🙂A single person spends $2,112 per month in Aurora, IL vs $2,507 in Hamilton, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,464 per month in Aurora, IL vs $3,577 in Hamilton, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,815 per month in Aurora, IL vs $4,647 in Hamilton, rent included.
🙂Aurora, IL is about 16% cheaper than Hamilton, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Aurora, IL and Hamilton sit above the global median – Aurora, IL by 58%, Hamilton by 87%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.24$15.24
$18.39CA$25.47
-17.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.8$61.8
$74.6CA$103
-17.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.05$11.05
$10.84CA$15.02
1.94%
Cappuccino
$5.25$5.25
$4.03CA$5.58
30.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63$2.63
$2.10CA$2.90
25.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26$2.26
$1.73CA$2.39
30.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.09$5.09
$5.73CA$7.94
-11.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82$6.82
$6.49CA$8.99
5.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$2.23CA$3.09
-63.68%
White Bread(500g)
$3.39$3.39
$2.11CA$2.92
60.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.05$5.05
$3.00CA$4.16
68.33%
Eggs
$4.12$4.12
$3.20CA$4.43
28.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.28$7.28
$7.76CA$10.74
-6.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.54$12.54
$11.64CA$16.11
7.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.17$14.17
$14.37CA$19.89
-1.39%
Apples(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$3.86CA$5.34
17.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57$1.57
$1.31CA$1.81
19.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.70$3.70
$3.58CA$4.95
3.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.16$3.16
$3.73CA$5.17
-15.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89$1.89
$2.64CA$3.65
-28.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.68$2.68
$2.20CA$3.04
21.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87$1.87
$2.22CA$3.08
-15.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57$1.57
$2.00CA$2.77
-21.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.71$8.71
$13.59CA$18.82
-35.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.80$13.80
$13.08CA$18.11
5.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23$2.23
$2.47CA$3.42
-9.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37$2.37
$3.01CA$4.16
-21.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.21$2.21
$2.56CA$3.55
-13.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102$102
$86.2CA$119
18.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.63$4.63
$3.58CA$4.96
29.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.74$1.74
$1.21CA$1.68
43.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.31$42.31
$24.51CA$33.94
72.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.15CA$1.60
-13.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K$24.1K
$25.0KCA$34.6K
-3.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$20.9KCA$29.0K
22.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176$176
$150CA$208
17.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1$51.1
$38.86CA$53.8
31.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.5$65.5
$53.0CA$73.3
23.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.43$35.43
$36.45CA$50.5
-2.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.88CA$30.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.15$11.15
$11.73CA$16.24
-4.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,331$1,331
$644CA$892
106.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.7K$24.7K
$22.4KCA$31.0K
10.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.39$49.39
$56.6CA$78.4
-12.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.60$47.60
$34.04CA$47.14
39.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.7$68.7
$97.3CA$135
-29.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5$79.5
$120CA$167
-34.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,384$1,384
$1,346CA$1,864
2.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$888$888
$1,306CA$1,808
-32.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,140$2,140
$2,056CA$2,846
4.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,222$2,222
$1,970CA$2,728
12.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,745$9,745
$2,754CA$3,813
253.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,214$3,214
$2,768CA$3,833
16.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurora, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,897$3,897
$2,916CA$4,037
33.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.52
6.62
-1.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aurora, IL: May 30, 2026
Last update for Hamilton: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,384 in Aurora, IL versus $1,346 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 reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Aurora, IL versus $75.0 in Hamilton. Groceries tell a different story – $349 in Aurora, IL vs $343 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?
Hamilton costs about 19% more than Aurora, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 vs Hamilton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,168 per month in Aurora, IL and $3,760 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 Aurora, IL, 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 vs Hamilton?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Aurora, IL and $75.0 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 $2,112 in Aurora, IL and $2,507 in Hamilton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Aurora, IL or Hamilton?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Aurora, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,112, than in Hamilton at $2,507. In Aurora, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton 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. Aurora, IL costs $2,112 versus $2,507 in Hamilton. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Aurora, IL or Hamilton?
If budget matters most, go with Aurora, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Aurora, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared