🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,507 in Hamilton versus $2,539 in Salisbury.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,577 in Hamilton versus $3,518 in Salisbury.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,647 in Hamilton versus $4,496 in Salisbury.
🙂Living in Hamilton costs roughly 1% less than in Salisbury, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton87% above, Salisbury90% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Salisbury
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39CA$25.58
$22.73£16.94
-19.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6CA$104
$90.2£67.2
-17.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.84CA$15.08
$8.89£6.62
21.93%
Cappuccino
$4.03CA$5.60
$4.69£3.49
-14.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CA$2.92
$2.28£1.70
-7.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73CA$2.40
$1.75£1.30
-1.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.73CA$7.97
$5.87£4.37
-2.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.49CA$9.03
$6.22£4.64
4.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Salisbury
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CA$3.10
$1.63£1.21
36.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11CA$2.93
$1.11£0.83
90.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00CA$4.18
$2.87£2.13
4.53%
Eggs
$3.20CA$4.45
$2.93£2.18
9.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.76CA$10.79
$8.73£6.50
-11.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.64CA$16.18
$7.45£5.55
56.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.37CA$19.98
$15.06£11.22
-4.58%
Apples(1kg)
$3.86CA$5.36
$1.84£1.37
109.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31CA$1.82
$1.27£0.95
3.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.58CA$4.98
$3.04£2.26
17.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.73CA$5.19
$4.63£3.45
-19.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.64CA$3.67
$1.22£0.91
116.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20CA$3.05
$1.25£0.93
76.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22CA$3.09
$0.99£0.74
124.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00CA$2.78
$1.04£0.77
92.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.59CA$18.90
$16.24£12.10
-16.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.08CA$18.19
$11.27£8.39
16.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47CA$3.44
$1.99£1.48
24.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01CA$4.18
$1.88£1.40
60.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Salisbury
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.56CA$3.56
$5.55£4.13
-53.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.2CA$120
$112£83.1
-22.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58CA$4.98
$4.68£3.49
-23.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21CA$1.69
$1.53£1.14
-20.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.51CA$34.09
$15.98£11.90
53.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15CA$1.60
$1.87£1.39
-38.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KCA$34.7K
$27.3K£20.4K
-8.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KCA$29.1K
$33.7K£25.1K
-37.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Salisbury
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150CA$209
$387£289
-61.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.86CA$54.1
$15.44£11.50
151.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0CA$73.7
$41.78£31.13
26.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Salisbury
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.45CA$50.7
$67.1£50.0
-45.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.88CA$30.42
$12.32£9.18
77.60%
Cinema Ticket
$11.73CA$16.32
$9.39£6.99
24.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Salisbury
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$644CA$896
$1,309£975
-50.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.4KCA$31.1K
$18.4K£13.7K
21.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Salisbury
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6CA$78.7
$72.7£54.2
-22.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.04CA$47.34
$20.73£15.44
64.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3CA$135
$89.1£66.4
9.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120CA$168
$117£87.0
3.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Salisbury
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,346CA$1,872
$1,206£899
11.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,306CA$1,816
$1,142£851
14.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,056CA$2,859
$2,037£1,518
0.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,970CA$2,740
$1,521£1,133
29.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,754CA$3,830
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,768CA$3,850
$4,908£3,657
-43.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Salisbury
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,916CA$4,055
$3,677£2,740
-20.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.62
5.77
14.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: May 30, 2026
Last update for Salisbury: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,346 in Hamilton and $1,206 in Salisbury. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Salisbury pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in Hamilton vs $90.0 in Salisbury. Groceries flip the comparison at $343 vs $270, with Salisbury 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 Salisbury: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salisbury cheaper than Hamilton?
Hamilton is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hamilton or Salisbury?
On paper, Salisbury earns 26% 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 Salisbury?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,346 in Hamilton versus $1,206 in Salisbury. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $644 in Hamilton versus $1,309 in Salisbury. 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 Salisbury?
Shoppers in Salisbury pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Hamilton or Salisbury?
At $2,507 in Hamilton versus $2,539 in Salisbury, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamilton but tight or insufficient in Salisbury. The gap between the two cities makes Hamilton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamilton or Salisbury more family-friendly?
For families, Hamilton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Salisbury, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hamilton or Salisbury?
Safety-wise, Hamilton and Salisbury 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 Hamilton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Salisbury. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.