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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,665 per month in Decatur, IL vs $2,507 in Hamilton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,517 per month in Decatur, IL vs $3,577 in Hamilton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,368 per month in Decatur, IL vs $4,647 in Hamilton, rent included.

Decatur, IL is about 34% cheaper than Hamilton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Decatur, IL and Hamilton sit above the global median – Decatur, IL by 24%, Hamilton by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.46 $19.46

$18.39 CA$25.58

5.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.3 $66.3

$74.6 CA$104

-11.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 $8.76

$10.84 CA$15.08

-19.19%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$4.03 CA$5.60

24.81%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$2.10 CA$2.92

4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.73 CA$2.40

-3.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.73 CA$7.97

-11.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.15 $6.15

$6.49 CA$9.03

-5.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$2.23 CA$3.10

-62.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.11 CA$2.93

19.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.00 CA$4.18

-32.00%

Eggs

$3.56 $3.56

$3.20 CA$4.45

11.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 $8.92

$7.76 CA$10.79

14.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

$11.64 CA$16.18

-35.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$14.37 CA$19.98

-8.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.86 CA$5.36

15.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.31 CA$1.82

64.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.58 CA$4.98

22.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.73 CA$5.19

-10.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$2.64 CA$3.67

-65.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.20 CA$3.05

-49.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.22 CA$3.09

-34.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.00 CA$2.78

26.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.20 $7.20

$13.59 CA$18.90

-47.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$13.08 CA$18.19

14.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.47 CA$3.44

-26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$3.01 CA$4.18

-33.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.56 CA$3.56

-20.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.58 CA$4.98

-15.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.21 CA$1.69

16.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.85 $28.85

$24.51 CA$34.09

17.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.15 CA$1.60

-29.57%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$25.0K CA$34.7K

18.62%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$20.9K CA$29.1K

21.47%

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

$85.5 $85.5

$150 CA$209

-43.01%

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

$61.0 $61.0

$38.86 CA$54.1

56.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$53.0 CA$73.7

18.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$36.45 CA$50.7

107.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 CA$30.42

Cinema Ticket

$11.80 $11.80

$11.73 CA$16.32

0.60%

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

$1,297 $1,297

$644 CA$896

101.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$22.4K CA$31.1K

5.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 $57.0

$56.6 CA$78.7

0.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.79 $42.79

$34.04 CA$47.34

25.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 $76.3

$97.3 CA$135

-21.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$193 $193

$120 CA$168

60.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 $875

$1,346 CA$1,872

-34.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$571 $571

$1,306 CA$1,816

-56.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 $1,018

$2,056 CA$2,859

-50.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$825 $825

$1,970 CA$2,740

-58.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$956 $956

$2,754 CA$3,830

-65.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$940 $940

$2,768 CA$3,850

-66.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,486 $4,486

$2,916 CA$4,055

53.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.62

-0.91%

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

Last update for Decatur, IL: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $875 in Decatur, 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 54% higher in Decatur, 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 $66.0 in Decatur, IL versus $75.0 in Hamilton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $343 – making Decatur, IL 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

Decatur, IL vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hamilton is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,498 per month in Decatur, IL and $3,760 in Hamilton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Decatur, IL and $75.0 in Hamilton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Hamilton, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Decatur, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,665, than in Hamilton at $2,507. In Decatur, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Decatur, 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.