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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,811 per month in Orange, NSW vs $2,137 in Ipswich, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,712 per month in Orange, NSW vs $3,060 in Ipswich, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,612 per month in Orange, NSW vs $3,983 in Ipswich, rent included.

Orange, NSW is about 15% cheaper than Ipswich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Orange, NSW and Ipswich sit above the global median – Orange, NSW by 35%, Ipswich by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.66 A$13.47

$16.39 A$22.84

-41.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.8 A$101

$77.2 A$108

-5.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.01 A$13.96

$9.71 A$13.53

3.09%

Cappuccino

$3.31 A$4.61

$3.35 A$4.67

-1.19%

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

$2.60 A$3.62

$2.58 A$3.60

0.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 A$3.09

$2.13 A$2.97

4.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 A$9.26

$6.31 A$8.79

5.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.00 A$9.76

$7.26 A$10.12

-3.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 A$1.95

$1.43 A$2.00

-2.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 A$3.61

$2.44 A$3.41

6.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 A$2.54

$2.05 A$2.85

-11.22%

Eggs

$3.56 A$4.95

$4.20 A$5.85

-15.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 A$11.06

$8.46 A$11.79

-6.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.93 A$11.05

$8.40 A$11.70

-5.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.76 A$17.78

$13.85 A$19.30

-7.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 A$4.48

$3.16 A$4.41

1.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.67 A$3.72

$2.77 A$3.86

-3.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.19

$2.96 A$4.13

1.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 A$5.06

$4.00 A$5.58

-9.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 A$2.22

$2.41 A$3.36

-34.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 A$2.95

$2.18 A$3.04

-3.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 A$2.60

$2.18 A$3.04

-14.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 A$1.78

$1.59 A$2.22

-19.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$31.35 A$43.68

$40.02 A$55.8

-21.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.55 A$16.10

$22.98 A$32.02

-49.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 A$3.59

$4.69 A$6.54

-44.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.28 A$7.36

$5.41 A$7.54

-2.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 A$3.26

$2.54 A$3.54

-7.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 A$91.3

$64.7 A$90.1

1.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 A$3.23

$2.08 A$2.90

11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 A$2.42

$1.40 A$1.96

24.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.24 A$56.1

$33.09 A$46.11

21.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 A$1.58

$1.15 A$1.60

-0.87%

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

$27.3K A$38.0K

$28.5K A$39.7K

-4.32%

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

$22.6K A$31.5K

$22.7K A$31.6K

-0.27%

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

$153 A$213

$181 A$252

-15.75%

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

$16.16 A$22.52

$28.77 A$40.09

-43.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 A$73.3

$51.9 A$72.3

1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.86 A$66.7

$49.03 A$68.3

-2.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 A$18.00

$15.90 A$22.16

-18.74%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 A$18.21

$12.78 A$17.80

2.27%

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

$1,728 A$2,408

$1,605 A$2,237

7.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K A$18.5K

$11.9K A$16.6K

11.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 A$72.6

$67.4 A$93.9

-22.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 A$78.1

$50.8 A$70.7

10.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 A$136

$101 A$140

-3.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 A$159

$105 A$147

8.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 A$1,221

$950 A$1,323

-7.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 A$1,036

$966 A$1,347

-23.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,517 A$2,114

$1,278 A$1,781

18.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 A$1,833

$1,277 A$1,779

2.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,000 A$8,361

$6,090 A$8,486

-1.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,126 A$7,144

$5,162 A$7,193

-0.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,964 A$6,918

$4,344 A$6,054

14.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.29

4.83%

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

Last update for Orange, NSW: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ipswich: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $876 in Orange, NSW versus $950 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 14% 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 $73.0 in Orange, NSW versus $77.0 in Ipswich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $357 – making Orange, NSW the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Ipswich is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,717 per month in Orange, NSW and $3,206 in Ipswich. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,811 in Orange, NSW and $2,137 in Ipswich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Orange, NSW. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Orange, NSW, where all-in costs run around $1,811, than in Ipswich at $2,137. 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.