How Much Does It Cost to Live In Hamilton?
Hamilton is the capital city of Ontario and many people living there are foreigners who once in their life decided to relocate there.
It is not easy to understand why they have picked Hamilton as their new place of living, considering the fact that living conditions are excellent here.
The expenses and spending habits cannot be exactly determined as they vary from person to person, but it can be estimated that the expenses in Hamilton are lower in comparison with other Canadian cities.
Canada : Cost of Living by City
- Abbotsford
- Barrie
- Brampton
- Burlington
- Burnaby
- Calgary
- Coquitlam
- Edmonton
- Halifax
- Hamilton
- Kelowna
- Kingston
- Kitchener
- London
- Mississauga
- Moncton
- Montreal
- Nanaimo, BC
- Oshawa
- Ottawa
- Quebec City
- Red Deer
- Regina
- Saskatoon
- St. John’s, NL
- Surrey
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Windsor
- Winnipeg
RESTAURANTS
Hamilton is less expensive than the rest of Canada when it comes to restaurants.
A meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant will cost about $60, while in an inexpensive one it can cost less than $30.
However, these prices do not include alcohol, which is expensive and one bottle of beer costs half the meal.
MARKETS
Grocery shoppers pay a little less in Hamilton than in other major cities in Canada.
Food in general is not so affordable, but it is still of the utmost importance for living, so the money for it has to be provided.
If you want to save some money on it, do your shopping at the local markets.
TRANSPORTATION
The majority of people who live and work in Hamilton drive to their jobs and around the city.
The price of gasoline is not so high, but the insurance and registration bills are not cheap.
On the other hand, if you do not possess a vehicle, public transport system functions perfectly and costs $75 per month.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Besides paying the less expensive rent, if you live in Hamilton, you will need to pay utilities.
Those services typically cost about $150, with the price of the Internet included.
However, the prices vary from season to season, and depend on the living habits of people.
SPORTS & LEISURE
How much you can expect to spend in a month on sports and entertainments varies from person to person, as the preferences are not the same.
Movies are around $10, while tennis court rent for one hour is $15.
Sports people who like exercising in the gym would need to devote more than $30 per month for that.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Hamilton is the paradise for shoppers.
The prices of clothing items are so affordable, that people from the majority of cities around the world would find it more than reasonable.
Buying a designer dress at the price of $25 is unimaginable in some European countries.
RENT PER MONTH
The rent is generally expensive throughout Canada and as it became even more costly in some of its parts, many people have looked west towards Hamilton as their place for settling.
Hamilton is ideal, due to the fact that rent is quite affordable and much cheaper, while the living conditions are almost the same as in the whole country.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Hamilton
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $11.26 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $4.32 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.17 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $6.18 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.76 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.98 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.25 |
| Monthly Pass | $75.96 |
| Gasoline | $3.51 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $101.50 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.18 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $51.93 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $32.36 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $15.01 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $10.13 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $37.57 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $25.92 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $64.76 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $759.21 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $643.27 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1263.98 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Hamilton?
To get a general idea of how much it costs to live in Hamilton, it is helpful to take a look at the spending of its citizens.
As the rent is not so expensive, the most money is spent on food, as in the majority of cities.
However, if you rent a flat, prepare yourself to spend two thirds of your monthly salary on groceries and housing costs.
Pretty much money is given at restaurants in Hamilton, while utilities and leisure take about 6% of monthly budget.
Average Costs Breakdown
Hamilton: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
To get by comfortably in Hamilton, you will need to have above the minimum salary.
Those people who possess their apartments would be able to survive even with the minimum wages, while those who have to pay the rent would have to earn at least the average monthly salary.
The difference between these two is almost $1000, the amount necessary for the rent.
If you have enough money to buy a house there, that would be an excellent option and mortgage interest rates are around 3%.
Hamilton Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Hamilton Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Hamilton
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Abbotsford | 58.95 |
| Barrie | 77.37 |
| Brampton | 68.79 |
| Burlington | 73.13 |
| Burnaby | 64.94 |
| Calgary | 68.93 |
| Coquitlam | 67.43 |
| Edmonton | 67.03 |
| Halifax | 70.88 |
| Kelowna | 66.6 |
| Kingston | 66.45 |
| Kitchener | 58.93 |
| London | 59.15 |
| Mississauga | 65.08 |
| Moncton | 61.15 |
| Montreal | 63.52 |
| Nanaimo, BC | 65.28 |
| Oshawa | 65.44 |
| Ottawa | 62.88 |
| Quebec City | 66.1 |
| Red Deer | 67.42 |
| Regina | 68.46 |
| Saskatoon | 74.26 |
| St. John’s, NL | 74.05 |
| Surrey | 59.18 |
| Toronto | 70.19 |
| Vancouver | 69.63 |
| Victoria | 66.17 |
| Windsor | 64.42 |
| Winnipeg | 63.15 |
