🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,471 in Hamilton versus $3,108 in Philipsburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,549 in Hamilton versus $5,697 in Philipsburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,626 in Hamilton versus $8,287 in Philipsburg.
🙂Living in Hamilton costs roughly 20% less than in Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton85% above, Philipsburg132% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.35CA$25.14
$14.94ANG 26.75
22.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6CA$102
$73.9ANG 132
0.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.83CA$14.84
$8.05ANG 14.41
34.53%
Cappuccino
$4.01CA$5.49
$4.31ANG 7.72
-6.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CA$2.88
$3.04ANG 5.44
-30.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75CA$2.40
$3.78ANG 6.76
-53.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.75CA$7.87
$2.91ANG 5.21
97.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.45CA$8.83
$4.92ANG 8.81
31.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.34CA$3.20
$2.93ANG 5.24
-20.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11CA$2.89
$3.04ANG 5.44
-30.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88CA$3.95
$3.05ANG 5.46
-5.57%
Eggs
$3.27CA$4.48
$6.37ANG 11.41
-48.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.69CA$10.53
$18.65ANG 33.38
-58.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54CA$15.81
$16.98ANG 30.39
-32.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.16CA$19.39
$19.82ANG 35.48
-28.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.86CA$5.29
$6.08ANG 10.89
-36.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31CA$1.80
$6.06ANG 10.85
-78.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.65CA$5.00
$9.05ANG 16.20
-59.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71CA$5.08
$6.19ANG 11.08
-40.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71CA$3.71
$4.09ANG 7.32
-33.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22CA$3.04
$4.11ANG 7.35
-45.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25CA$3.08
$4.42ANG 7.90
-49.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05CA$2.80
$1.95ANG 3.49
5.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74CA$18.82
$7.97ANG 14.27
72.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.40CA$18.35
$10.86ANG 19.44
23.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50CA$3.43
$3.28ANG 5.86
-23.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13CA$4.28
$2.88ANG 5.16
8.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.59CA$3.55
$1.46ANG 2.60
77.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.9CA$120
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51CA$4.81
$14.75ANG 26.41
-76.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28CA$1.76
$4.88ANG 8.74
-73.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.18CA$33.12
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11CA$1.52
$1.37ANG 2.44
-18.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$33.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KCA$27.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154CA$211
$224ANG 402
-31.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.47CA$54.1
$32.93ANG 59.0
19.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5CA$70.5
$71.0ANG 127
-27.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.02CA$50.7
$62.5ANG 112
-40.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.48CA$30.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.67CA$15.98
$13.22ANG 23.66
-11.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$648CA$888
$369ANG 661
75.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.4KCA$30.7K
$11.3KANG 20.3K
98.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5CA$76.1
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.33CA$47.03
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8CA$133
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119CA$163
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,352CA$1,852
$1,987ANG 3,557
-31.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304CA$1,786
$1,875ANG 3,356
-30.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,007CA$2,749
$5,720ANG 10.2K
-64.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,970CA$2,699
$5,597ANG 10.0K
-64.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840CA$3,890
$2,955ANG 5,289
-3.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,807CA$3,846
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,790CA$3,823
$1,102ANG 1,973
153.13%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,352 in Hamilton and $1,987 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamilton pays 153% 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 $537, 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 153% 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: $1,352 in Hamilton versus $1,987 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 56% 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 $2,471 per month in Hamilton versus $3,108 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 $2,471 in Hamilton versus $3,108 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.