Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Worcester, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Worcester, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,380 in Hamilton versus $2,896 in Worcester, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,404 in Hamilton versus $4,097 in Worcester, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Hamilton versus $5,298 in Worcester, MA.

Living in Hamilton costs roughly 18% less than in Worcester, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton 74% above, Worcester, MA 112% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.04 CA$25.23

$22.43 $22.43

-19.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 CA$92.0

$72.4 $72.4

-9.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.30 CA$15.81

$12.24 $12.24

-7.68%

Cappuccino

$3.58 CA$5.00

$5.11 $5.11

-29.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.10

$2.44 $2.44

-9.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.37

$1.66 $1.66

1.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 CA$7.14

$5.83 $5.83

-12.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 CA$8.63

$6.91 $6.91

-10.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 CA$3.27

$1.18 $1.18

98.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 CA$3.22

$3.69 $3.69

-37.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.84

$4.96 $4.96

-44.76%

Eggs

$3.32 CA$4.65

$3.77 $3.77

-11.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 CA$11.07

$19.42 $19.42

-59.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 CA$15.16

$11.03 $11.03

-1.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 CA$19.51

$20.26 $20.26

-31.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.87 CA$5.42

$3.78 $3.78

2.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 CA$1.72

$1.46 $1.46

-15.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 CA$6.03

$3.50 $3.50

23.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.37

$4.74 $4.74

-18.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 CA$3.25

$2.84 $2.84

-18.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 CA$2.30

$3.16 $3.16

-47.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 CA$3.05

$1.77 $1.77

23.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$1.59 $1.59

-12.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.79 CA$17.89

$13.04 $13.04

-1.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.60 CA$19.03

$11.83 $11.83

14.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 CA$3.49

$1.68 $1.68

48.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.81

$3.38 $3.38

1.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.63 CA$3.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.8 CA$121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 CA$5.06

$5.14 $5.14

-29.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.85

$2.35 $2.35

-43.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.89 CA$33.42

$35.84 $35.84

-33.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.61

$1.03 $1.03

11.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.0K CA$40.6K

$35.7K $35.7K

-18.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.0K CA$28.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

-20.10%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$157 CA$219

$195 $195

-19.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$43.23 CA$60.5

$55.0 $55.0

-21.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.5 CA$72.0

$61.8 $61.8

-16.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.74 CA$52.8

$29.08 $29.08

29.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.50 CA$30.07

$29.78 $29.78

-27.80%

Cinema Ticket

$10.46 CA$14.63

$16.45 $16.45

-36.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$615 CA$861

$1,725 $1,725

-64.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K CA$23.6K

$43.6K $43.6K

-61.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.21 CA$68.8

$47.81 $47.81

2.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.79 CA$43.07

$34.34 $34.34

-10.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 CA$123

$91.8 $91.8

-4.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$172

$145 $145

-15.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,297 CA$1,815

$1,912 $1,912

-32.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,212 CA$1,696

$1,611 $1,611

-24.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,106 CA$2,947

$2,944 $2,944

-28.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 CA$2,701

$2,439 $2,439

-20.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,726 CA$3,813

$2,940 $2,940

-7.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,722 CA$3,808

$2,783 $2,783

-2.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,906 CA$4,065

$4,222 $4,222

-31.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

6.05

-23.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hamilton: September 13, 2026

Last update for Worcester, MA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,297 in Hamilton and $1,912 in Worcester, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Worcester, MA pays 45% 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: $66.0 in Hamilton vs $72.0 in Worcester, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $403 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 Worcester, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hamilton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Worcester, MA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,297 in Hamilton versus $1,912 in Worcester, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Worcester, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,380 per month in Hamilton versus $2,896 in Worcester, MA – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,380 in Hamilton versus $2,896 in Worcester, MA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamilton but tight or insufficient in Worcester, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Hamilton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Hamilton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Worcester, MA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Hamilton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Worcester, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.