Cost of Living Comparison Between Ipswich and Orange, NSW Cost of Living Comparison Between Ipswich and Orange, NSW

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,102 per month in Ipswich vs $1,847 in Orange, NSW, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,961 per month in Ipswich vs $3,076 in Orange, NSW, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,820 per month in Ipswich vs $4,304 in Orange, NSW, rent included.

Ipswich costs about 14% more than Orange, NSW, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ipswich and Orange, NSW sit above the global median – Ipswich by 53%, Orange, NSW by 34%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$32.42 A$45.01

$14.94 A$20.74

117.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 A$109

$79.6 A$111

-1.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.99 A$13.87

$10.60 A$14.72

-5.75%

Cappuccino

$4.63 A$6.43

$3.63 A$5.04

27.55%

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

$3.84 A$5.34

$3.21 A$4.46

19.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 A$3.40

$2.36 A$3.27

3.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.19 A$12.76

$7.14 A$9.91

28.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.93 A$11.01

$7.35 A$10.21

7.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 A$3.42

$1.22 A$1.70

102.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 A$3.55

$2.95 A$4.09

-13.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 A$3.24

$2.20 A$3.06

6.36%

Eggs

$7.70 A$10.69

$3.93 A$5.45

95.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.33 A$10.18

$8.50 A$11.80

-13.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.77 A$12.18

$9.00 A$12.49

-2.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 A$20.21

$14.49 A$20.11

0.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 A$4.72

$3.06 A$4.25

11.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 A$3.74

$2.61 A$3.63

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 A$4.05

$3.39 A$4.70

-13.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 A$5.63

$3.85 A$5.35

5.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 A$2.76

$1.82 A$2.53

9.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 A$3.06

$2.57 A$3.57

-14.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 A$3.44

$2.03 A$2.81

22.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 A$2.56

$1.85 A$2.57

-0.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$45.22 A$62.8

$35.48 A$49.26

27.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.29 A$30.95

$11.29 A$15.68

97.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$6.59 A$9.15

$2.86 A$3.97

130.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.60 A$10.55

$4.77 A$6.62

59.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 A$0.52

$3.15 A$4.38

-87.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.4 A$121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 A$3.11

$2.51 A$3.48

-10.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 A$2.23

$1.63 A$2.27

-1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.52 A$50.7

$46.77 A$64.9

-21.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 A$1.99

$1.28 A$1.78

11.72%

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

$30.1K A$41.7K

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

$42.5K A$59.0K

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

$93.2 A$129

$170 A$236

-45.21%

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

$32.13 A$44.60

$18.15 A$25.19

77.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.5 A$89.5

$52.1 A$72.4

23.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.13 A$25.17

$53.5 A$74.2

-66.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.44 A$25.60

Cinema Ticket

$13.85 A$19.23

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

$2,260 A$3,137

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K A$30.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 A$77.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.9 A$88.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 A$209

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 A$155

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,055 A$1,464

$845 A$1,173

24.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 A$1,453

$618 A$858

69.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,444 A$2,004

$1,425 A$1,978

1.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 A$1,972

$1,517 A$2,105

-6.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,118 A$8,494

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,102 A$7,082

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,362 A$6,055

$4,816 A$6,686

-9.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.98

5.23

14.34%

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

Last update for Ipswich: August 31, 2026

Last update for Orange, NSW: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Ipswich versus $845 in Orange, NSW. 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 10% higher in Orange, NSW, 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 $78.0 in Ipswich versus $80.0 in Orange, NSW. Groceries tell a different story – $400 in Ipswich vs $331 in Orange, NSW – so Orange, NSW 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

Ipswich vs Orange, NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ipswich is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,153 per month in Ipswich and $2,771 in Orange, NSW. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 21% more in Ipswich, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Ipswich and $80.0 in Orange, NSW. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Orange, NSW, where all-in costs run around $1,847, than in Ipswich at $2,102. In Orange, NSW it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ipswich it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Orange, NSW – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Orange, NSW. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ipswich makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.