๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,869 in Hamilton versus $1,515 in Biella.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,967 in Hamilton versus $2,371 in Biella.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,066 in Hamilton versus $3,227 in Biella.
๐Living in Hamilton is roughly 23% more expensive than Biella, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton40% above, Biella13% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Hamilton
Biella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.89NZ$23.61
$15.31โฌ13.08
-9.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0NZ$145
$71.3โฌ60.9
19.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.86NZ$15.07
$11.28โฌ9.63
-21.45%
Cappuccino
$3.69NZ$6.27
$1.59โฌ1.35
132.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41NZ$4.10
$3.45โฌ2.95
-30.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88NZ$4.90
$1.35โฌ1.16
113.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.73NZ$11.43
$5.08โฌ4.34
32.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.99NZ$10.19
$4.54โฌ3.87
31.94%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Biella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60NZ$2.71
$1.42โฌ1.21
12.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30NZ$2.22
$2.11โฌ1.80
-38.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94NZ$3.29
$2.36โฌ2.01
-17.80%
Eggs
$6.04NZ$10.27
$4.04โฌ3.45
49.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.65NZ$9.61
$14.89โฌ12.72
-62.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.19NZ$13.92
$9.78โฌ8.35
-16.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.21NZ$19.05
$22.81โฌ19.48
-50.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68NZ$4.56
$2.53โฌ2.16
5.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.96NZ$5.03
$1.78โฌ1.52
66.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.05NZ$5.18
$1.71โฌ1.46
78.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.49NZ$11.03
$3.43โฌ2.93
89.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26NZ$3.84
$1.67โฌ1.42
35.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91NZ$3.24
$1.71โฌ1.46
11.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.72NZ$4.62
$1.37โฌ1.17
98.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03NZ$1.76
$0.40โฌ0.34
157.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.68NZ$43.66
$7.12โฌ6.08
260.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.20NZ$19.04
$5.69โฌ4.86
96.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.46NZ$5.87
$2.08โฌ1.78
66.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42NZ$7.51
$2.73โฌ2.33
61.90%
๐ Getting Around
Hamilton
Biella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63NZ$2.77
$1.94โฌ1.66
-15.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.48NZ$80.7
$38.74โฌ33.08
22.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.25NZ$7.23
$11.43โฌ9.77
-62.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.98NZ$3.37
$2.02โฌ1.73
-1.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.54NZ$72.3
$58.1โฌ49.64
-26.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72NZ$2.92
$2.10โฌ1.79
-18.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KNZ$39.8K
$28.2Kโฌ24.1K
-17.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KNZ$38.4K
$32.2Kโฌ27.5K
-29.78%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Biella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.9NZ$160
$247โฌ211
-61.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.03NZ$66.4
$7.14โฌ6.09
446.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2NZ$92.1
$29.53โฌ25.22
83.54%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Biella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.44NZ$55.2
$68.6โฌ58.6
-52.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.44NZ$27.95
$25.63โฌ21.88
-35.86%
Cinema Ticket
$13.38NZ$22.74
$9.36โฌ7.99
42.95%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Biella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835NZ$1,419
$557โฌ476
49.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.9KNZ$30.5K
$8,022โฌ6,851
123.73%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Biella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0NZ$107
$89.9โฌ76.7
-29.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00NZ$69.7
$37.50โฌ32.03
9.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.2NZ$150
$80.3โฌ68.6
9.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114NZ$194
$114โฌ97.0
0.63%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Biella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$958NZ$1,629
$468โฌ400
104.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$878NZ$1,492
$401โฌ342
118.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,249NZ$2,123
$777โฌ664
60.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,615NZ$2,746
$627โฌ536
157.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,675NZ$9,647
$1,417โฌ1,210
300.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,916NZ$8,358
$915โฌ781
437.33%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Biella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,673NZ$4,545
$2,090โฌ1,785
27.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.83
4.47
52.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: April 25, 2026
Last update for Biella: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $958 in Hamilton and $468 in Biella. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐHamilton pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $85 in Hamilton vs $71 in Biella. Groceries flip the comparison at $311 vs $316, 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 Biella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamilton and Biella?
Hamilton and Biella differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,869 vs $1,515 including rent). Biella is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hamilton or Biella?
Hamilton pays 28% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Hamilton and Biella?
Rent for a central apartment: $958 in Hamilton versus $468 in Biella. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hamilton and Biella?
Childcare runs $835 in Hamilton versus $557 in Biella. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Hamilton pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,515 in Biella versus $1,869 in Hamilton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Biella but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Biella the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamilton and Biella?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Hamilton or Biella safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamilton and Biella are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Hamilton or Biella?
Expats usually find Biella gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 23% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.