🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,432 in Hamilton versus $3,160 in Philipsburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,511 in Hamilton versus $5,809 in Philipsburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,590 in Hamilton versus $8,458 in Philipsburg.
🌍Living in Hamilton costs roughly 23% less than in Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton83% above, Philipsburg137% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.38CA$25.75
$15.11ANG 26.98
21.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.7CA$103
$76.0ANG 136
-3.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.14CA$15.61
$8.22ANG 14.68
35.52%
Cappuccino
$4.02CA$5.63
$4.25ANG 7.58
-5.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09CA$2.93
$2.93ANG 5.22
-28.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82CA$2.54
$3.72ANG 6.64
-51.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87CA$8.23
$2.97ANG 5.30
97.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76CA$9.47
$4.97ANG 8.88
36.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CA$3.12
$2.93ANG 5.23
-23.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20CA$3.08
$3.19ANG 5.69
-31.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.96CA$4.15
$2.94ANG 5.26
0.68%
Eggs
$3.23CA$4.52
$6.33ANG 11.31
-48.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.76CA$10.87
$18.26ANG 32.59
-57.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.44CA$16.03
$16.79ANG 29.98
-31.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.29CA$20.03
$19.40ANG 34.62
-26.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.81CA$5.34
$5.90ANG 10.54
-35.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30CA$1.82
$6.12ANG 10.92
-78.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.67CA$5.14
$9.09ANG 16.22
-59.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.89CA$5.45
$6.45ANG 11.52
-39.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.59CA$3.63
$4.08ANG 7.28
-36.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19CA$3.06
$3.92ANG 7.00
-44.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.17CA$3.04
$4.46ANG 7.97
-51.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00CA$2.81
$1.96ANG 3.49
2.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.57CA$19.02
$8.18ANG 14.61
65.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.83CA$17.98
$10.85ANG 19.37
18.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47CA$3.47
$3.36ANG 6.00
-26.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02CA$4.23
$2.81ANG 5.01
7.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.60CA$3.64
$1.52ANG 2.71
71.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6CA$124
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57CA$5.01
$15.15ANG 27.04
-76.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29CA$1.80
$4.86ANG 8.67
-73.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.50CA$34.33
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10CA$1.55
$1.42ANG 2.53
-22.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$34.5K
-
-
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)
$152CA$214
$229ANG 410
-33.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.83CA$55.8
$32.15ANG 57.4
23.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.8CA$74.0
$71.3ANG 127
-25.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.13CA$50.6
$61.5ANG 110
-41.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.32CA$31.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.89CA$16.66
$13.24ANG 23.63
-10.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$647CA$907
$380ANG 679
70.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.4KCA$31.4K
$11.2KANG 19.9K
100.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6CA$77.9
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.62CA$48.51
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0CA$135
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122CA$170
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,357CA$1,902
$1,931ANG 3,447
-29.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,265CA$1,772
$1,876ANG 3,348
-32.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,017CA$2,827
$5,653ANG 10.1K
-64.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,030CA$2,845
$5,752ANG 10.3K
-64.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,779CA$3,894
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,712CA$3,800
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,840CA$3,980
$1,115ANG 1,991
154.66%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,357 in Hamilton and $1,931 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamilton pays 155% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Hamilton vs $76.0 in Philipsburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $536 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 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 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hamilton or Philipsburg?
Average pay runs 155% higher in Hamilton, 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: $1,357 in Hamilton versus $1,931 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 in 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 and in Philipsburg?
All in, you'll spend $2,432 per month in Hamilton versus $3,160 in Philipsburg – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Hamilton or in Philipsburg?
At $2,432 in Hamilton versus $3,160 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 30% less than in Philipsburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.