Cost of Living Comparison Between Aurora, IL and Hamilton Cost of Living Comparison Between Aurora, IL and Hamilton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,610 per month in Aurora, IL vs $2,321 in Hamilton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,721 per month in Aurora, IL vs $3,399 in Hamilton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,831 per month in Aurora, IL vs $4,477 in Hamilton, rent included.

Aurora, IL costs about 12% more than Hamilton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Aurora, IL and Hamilton sit above the global median – Aurora, IL by 90%, Hamilton by 69%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.02 $14.02
$18.38 CA$25.45
-23.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1 $59.1
$68.1 CA$94.3
-13.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.81 $11.81
$12.51 CA$17.32
-5.60%
Cappuccino
$5.29 $5.29
$3.56 CA$4.92
48.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.20 CA$3.05
35.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.74 CA$2.41
30.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.94 $4.94
$5.18 CA$7.17
-4.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.70 $7.70
$6.50 CA$9.00
18.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.05 CA$2.84
-56.59%
White Bread (500g)
$3.54 $3.54
$2.22 CA$3.08
59.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$2.84 CA$3.93
70.07%
Eggs
$3.50 $3.50
$3.44 CA$4.77
1.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.59 $8.59
$7.57 CA$10.48
13.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.43 $11.43
$10.40 CA$14.41
9.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.19 $16.19
$14.04 CA$19.45
15.31%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.91 CA$5.42
31.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.28 CA$1.77
29.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$4.27 CA$5.91
-12.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$3.92 CA$5.43
-18.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.64 CA$3.65
-30.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.75 CA$2.42
50.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.34 CA$3.25
-23.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 $1.60
$1.46 CA$2.03
9.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.82 $10.82
$14.22 CA$19.69
-23.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.57 $13.57
$13.06 CA$18.08
3.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.38 CA$3.30
-6.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$4.19 CA$5.80
-32.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.74 CA$3.80
-19.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.3 $99.3
$87.7 CA$121
13.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.50 CA$4.84
14.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.33 CA$1.84
47.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.92 $43.92
$23.47 CA$32.50
87.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.19 CA$1.64
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$28.9K CA$40.0K
-14.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$20.1K CA$27.8K
26.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$151 CA$209
13.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.9 $51.9
$40.12 CA$55.6
29.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.3 $55.3
$51.2 CA$70.8
8.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.87 $29.87
$37.62 CA$52.1
-20.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.56 CA$29.85
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.11 $12.11
$10.27 CA$14.22
17.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,517 $1,517
$615 CA$852
146.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$16.6K CA$23.0K
43.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 $57.1
$50.2 CA$69.6
13.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.72 $49.72
$34.50 CA$47.77
44.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 $88.1
$91.9 CA$127
-4.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2 $80.2
$121 CA$167
-33.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 $1,653
$1,320 CA$1,827
25.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,447 $1,447
$1,211 CA$1,677
19.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,197 $2,197
$2,063 CA$2,857
6.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,233 $2,233
$1,928 CA$2,670
15.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,515 $9,515
$2,814 CA$3,896
238.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,220 $3,220
$2,808 CA$3,888
14.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,906 $3,906
$2,912 CA$4,032
34.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.26
4.6
36.09%

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

Last update for Aurora, IL: September 1, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,653 in Aurora, IL versus $1,320 in Hamilton. 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 34% higher in Aurora, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Aurora, IL versus $68.0 in Hamilton. Groceries tell a different story – $357 in Aurora, IL vs $333 in Hamilton – so Hamilton 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
Aurora, IL vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aurora, IL or Hamilton?
Aurora, IL costs about 12% more than Hamilton, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aurora, IL and in Hamilton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,916 per month in Aurora, IL and $3,482 in Hamilton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aurora, IL or Hamilton?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hamilton, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Aurora, IL and in Hamilton?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Aurora, IL and $68.0 in Hamilton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Aurora, IL compared to Hamilton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,610 in Aurora, IL and $2,321 in Hamilton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Aurora, IL or in Hamilton?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Hamilton, where all-in costs run around $2,321, than in Aurora, IL at $2,610. In Hamilton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aurora, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aurora, IL or Hamilton?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hamilton costs $2,321 versus $2,610 in Aurora, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Aurora, IL or to Hamilton?
If budget matters most, go with Hamilton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aurora, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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