😐A single person spends $4,842 per month in Hamilton vs $4,111 in Winterthur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $9,251 per month in Hamilton vs $6,075 in Winterthur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $13.7K per month in Hamilton vs $8,039 in Winterthur, rent included.
😐Hamilton costs about 18% more than Winterthur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Hamilton and Winterthur sit above the global median – Hamilton by 262%, Winterthur by 208%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$59.9BMD 59.9
$39.98CHF 32.26
49.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$177BMD 177
$131CHF 106
34.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.27BMD 15.27
$19.82CHF 15.99
-22.96%
Cappuccino
$6.40BMD 6.40
$6.68CHF 5.39
-4.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50BMD 3.50
$4.84CHF 3.91
-27.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98BMD 2.98
$4.54CHF 3.66
-34.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.17BMD 10.17
$8.61CHF 6.95
18.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.41BMD 8.41
$5.98CHF 4.82
40.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.34BMD 4.34
$2.20CHF 1.78
97.27%
White Bread(500g)
$9.00BMD 9.00
$4.58CHF 3.69
96.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.37BMD 5.37
$4.65CHF 3.75
15.48%
Eggs
$7.57BMD 7.57
$7.68CHF 6.20
-1.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.68BMD 11.68
$31.30CHF 25.26
-62.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$24.47BMD 24.47
$32.81CHF 26.47
-25.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.87BMD 31.87
$46.30CHF 37.36
-31.17%
Apples(1kg)
$10.38BMD 10.38
$3.26CHF 2.63
218.40%
Banana(1kg)
$6.27BMD 6.27
$2.12CHF 1.71
195.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$12.59BMD 12.59
$3.14CHF 2.53
300.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.30BMD 11.30
$7.99CHF 6.45
41.43%
Potato(1kg)
$8.40BMD 8.40
$2.46CHF 1.98
241.46%
Onion(1kg)
$4.98BMD 4.98
$2.27CHF 1.83
119.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.83BMD 5.83
$2.56CHF 2.06
127.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.20BMD 3.20
$0.99CHF 0.80
223.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.49BMD 17.49
$11.49CHF 9.27
52.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.59BMD 24.59
$13.14CHF 10.60
87.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.26BMD 5.26
$2.01CHF 1.62
161.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63BMD 4.63
$3.36CHF 2.71
37.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.80BMD 4.80
$4.05CHF 3.27
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.1BMD 70.1
$125CHF 101
-43.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.09BMD 6.09
$8.47CHF 6.83
-28.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.43BMD 3.43
$4.89CHF 3.95
-29.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.2BMD 54.2
$85.2CHF 68.8
-36.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.37BMD 2.37
$2.17CHF 1.75
9.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KBMD 34.4K
$39.8KCHF 32.1K
-13.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6KBMD 39.6K
$46.9KCHF 37.8K
-15.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$234BMD 234
$257CHF 207
-8.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$121BMD 121
$67.0CHF 54.1
80.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$154BMD 154
$59.5CHF 47.98
159.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$185BMD 185
$116CHF 93.9
58.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.99BMD 32.99
$43.84CHF 35.37
-24.75%
Cinema Ticket
$13.72BMD 13.72
$28.45CHF 22.95
-51.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,339BMD 1,339
$2,680CHF 2,163
-50.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.6KBMD 24.6K
$21.3KCHF 17.2K
15.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5BMD 78.5
$218CHF 176
-64.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1BMD 61.1
$146CHF 118
-58.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$135BMD 135
$226CHF 182
-40.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130BMD 130
$423CHF 342
-69.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,377BMD 3,377
$2,213CHF 1,786
52.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,260BMD 2,260
$1,704CHF 1,375
32.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$8,611BMD 8,611
$3,523CHF 2,843
144.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$7,542BMD 7,542
$2,643CHF 2,133
185.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.6KBMD 14.6K
$23.0KCHF 18.6K
-36.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$9,325BMD 9,325
$17.1KCHF 13.8K
-45.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,684BMD 6,684
$6,442CHF 5,198
3.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.22
2.5
188.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: July 12, 2026
Last update for Winterthur: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $3,377 in Hamilton versus $2,213 in Winterthur. 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 4% higher in Hamilton, 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 $177 in Hamilton versus $131 in Winterthur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $816 vs $673 – making Winterthur 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
Hamilton vs Winterthur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hamilton and in Winterthur compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,842 in Hamilton, $4,111 in Winterthur – roughly 18% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hamilton compared to Winterthur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,263 per month in Hamilton and $6,166 in Winterthur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hamilton and Winterthur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Winterthur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $177 in Hamilton and $131 in Winterthur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hamilton or Winterthur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,842 in Hamilton and $4,111 in Winterthur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is feasible on a $5,000 budget?
$5,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,842 in Hamilton and $4,111 in Winterthur. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Hamilton and Winterthur?
It depends on your priorities. Hamilton has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $4,111 in Winterthur to $4,842 in Hamilton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Hamilton or Winterthur safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Hamilton and Winterthur?
If budget matters most, go with Winterthur. 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.