Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Buenos Aires

For one person, living is cheaper in Buenos Aires: $1,685 a month against $2,237 in Hamilton, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hamilton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,237
/mo nomad
Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hamilton and in Buenos Aires

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,237 in Hamilton versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires.

  • Hamilton $2,237
  • Buenos Aires $1,685

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,267 in Hamilton versus $2,742 in Buenos Aires.

  • Hamilton $3,267
  • Buenos Aires $2,742

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,297 in Hamilton versus $3,799 in Buenos Aires.

  • Hamilton $4,297
  • Buenos Aires $3,799

Living in Hamilton is roughly 33% more expensive than in Buenos Aires, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton 67% above, Buenos Aires 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Buenos Aires
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65 CA$25.16
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
-5.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 CA$86.5
$64.5 ARS 97.8K
-5.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.96 CA$17.05
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
-7.14%
Cappuccino
$3.48 CA$4.96
$3.98 ARS 6,029
-12.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 CA$3.06
$2.05 ARS 3,103
4.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.34
$1.55 ARS 2,349
5.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 CA$6.95
$3.84 ARS 5,830
26.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13 CA$8.74
$4.60 ARS 6,970
33.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Buenos Aires
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 CA$3.09
$1.44 ARS 2,181
50.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 CA$3.17
$2.46 ARS 3,738
-9.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.54 CA$3.62
$1.63 ARS 2,467
55.83%
Eggs
$3.20 CA$4.55
$2.89 ARS 4,385
10.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.91 CA$11.27
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
-25.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.76 CA$15.34
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
7.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 CA$19.44
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
-0.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 CA$5.45
$2.75 ARS 4,166
38.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 CA$1.73
$2.18 ARS 3,300
-44.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.04 CA$5.76
$1.45 ARS 2,205
178.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.80 CA$5.42
$1.99 ARS 3,013
90.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.33 CA$3.32
$1.24 ARS 1,885
87.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 CA$2.25
$1.27 ARS 1,921
24.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 CA$3.09
$1.70 ARS 2,575
27.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 CA$1.85
$1.73 ARS 2,617
-24.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.33 CA$17.58
$4.18 ARS 6,337
194.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.26 CA$18.90
$5.80 ARS 8,790
128.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 CA$3.49
$2.09 ARS 3,163
17.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 CA$4.81
$2.77 ARS 4,198
21.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Buenos Aires
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 CA$3.55
$0.75 ARS 1,132
232.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.6 CA$122
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
215.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 CA$4.85
$1.62 ARS 2,451
109.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 CA$1.75
$0.98 ARS 1,481
25.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.37 CA$33.32
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
202.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 CA$1.70
$1.36 ARS 2,058
-12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K CA$39.2K
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
-1.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K CA$28.3K
$34.5K ARS 52.4M
-42.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Buenos Aires
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 CA$212
$216 ARS 326.9K
-30.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.14 CA$58.7
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
60.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.32 CA$70.3
$31.36 ARS 47.6K
57.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Buenos Aires
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.18 CA$53.0
$49.82 ARS 75.6K
-25.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.33 CA$24.71
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
1.58%
Cinema Ticket
$10.19 CA$14.52
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
-2.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Buenos Aires
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$597 CA$852
$466 ARS 706.7K
28.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$23.1K
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
79.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Buenos Aires
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.29 CA$68.8
$122 ARS 185.2K
-60.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.75 CA$43.83
$97.4 ARS 147.8K
-68.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 CA$123
$117 ARS 177.4K
-26.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 CA$163
$140 ARS 211.9K
-18.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Buenos Aires
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,263 CA$1,801
$763 ARS 1.2M
65.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,135 CA$1,617
$505 ARS 766.1K
124.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,006 CA$2,859
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
25.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,869 CA$2,664
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
57.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,659 CA$3,790
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
-0.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,694 CA$3,840
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
44.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Buenos Aires
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,896 CA$4,128
$954 ARS 1.4M
203.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.6
57.25
-91.97%

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

Last update for Hamilton: October 6, 2026

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
$1.1K
Buenos Aires
$505 55.5% $630
Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
$327
Buenos Aires
$284 13.1% $43
Eating Out
Hamilton
$271
Buenos Aires
$279 3.1% $8.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
$240
Buenos Aires
$273 13.8% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
$126
Buenos Aires
$214 70.3% $88
Getting Around
Hamilton
$105
Buenos Aires
$37 65.1% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
$58
Buenos Aires
$71 22.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,263 in Hamilton and $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hamilton pays 203% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Hamilton vs $64.0 in Buenos Aires. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $284, with Buenos Aires cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Hamilton
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🕒 Local time
23:14 11:14 PM
00:14 12:14 AM
1 h ahead of Hamilton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
519,949
2,891,082 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hamilton Buenos Aires 8,930 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hamilton
  • Buenos Aires

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
Hamilton vs Buenos Aires: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamilton and in Buenos Aires?
Hamilton and Buenos Aires differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,237 vs $1,685 including rent). Buenos Aires is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hamilton or Buenos Aires?
Average pay runs 203% higher in Hamilton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Hamilton and in Buenos Aires?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,263 in Hamilton versus $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hamilton and Buenos Aires?
Childcare runs $597 in Hamilton versus $466 in Buenos Aires. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Hamilton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,685 in Buenos Aires versus $2,237 in Hamilton, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Buenos Aires but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Buenos Aires the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamilton and Buenos Aires?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Hamilton or Buenos Aires safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamilton and Buenos Aires are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Hamilton or Buenos Aires?
Expats usually find Buenos Aires gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Hamilton vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?