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

$1,071 HK$8,397

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K HK$178.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 HK$527

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.17 HK$323

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 HK$631

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 HK$930

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,265 HK$17.8K

$1,071 A$1,493

111.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,691 HK$13.3K

$1,040 A$1,450

62.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,099 HK$40.0K

$1,434 A$2,000

255.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,370 HK$26.4K

$1,471 A$2,051

129.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$29.3K HK$229.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.6K HK$138.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,137 HK$24.6K

$4,367 A$6,089

-28.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

5.98

-36.45%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ipswich: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,265 in Hong Kong versus $1,071 in Ipswich. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Ipswich, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Hong Kong versus $78.0 in Ipswich. Groceries tell a different story – $414 in Hong Kong vs $402 in Ipswich – so Ipswich wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ipswich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,990 in Hong Kong, $2,114 in Ipswich – roughly 41% apart. Hong Kong costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,486 per month in Hong Kong and $3,172 in Ipswich. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ipswich, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Hong Kong and $78.0 in Ipswich. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,990 in Hong Kong and $2,114 in Ipswich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ipswich, where all-in costs run around $2,114, than in Hong Kong at $2,990. In Ipswich it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hong Kong it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Hong Kong has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,114 in Ipswich to $2,990 in Hong Kong. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ipswich. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hong Kong makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.