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 $2,840 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,158 in Ipswich, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,333 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,030 in Ipswich, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,826 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,902 in Ipswich, rent included.

Hong Kong costs about 32% more than Ipswich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hong Kong and Ipswich sit above the global median – Hong Kong by 111%, Ipswich by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.86 HK$69.4

$16.12 A$22.77

-45.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 HK$493

$76.7 A$108

-18.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.22 HK$48.75

$9.56 A$13.50

-34.94%

Cappuccino

$5.21 HK$40.84

$3.36 A$4.75

55.06%

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

$1.34 HK$10.52

$2.60 A$3.68

-48.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 HK$8.51

$2.12 A$2.99

-48.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.67 HK$52.2

$6.68 A$9.44

-0.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 HK$51.0

$7.04 A$9.95

-7.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.96 HK$23.19

$1.45 A$2.04

104.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 HK$17.23

$2.42 A$3.42

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 HK$15.89

$1.93 A$2.73

5.18%

Eggs

$3.39 HK$26.59

$4.43 A$6.26

-23.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.78 HK$202

$8.76 A$12.38

194.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.45 HK$81.9

$8.64 A$12.21

20.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.05 HK$173

$13.76 A$19.43

60.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 HK$27.33

$3.32 A$4.69

5.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 HK$17.54

$2.77 A$3.91

-19.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.89 HK$30.48

$2.99 A$4.23

30.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 HK$24.24

$4.10 A$5.79

-24.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 HK$17.73

$2.52 A$3.56

-10.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 HK$17.45

$2.12 A$2.99

5.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 HK$13.13

$2.12 A$2.99

-20.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 HK$13.37

$1.58 A$2.24

8.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.82 HK$100

$39.43 A$55.7

-67.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 HK$150

$22.58 A$31.90

-15.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 HK$14.21

$4.60 A$6.51

-60.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 HK$20.87

$5.21 A$7.36

-48.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.68 HK$13.15

$2.68 A$3.78

-37.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.9 HK$493

$66.1 A$93.4

-4.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 HK$29.50

$2.00 A$2.83

88.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 HK$10.45

$1.38 A$1.95

-3.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.73 HK$115

$33.38 A$47.16

-55.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.05 HK$23.88

$1.13 A$1.60

169.91%

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

$39.0K HK$305.4K

$29.3K A$41.3K

33.22%

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

$32.7K HK$256.1K

$22.7K A$32.1K

44.06%

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

$228 HK$1,787

$184 A$260

23.83%

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

$17.95 HK$141

$29.83 A$42.15

-39.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.01 HK$180

$51.9 A$73.3

-55.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.5 HK$592

$47.92 A$67.7

57.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.64 HK$67.7

$15.59 A$22.03

-44.58%

Cinema Ticket

$12.51 HK$98.0

$12.86 A$18.17

-2.72%

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

$998 HK$7,817

$1,643 A$2,322

-39.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K HK$171.8K

$12.0K A$16.9K

83.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 HK$580

$68.5 A$96.8

7.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.46 HK$309

$51.5 A$72.8

-23.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 HK$700

$99.8 A$141

-10.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 HK$1,122

$106 A$150

35.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 HK$17.2K

$956 A$1,351

129.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 HK$12.3K

$937 A$1,324

67.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,890 HK$38.3K

$1,306 A$1,845

274.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,059 HK$24.0K

$1,319 A$1,864

131.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$27.6K HK$216.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$17.5K HK$137.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,198 HK$25.1K

$4,243 A$5,995

-24.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.97

-33.83%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ipswich: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,197 in Hong Kong versus $956 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 33% 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 $77.0 in Ipswich. Groceries tell a different story – $422 in Hong Kong vs $358 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: $2,840 in Hong Kong, $2,158 in Ipswich – roughly 32% apart. Hong Kong costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,259 per month in Hong Kong and $3,237 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 $77.0 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 $2,840 in Hong Kong and $2,158 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 $2,158, than in Hong Kong at $2,840. 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 $2,158 in Ipswich to $2,840 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.