😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,471 in Hamilton versus $2,017 in Oldenburg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,549 in Hamilton versus $2,917 in Oldenburg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,626 in Hamilton versus $3,817 in Oldenburg.
😐Living in Hamilton is roughly 23% more expensive than Oldenburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton85% above, Oldenburg51% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Oldenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.35CA$25.14
$11.18€9.57
64.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6CA$102
$78.6€67.3
-5.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.83CA$14.84
$11.47€9.82
-5.58%
Cappuccino
$4.01CA$5.49
$3.84€3.29
4.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CA$2.88
$4.13€3.53
-49.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75CA$2.40
$3.51€3.00
-50.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.75CA$7.87
$5.20€4.45
10.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.45CA$8.83
$4.27€3.66
51.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Oldenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.34CA$3.20
$1.31€1.12
78.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11CA$2.89
$2.21€1.89
-4.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88CA$3.95
$3.48€2.97
-17.24%
Eggs
$3.27CA$4.48
$4.10€3.51
-20.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.69CA$10.53
$15.34€13.13
-49.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54CA$15.81
$15.30€13.10
-24.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.16CA$19.39
$19.60€16.78
-27.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.86CA$5.29
$3.18€2.72
21.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31CA$1.80
$1.74€1.49
-24.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.65CA$5.00
$2.21€1.89
65.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71CA$5.08
$4.68€4.01
-20.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71CA$3.71
$1.52€1.30
78.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22CA$3.04
$1.61€1.38
37.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25CA$3.08
$2.03€1.74
10.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05CA$2.80
$1.03€0.88
99.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74CA$18.82
$9.26€7.92
48.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.40CA$18.35
$7.21€6.17
85.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50CA$3.43
$1.07€0.92
133.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13CA$4.28
$1.76€1.50
77.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Oldenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.59CA$3.55
$3.41€2.92
-24.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.9CA$120
$67.9€58.2
29.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51CA$4.81
$5.22€4.47
-32.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28CA$1.76
$2.02€1.73
-36.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.18CA$33.12
$51.1€43.74
-52.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11CA$1.52
$2.05€1.75
-45.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$33.7K
$31.9K€27.3K
-22.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KCA$27.9K
$34.3K€29.4K
-40.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Oldenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154CA$211
$292€250
-47.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.47CA$54.1
$39.92€34.17
-1.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5CA$70.5
$54.4€46.60
-5.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Oldenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.02CA$50.7
$36.89€31.58
0.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.48CA$30.80
$7.94€6.79
183.12%
Cinema Ticket
$11.67CA$15.98
$13.97€11.96
-16.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Oldenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$648CA$888
$678€581
-4.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.4KCA$30.7K
$10.5K€9,030
112.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Oldenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5CA$76.1
$141€120
-60.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.33CA$47.03
$34.26€29.33
0.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8CA$133
$117€101
-17.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119CA$163
$115€98.4
3.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Oldenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,352CA$1,852
$976€836
38.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304CA$1,786
$695€595
87.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,007CA$2,749
$1,286€1,101
56.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,970CA$2,699
$945€809
108.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840CA$3,890
$4,405€3,771
-35.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,807CA$3,846
$3,220€2,756
-12.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Oldenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,790CA$3,823
$3,732€3,194
-25.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.62
3.96
67.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: April 25, 2026
Last update for Oldenburg: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,352 in Hamilton and $976 in Oldenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oldenburg pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in Hamilton vs $79.0 in Oldenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $357 per month, with Hamilton cheaper across the board.
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 Oldenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oldenburg cheaper than Hamilton?
Oldenburg is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hamilton or Oldenburg?
On paper, Oldenburg earns 34% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Hamilton and Oldenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,352 in Hamilton versus $976 in Oldenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $648 in Hamilton versus $678 in Oldenburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Hamilton and Oldenburg?
Shoppers in Hamilton pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Hamilton or Oldenburg?
At $2,017 in Oldenburg versus $2,471 in Hamilton, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Oldenburg but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Oldenburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamilton or Oldenburg more family-friendly?
For families, Oldenburg is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamilton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hamilton or Oldenburg?
Safety-wise, Hamilton and Oldenburg are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Oldenburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.