Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Coquitlam Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Coquitlam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,493 in Hamilton versus $2,945 in Coquitlam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,584 in Hamilton versus $4,066 in Coquitlam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,676 in Hamilton versus $5,187 in Coquitlam.

Living in Hamilton costs roughly 15% less than in Coquitlam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton 87% above, Coquitlam 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.13 CA$25.51

$14.63 CA$20.59

23.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.3 CA$103

$52.3 CA$73.6

40.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.98 CA$15.45

$10.14 CA$14.26

8.28%

Cappuccino

$4.05 CA$5.70

$3.70 CA$5.20

9.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 CA$2.95

$1.98 CA$2.79

6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 CA$2.54

$2.09 CA$2.94

-13.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 CA$8.20

$5.26 CA$7.41

10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.27

$5.86 CA$8.24

12.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.14

$1.52 CA$2.14

46.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 CA$2.99

$3.11 CA$4.38

-31.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 CA$4.01

$2.18 CA$3.07

30.73%

Eggs

$3.14 CA$4.41

$4.03 CA$5.67

-22.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 CA$10.88

$10.21 CA$14.37

-24.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.56 CA$16.27

$16.17 CA$22.76

-28.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.39 CA$20.25

$14.74 CA$20.74

-2.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$4.54 CA$6.39

-13.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.39 CA$1.96

-6.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.55 CA$4.99

$4.98 CA$7.01

-28.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.49

$4.52 CA$6.37

-13.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$1.59 CA$2.24

64.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 CA$3.08

$1.76 CA$2.48

24.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 CA$3.10

$3.00 CA$4.23

-26.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 CA$2.81

$1.12 CA$1.57

77.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.47 CA$18.95

$14.39 CA$20.25

-6.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 CA$17.77

$11.85 CA$16.68

6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 CA$3.39

$3.74 CA$5.26

-35.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.32

$2.32 CA$3.26

32.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.36 CA$3.32

11.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.4 CA$123

$76.1 CA$107

14.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 CA$4.98

$2.66 CA$3.74

33.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.58 CA$2.23

-22.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.62 CA$33.24

$25.14 CA$35.38

-6.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 CA$1.61

$1.32 CA$1.85

-13.64%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.4K CA$35.7K

$24.6K CA$34.6K

3.19%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K CA$28.7K

$20.3K CA$28.6K

0.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$155 CA$219

$137 CA$193

13.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$40.11 CA$56.4

$37.52 CA$52.8

6.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 CA$72.0

$58.8 CA$82.7

-12.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.80 CA$51.8

$27.63 CA$38.88

33.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.40 CA$31.51

$11.22 CA$15.79

99.64%

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 CA$16.28

$11.01 CA$15.50

5.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$643 CA$905

$1,216 CA$1,711

-47.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$12.1K CA$17.0K

79.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 CA$78.7

$71.2 CA$100

-21.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.71 CA$47.43

$45.29 CA$63.7

-25.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 CA$136

$97.3 CA$137

-0.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$170

$115 CA$162

5.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,352 CA$1,902

$2,061 CA$2,901

-34.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 CA$1,785

$1,806 CA$2,541

-29.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,987 CA$2,795

$3,625 CA$5,101

-45.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,022 CA$2,845

$2,670 CA$3,757

-24.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,710 CA$3,813

$6,118 CA$8,609

-55.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,749 CA$3,868

$4,906 CA$6,904

-43.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,871 CA$4,040

$3,074 CA$4,326

-6.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.61

0.15%

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

Last update for Hamilton: July 14, 2026

Last update for Coquitlam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,352 in Hamilton and $2,061 in Coquitlam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coquitlam pays 7% 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: $73.0 in Hamilton vs $52.0 in Coquitlam. Groceries flip the comparison at $341 vs $381, with Hamilton cheaper for home cooking.

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 Coquitlam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hamilton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Coquitlam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,352 in Hamilton versus $2,061 in Coquitlam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,493 per month in Hamilton versus $2,945 in Coquitlam – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Hamilton runs roughly 15% less than in Coquitlam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Hamilton is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Hamilton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coquitlam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Hamilton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Coquitlam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.