😐A single person spends $4,857 per month in Hamilton vs $4,216 in Winterthur, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $9,118 per month in Hamilton vs $6,106 in Winterthur, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $13.4K per month in Hamilton vs $7,997 in Winterthur, rent included.
😐Hamilton costs about 15% more than Winterthur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Hamilton and Winterthur sit above the global median – Hamilton by 252%, Winterthur by 206%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$50.1BMD 50.1
$30.87CHF 24.98
62.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$151BMD 151
$126CHF 102
20.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.91BMD 16.91
$18.41CHF 14.90
-8.15%
Cappuccino
$6.22BMD 6.22
$6.32CHF 5.12
-1.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11BMD 3.11
$5.47CHF 4.43
-43.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08BMD 3.08
$5.02CHF 4.06
-38.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.47BMD 7.47
$8.68CHF 7.02
-13.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.09BMD 9.09
$6.62CHF 5.36
37.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.54BMD 4.54
$2.28CHF 1.85
99.12%
White Bread(500g)
$8.49BMD 8.49
$3.83CHF 3.10
121.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.45BMD 5.45
$4.60CHF 3.72
18.48%
Eggs
$7.60BMD 7.60
$7.33CHF 5.93
3.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.75BMD 18.75
$33.48CHF 27.09
-44.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$23.05BMD 23.05
$30.15CHF 24.40
-23.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.43BMD 27.43
$44.06CHF 35.65
-37.74%
Apples(1kg)
$12.87BMD 12.87
$4.28CHF 3.46
200.70%
Banana(1kg)
$6.57BMD 6.57
$2.27CHF 1.83
189.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.06BMD 7.06
$3.25CHF 2.63
117.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96BMD 3.96
$6.88CHF 5.56
-42.44%
Potato(1kg)
$6.94BMD 6.94
$2.45CHF 1.98
183.27%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09BMD 3.09
$2.65CHF 2.14
16.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$6.46BMD 6.46
$2.49CHF 2.02
159.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.58BMD 3.58
$1.19CHF 0.96
200.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.93BMD 17.93
$11.04CHF 8.93
62.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.64BMD 24.64
$13.43CHF 10.87
83.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.05BMD 5.05
$3.28CHF 2.66
53.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42BMD 4.42
$4.05CHF 3.28
9.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.96BMD 4.96
$5.58CHF 4.52
-11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.2BMD 70.2
$97.7CHF 79.0
-28.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.47BMD 6.47
$5.67CHF 4.59
14.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.96BMD 2.96
$3.42CHF 2.77
-13.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$71.4BMD 71.4
$61.1CHF 49.39
16.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.42BMD 2.42
$2.27CHF 1.84
6.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2KBMD 37.2K
$43.3KCHF 35.0K
-14.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.4KBMD 42.4K
$39.6KCHF 32.0K
7.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$252BMD 252
$430CHF 348
-41.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$150BMD 150
$31.53CHF 25.51
374.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$164BMD 164
$78.7CHF 63.7
108.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$185BMD 185
$85.0CHF 68.8
118.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.90BMD 14.90
$33.70CHF 27.26
-55.79%
Cinema Ticket
$13.59BMD 13.59
$28.39CHF 22.97
-52.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,299BMD 1,299
$1,820CHF 1,473
-28.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.0KBMD 25.0K
$33.0KCHF 26.7K
-24.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.6BMD 90.6
$183CHF 148
-50.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.7BMD 69.7
$146CHF 118
-52.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$143BMD 143
$201CHF 162
-28.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130BMD 130
$464CHF 376
-72.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,714BMD 3,714
$2,403CHF 1,944
54.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,451BMD 2,451
$1,740CHF 1,408
40.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$8,589BMD 8,589
$3,845CHF 3,111
123.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$7,834BMD 7,834
$2,550CHF 2,063
207.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$15.0KBMD 15.0K
$23.2KCHF 18.8K
-35.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$9,099BMD 9,099
$17.0KCHF 13.8K
-46.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,749BMD 6,749
$6,580CHF 5,324
2.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.63
2.48
247.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: September 7, 2026
Last update for Winterthur: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $3,714 in Hamilton versus $2,403 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 3% 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 $151 in Hamilton versus $126 in Winterthur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $767 vs $663 – 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: $4,857 in Hamilton, $4,216 in Winterthur – roughly 15% 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 $7,286 per month in Hamilton and $6,324 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 $151 in Hamilton and $126 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 $4,857 in Hamilton and $4,216 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 $4,857 in Hamilton and $4,216 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 $4,216 in Winterthur to $4,857 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.