Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Decatur, IL and Hamilton

For one person, living is cheaper in Decatur, IL: $1,725 a month against $2,253 in Hamilton, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Hamilton outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Decatur, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$1,725
/mo nomad
Hamilton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,253
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Decatur, IL and in Hamilton

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Decatur, IL and in Hamilton actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,725 per month in Decatur, IL vs $2,253 in Hamilton, rent included.

  • Decatur, IL $1,725
  • Hamilton $2,253

A couple spends around $2,654 per month in Decatur, IL vs $3,331 in Hamilton, rent included.

  • Decatur, IL $2,654
  • Hamilton $3,331

A family of three spends $3,582 per month in Decatur, IL vs $4,408 in Hamilton, rent included.

  • Decatur, IL $3,582
  • Hamilton $4,408

Decatur, IL is about 23% cheaper than Hamilton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Decatur, IL and Hamilton sit above the global median – Decatur, IL by 28%, Hamilton by 67%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Decatur, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.96 $19.96
$17.21 CA$24.33
15.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.4 $83.4
$65.7 CA$92.8
27.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.74 $8.74
$11.87 CA$16.77
-26.37%
Cappuccino
$5.41 $5.41
$3.37 CA$4.77
60.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.22 CA$3.14
0.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.69 CA$2.39
-1.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.02 $5.02
$4.99 CA$7.05
0.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.12 $6.12
$6.03 CA$8.52
1.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Decatur, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.89 CA$2.67
-29.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.12 CA$2.99
44.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$3.13 CA$4.43
-35.14%
Eggs
$4.74 $4.74
$3.33 CA$4.70
42.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.87 $13.87
$7.88 CA$11.13
76.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.86 $14.86
$11.30 CA$15.98
31.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$14.24 CA$20.13
-8.15%
Apples (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$3.81 CA$5.38
13.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.27 CA$1.79
59.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$3.98 CA$5.63
1.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$3.82 CA$5.40
-14.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 $0.91
$2.71 CA$3.83
-66.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.91 CA$2.69
-42.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.95 CA$2.75
-24.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.33 CA$1.88
130.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.87 $15.87
$12.49 CA$17.65
27.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.81 $14.81
$13.95 CA$19.72
6.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.65 CA$3.74
-16.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.77 CA$5.33
-47.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Decatur, IL
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.56 CA$3.62
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$84.1 CA$119
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 $3.17
$3.36 CA$4.76
-5.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.28 CA$1.82
10.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.28 $25.28
$23.24 CA$32.85
8.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.21 CA$1.71
-4.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K $37.0K
$27.6K CA$39.1K
33.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$19.6K CA$27.7K
30.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Decatur, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.6 $85.6
$152 CA$214
-43.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.2 $67.2
$41.21 CA$58.3
63.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$50.2 CA$70.9
19.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Decatur, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.7 $74.7
$36.85 CA$52.1
102.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.62 CA$24.91
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.82 $11.82
$10.23 CA$14.46
15.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Decatur, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,525 $1,525
$600 CA$848
154.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.0K $32.0K
$16.6K CA$23.4K
93.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Decatur, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1 $68.1
$47.93 CA$67.8
42.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 $51.5
$30.45 CA$43.05
69.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$83.8 CA$118
20.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$114 CA$161
26.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Decatur, IL
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$867 $867
$1,251 CA$1,769
-30.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 $551
$1,123 CA$1,588
-50.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$993 $993
$2,042 CA$2,887
-51.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$805 $805
$1,873 CA$2,647
-57.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$940 $940
$2,695 CA$3,810
-65.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$941 $941
$2,668 CA$3,771
-64.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Decatur, IL
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,599 $4,599
$2,860 CA$4,044
60.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.77
4.6
47.17%

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

Last update for Decatur, IL: October 11, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Decatur, IL
$551
Hamilton
$1.1K 104% $572
Groceries & Markets
Decatur, IL
$385
Hamilton
$335 13% $50
Eating Out
Decatur, IL
$304
Hamilton
$266 12.3% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Decatur, IL
$213
Hamilton
$243 14.1% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Decatur, IL
$164
Hamilton
$124 24.4% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Decatur, IL
$98
Hamilton
$57 41.7% $41
Getting Around
Decatur, IL
$10 *
Hamilton
$104 913% $94

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $867 in Decatur, IL versus $1,251 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 61% 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 $83.0 in Decatur, IL versus $66.0 in Hamilton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $335 – making Hamilton the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Decatur, IL
🇨🇦 Hamilton
🕒 Local time
18:08 6:08 PM
19:08 7:08 PM
1 h ahead of Decatur, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
77,047
519,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Decatur, IL Hamilton 850 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Decatur, IL
  • Hamilton

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Hamilton cheaper than Decatur, IL?
Yes – Hamilton is pricier by about 31%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,588 per month in Decatur, IL and $3,380 in Hamilton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Decatur, IL or in Hamilton?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Decatur, IL and $66.0 in Hamilton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Decatur, IL and in Hamilton?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Hamilton – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Decatur, IL or in Hamilton?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Decatur, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,725, than in Hamilton at $2,253. In Decatur, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Decatur, IL or Hamilton more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

Decatur, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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