Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Winterthur Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Winterthur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,831 per month in Hamilton vs $4,133 in Winterthur, rent included.

A couple spends around $9,260 per month in Hamilton vs $6,195 in Winterthur, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.7K per month in Hamilton vs $8,258 in Winterthur, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 17% more than Winterthur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Hamilton and Winterthur sit above the global median – Hamilton by 261%, Winterthur by 208%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$60.6 BMDΒ 60.6
$39.25 CHFΒ 30.94
54.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$177 BMDΒ 177
$128 CHFΒ 101
38.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.87 BMDΒ 14.87
$20.09 CHFΒ 15.84
-25.98%
Cappuccino
$6.46 BMDΒ 6.46
$6.63 CHFΒ 5.23
-2.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 BMDΒ 3.37
$4.97 CHFΒ 3.92
-32.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 BMDΒ 2.90
$4.49 CHFΒ 3.54
-35.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.16 BMDΒ 10.16
$8.86 CHFΒ 6.99
14.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.44 BMDΒ 8.44
$6.00 CHFΒ 4.73
40.67%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.38 BMDΒ 4.38
$2.19 CHFΒ 1.72
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$8.71 BMDΒ 8.71
$4.43 CHFΒ 3.50
96.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.59 BMDΒ 5.59
$4.90 CHFΒ 3.86
14.08%
Eggs
$7.75 BMDΒ 7.75
$7.73 CHFΒ 6.09
0.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.49 BMDΒ 11.49
$30.92 CHFΒ 24.38
-62.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.12 BMDΒ 24.12
$32.95 CHFΒ 25.98
-26.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.75 BMDΒ 31.75
$47.02 CHFΒ 37.07
-32.48%
Apples (1kg)
$10.16 BMDΒ 10.16
$3.27 CHFΒ 2.58
210.70%
Banana (1kg)
$6.18 BMDΒ 6.18
$2.15 CHFΒ 1.69
187.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$12.86 BMDΒ 12.86
$3.01 CHFΒ 2.37
327.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$11.27 BMDΒ 11.27
$7.76 CHFΒ 6.12
45.23%
Potato (1kg)
$8.15 BMDΒ 8.15
$2.43 CHFΒ 1.92
235.39%
Onion (1kg)
$4.96 BMDΒ 4.96
$2.27 CHFΒ 1.79
118.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$6.06 BMDΒ 6.06
$2.59 CHFΒ 2.04
133.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.21 BMDΒ 3.21
$1.04 CHFΒ 0.82
208.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.58 BMDΒ 17.58
$11.36 CHFΒ 8.96
54.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.56 BMDΒ 24.56
$15.29 CHFΒ 12.05
60.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.47 BMDΒ 5.47
$2.06 CHFΒ 1.62
165.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 BMDΒ 4.43
$3.42 CHFΒ 2.70
29.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.81 BMDΒ 4.81
$4.02 CHFΒ 3.17
19.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.1 BMDΒ 68.1
$125 CHFΒ 98.8
-45.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.40 BMDΒ 6.40
$8.87 CHFΒ 6.99
-27.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.44 BMDΒ 3.44
$4.96 CHFΒ 3.91
-30.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$54.8 BMDΒ 54.8
$86.8 CHFΒ 68.4
-36.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 BMDΒ 2.36
$2.22 CHFΒ 1.75
6.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K BMDΒ 35.0K
$41.1K CHFΒ 32.4K
-14.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K BMDΒ 39.7K
$46.5K CHFΒ 36.6K
-14.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 BMDΒ 234
$254 CHFΒ 200
-7.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$117 BMDΒ 117
$66.8 CHFΒ 52.7
75.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$156 BMDΒ 156
$58.6 CHFΒ 46.22
165.82%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$191 BMDΒ 191
$116 CHFΒ 91.8
64.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.31 BMDΒ 32.31
$43.72 CHFΒ 34.47
-26.10%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 BMDΒ 13.73
$28.13 CHFΒ 22.18
-51.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,338 BMDΒ 1,338
$2,685 CHFΒ 2,117
-50.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K BMDΒ 24.5K
$21.2K CHFΒ 16.7K
15.89%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.8 BMDΒ 78.8
$215 CHFΒ 169
-63.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9 BMDΒ 60.9
$142 CHFΒ 112
-57.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 BMDΒ 138
$225 CHFΒ 177
-38.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 BMDΒ 126
$436 CHFΒ 343
-71.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,342 BMDΒ 3,342
$2,217 CHFΒ 1,748
50.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,198 BMDΒ 2,198
$1,703 CHFΒ 1,343
29.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,541 BMDΒ 8,541
$3,471 CHFΒ 2,737
146.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$7,359 BMDΒ 7,359
$2,633 CHFΒ 2,076
179.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.1K BMDΒ 15.1K
$24.2K CHFΒ 19.1K
-37.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,439 BMDΒ 9,439
$17.9K CHFΒ 14.1K
-47.25%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Winterthur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,759 BMDΒ 6,759
$6,668 CHFΒ 5,257
1.36%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Winterthur: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,342 in Hamilton versus $2,217 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 1% 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 $128 in Winterthur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $813 vs $678 – 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 Winterthur compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,831 in Hamilton, $4,133 in Winterthur – roughly 17% 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 $7,247 per month in Hamilton and $6,199 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 $128 in Winterthur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hamilton or Winterthur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,831 in Hamilton and $4,133 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 $4,831 in Hamilton and $4,133 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 $4,133 in Winterthur to $4,831 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.

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