Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Decatur, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Decatur, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,423 per month in Hamilton vs $1,690 in Decatur, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,571 per month in Hamilton vs $2,503 in Decatur, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,718 per month in Hamilton vs $3,315 in Decatur, IL, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 43% more than Decatur, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hamilton and Decatur, IL sit above the global median – Hamilton by 80%, Decatur, IL by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.44 CA$25.26

$19.13 $19.13

-3.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 CA$101

$68.2 $68.2

8.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.99 CA$15.05

$8.97 $8.97

22.52%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.44

$4.94 $4.94

-19.64%

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

$2.11 CA$2.89

$2.16 $2.16

-2.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.41

$1.68 $1.68

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 CA$7.84

$5.04 $5.04

13.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 CA$8.92

$6.05 $6.05

7.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.14

$0.77 $0.77

197.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 CA$3.02

$2.52 $2.52

-12.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.04

$1.99 $1.99

48.24%

Eggs

$3.15 CA$4.32

$3.65 $3.65

-13.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 CA$10.31

$8.76 $8.76

-14.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.66 CA$15.98

$7.83 $7.83

48.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 CA$19.62

$13.36 $13.36

7.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.81 CA$5.22

$4.32 $4.32

-11.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 CA$1.77

$2.14 $2.14

-39.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 CA$4.94

$4.45 $4.45

-19.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.26

$3.38 $3.38

13.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.73

$0.89 $0.89

205.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 CA$2.93

$1.13 $1.13

89.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 CA$2.96

$1.52 $1.52

42.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 CA$2.80

$2.59 $2.59

-21.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.65 CA$18.70

$6.94 $6.94

96.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.00 CA$17.81

$15.06 $15.06

-13.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.24

$1.82 $1.82

30.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.27

$2.05 $2.05

52.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.65 CA$3.64

$2.05 $2.05

29.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.4 CA$120

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.82

$2.95 $2.95

19.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 CA$1.67

$1.38 $1.38

-11.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.80 CA$32.61

$29.41 $29.41

-19.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.52

$0.82 $0.82

35.37%

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

$25.5K CA$34.9K

$29.9K $29.9K

-14.69%

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

$20.4K CA$27.9K

$25.8K $25.8K

-20.94%

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

$152 CA$208

$84.4 $84.4

80.16%

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

$39.72 CA$54.4

$60.8 $60.8

-34.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 CA$71.1

$62.1 $62.1

-16.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 CA$49.45

$75.5 $75.5

-52.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.42 CA$30.72

Cinema Ticket

$11.81 CA$16.18

$11.93 $11.93

-1.01%

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

$632 CA$866

$1,322 $1,322

-52.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K CA$30.0K

$23.5K $23.5K

-6.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 CA$77.1

$57.7 $57.7

-2.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.08 CA$46.68

$42.63 $42.63

-20.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 CA$132

$75.6 $75.6

27.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 CA$164

$189 $189

-36.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 CA$1,870

$886 $886

53.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,264 CA$1,732

$559 $559

126.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,015 CA$2,760

$1,020 $1,020

97.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 CA$2,734

$824 $824

142.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,764 CA$3,787

$934 $934

195.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 CA$3,753

$932 $932

193.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 CA$3,898

$4,466 $4,466

-36.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.56

0.91%

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

Last update for Hamilton: April 12, 2026

Last update for Decatur, IL: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,365 in Hamilton versus $886 in Decatur, 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 57% higher in Decatur, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Hamilton versus $68 in Decatur, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $343 vs $316 – making Decatur, IL 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 Decatur, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Hamilton is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,635 per month in Hamilton and $2,535 in Decatur, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Decatur, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Hamilton and $68.0 in Decatur, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Hamilton, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Decatur, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,690, than in Hamilton at $2,423. In Decatur, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Decatur, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Decatur, IL. 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.