🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,458 in Hamilton versus $3,098 in Philipsburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,528 in Hamilton versus $5,842 in Philipsburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,597 in Hamilton versus $8,587 in Philipsburg.
🙂Living in Hamilton costs roughly 21% less than in Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton84% above, Philipsburg132% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.12CA$25.36
$14.89ANG 26.57
21.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.9CA$105
$73.5ANG 131
1.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.00CA$15.39
$7.97ANG 14.23
38.02%
Cappuccino
$3.95CA$5.53
$4.43ANG 7.90
-10.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13CA$2.98
$2.97ANG 5.30
-28.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82CA$2.54
$3.60ANG 6.42
-49.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91CA$8.27
$3.03ANG 5.41
95.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.67CA$9.34
$5.11ANG 9.12
30.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26CA$3.17
$3.06ANG 5.46
-26.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13CA$2.98
$3.18ANG 5.68
-33.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.97CA$4.16
$2.99ANG 5.33
-0.67%
Eggs
$3.27CA$4.57
$6.58ANG 11.74
-50.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.49CA$10.48
$18.48ANG 32.99
-59.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.85CA$16.58
$16.83ANG 30.04
-29.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39CA$20.14
$19.80ANG 35.34
-27.32%
Apples(1kg)
$4.00CA$5.59
$5.98ANG 10.67
-33.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26CA$1.76
$5.92ANG 10.56
-78.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.57CA$5.00
$9.35ANG 16.68
-61.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.85CA$5.39
$6.43ANG 11.47
-40.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60CA$3.64
$3.93ANG 7.02
-33.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21CA$3.09
$3.97ANG 7.08
-44.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.16CA$3.02
$4.43ANG 7.90
-51.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05CA$2.86
$1.97ANG 3.52
4.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.84CA$19.37
$7.78ANG 13.89
77.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.62CA$17.67
$10.91ANG 19.47
15.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47CA$3.46
$3.32ANG 5.93
-25.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06CA$4.29
$2.87ANG 5.11
6.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.61CA$3.65
$1.47ANG 2.62
77.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.5CA$122
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.65CA$5.11
$14.94ANG 26.67
-75.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22CA$1.70
$4.85ANG 8.66
-74.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.73CA$33.21
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16CA$1.62
$1.44ANG 2.56
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KCA$35.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KCA$29.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$153CA$214
$222ANG 397
-31.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.88CA$55.8
$32.97ANG 58.9
20.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.9CA$72.7
$69.2ANG 123
-24.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.21CA$50.7
$63.3ANG 113
-42.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.76CA$30.45
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.85CA$16.58
$12.75ANG 22.76
-7.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$630CA$882
$371ANG 662
70.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.2KCA$31.1K
$11.1KANG 19.9K
99.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1CA$77.1
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.56CA$46.98
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5CA$139
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119CA$167
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,393CA$1,950
$1,970ANG 3,517
-29.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,289CA$1,804
$1,875ANG 3,347
-31.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,982CA$2,775
$5,726ANG 10.2K
-65.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013CA$2,818
$5,589ANG 9,976
-63.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,726CA$3,815
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,727CA$3,817
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,945CA$4,122
$1,104ANG 1,970
166.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.62
5.75
15.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: June 16, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,393 in Hamilton and $1,970 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamilton pays 167% 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 $74.0 in Philipsburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $344 vs $540, 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 Philipsburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Philipsburg cheaper than Hamilton?
Hamilton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hamilton or Philipsburg?
Hamilton pays 167% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Hamilton and Philipsburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,393 in Hamilton versus $1,970 in Philipsburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hamilton and Philipsburg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Philipsburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamilton vs Philipsburg?
All in, you'll spend $2,458 per month in Hamilton versus $3,098 in Philipsburg – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Hamilton or Philipsburg?
At $2,458 in Hamilton versus $3,098 in Philipsburg, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamilton but tight or insufficient in Philipsburg. The gap between the two cities makes Hamilton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamilton or Philipsburg more family-friendly?
For families, Hamilton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Philipsburg, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hamilton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Philipsburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.