🙂A single person spends $2,321 per month in Hamilton vs $2,610 in Aurora, IL, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,399 per month in Hamilton vs $3,721 in Aurora, IL, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,477 per month in Hamilton vs $4,831 in Aurora, IL, rent included.
🙂Hamilton is about 11% cheaper than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hamilton and Aurora, IL sit above the global median – Hamilton by 69%, Aurora, IL by 90%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Aurora, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.38CA$25.54
$14.02$14.02
31.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1CA$94.7
$59.1$59.1
15.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.51CA$17.38
$11.81$11.81
5.93%
Cappuccino
$3.56CA$4.94
$5.29$5.29
-32.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20CA$3.06
$2.97$2.97
-25.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74CA$2.42
$2.27$2.27
-23.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.18CA$7.20
$4.94$4.94
4.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50CA$9.04
$7.70$7.70
-15.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Aurora, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05CA$2.85
$0.89$0.89
130.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22CA$3.09
$3.54$3.54
-37.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84CA$3.94
$4.83$4.83
-41.20%
Eggs
$3.44CA$4.78
$3.50$3.50
-1.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57CA$10.52
$8.59$8.59
-11.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.40CA$14.46
$11.43$11.43
-9.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.04CA$19.52
$16.19$16.19
-13.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.91CA$5.44
$5.13$5.13
-23.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28CA$1.78
$1.66$1.66
-22.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.27CA$5.93
$3.75$3.75
13.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.92CA$5.45
$3.21$3.21
22.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.64CA$3.66
$1.83$1.83
44.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75CA$2.43
$2.64$2.64
-33.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.34CA$3.26
$1.78$1.78
31.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46CA$2.03
$1.60$1.60
-8.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.22CA$19.76
$10.82$10.82
31.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.06CA$18.15
$13.57$13.57
-3.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38CA$3.31
$2.23$2.23
6.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19CA$5.82
$2.82$2.82
48.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Aurora, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74CA$3.81
$2.21$2.21
23.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.7CA$122
$99.3$99.3
-11.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50CA$4.86
$3.99$3.99
-12.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33CA$1.85
$1.96$1.96
-32.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.47CA$32.62
$43.92$43.92
-46.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19CA$1.65
$1.02$1.02
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KCA$40.2K
$24.8K$24.8K
16.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KCA$27.9K
$25.4K$25.4K
-21.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Aurora, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151CA$209
$170$170
-11.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.12CA$55.8
$51.9$51.9
-22.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2CA$71.1
$55.3$55.3
-7.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Aurora, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.62CA$52.3
$29.87$29.87
25.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.56CA$29.96
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.27CA$14.27
$12.11$12.11
-15.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Aurora, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615CA$855
$1,517$1,517
-59.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6KCA$23.1K
$23.8K$23.8K
-30.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Aurora, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2CA$69.8
$57.1$57.1
-11.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.50CA$47.94
$49.72$49.72
-30.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9CA$128
$88.1$88.1
4.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121CA$168
$80.2$80.2
50.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Aurora, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320CA$1,834
$1,653$1,653
-20.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211CA$1,683
$1,447$1,447
-16.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,063CA$2,867
$2,197$2,197
-6.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,928CA$2,680
$2,233$2,233
-13.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,814CA$3,910
$9,515$9,515
-70.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,808CA$3,902
$3,220$3,220
-12.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Aurora, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,912CA$4,047
$3,906$3,906
-25.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.6
6.26
-26.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: August 29, 2026
Last update for Aurora, IL: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,320 in Hamilton versus $1,653 in Aurora, IL. 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 34% higher in Aurora, IL, 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 $68.0 in Hamilton versus $59.0 in Aurora, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $333 in Hamilton vs $357 in Aurora, IL – so Hamilton wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Aurora, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hamilton or Aurora, IL?
Aurora, IL costs about 12% more than Hamilton, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hamilton and in Aurora, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,482 per month in Hamilton and $3,916 in Aurora, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hamilton or Aurora, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hamilton, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Hamilton and in Aurora, IL?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Hamilton and $59.0 in Aurora, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Hamilton compared to Aurora, IL?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,321 in Hamilton and $2,610 in Aurora, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Hamilton or in Aurora, IL?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Hamilton, where all-in costs run around $2,321, than in Aurora, IL at $2,610. In Hamilton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aurora, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hamilton or Aurora, IL?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hamilton costs $2,321 versus $2,610 in Aurora, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Hamilton or to Aurora, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Hamilton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aurora, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.