Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Rome Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Rome

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,873 in Hamilton versus $2,027 in Rome.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,972 in Hamilton versus $3,143 in Rome.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,071 in Hamilton versus $4,260 in Rome.

Living in Hamilton costs roughly 8% less than in Rome, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton 40% above, Rome 51% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.98 NZ$23.61
$17.23 €14.82
-18.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.6 NZ$141
$73.9 €63.6
13.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.86 NZ$14.96
$11.74 €10.10
-24.53%
Cappuccino
$3.52 NZ$5.95
$1.83 €1.58
92.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 NZ$3.95
$2.51 €2.16
-6.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 NZ$4.98
$1.27 €1.09
132.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.74 NZ$11.38
$5.86 €5.04
15.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01 NZ$10.14
$5.23 €4.50
14.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Rome
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 NZ$2.79
$1.69 €1.46
-2.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 NZ$2.24
$2.14 €1.84
-38.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 NZ$3.26
$2.95 €2.54
-34.58%
Eggs
$5.79 NZ$9.77
$4.51 €3.88
28.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.63 NZ$9.51
$17.42 €14.99
-67.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.28 NZ$13.98
$12.00 €10.32
-31.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.04 NZ$18.64
$20.19 €17.37
-45.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 NZ$4.58
$2.45 €2.11
10.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 NZ$4.79
$2.23 €1.92
27.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.94 NZ$4.96
$1.95 €1.68
50.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.57 NZ$11.09
$2.58 €2.22
154.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 NZ$3.77
$1.77 €1.53
25.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 NZ$3.26
$1.86 €1.60
3.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.70 NZ$4.55
$1.26 €1.09
114.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 NZ$1.81
$0.55 €0.48
94.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.78 NZ$43.52
$7.13 €6.13
261.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.15 NZ$18.83
$4.63 €3.98
140.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.57 NZ$6.03
$1.95 €1.67
83.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 NZ$7.17
$2.73 €2.35
55.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.68 NZ$2.84
$1.79 €1.54
-6.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.94 NZ$79.3
$41.00 €35.27
14.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 NZ$7.30
$5.13 €4.41
-15.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 NZ$3.25
$1.60 €1.38
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.50 NZ$70.1
$35.08 €30.18
18.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 NZ$2.79
$1.95 €1.68
-15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K NZ$40.4K
$29.3K €25.2K
-18.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K NZ$39.4K
$30.2K €26.0K
-22.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.9 NZ$153
$219 €189
-58.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.51 NZ$65.0
$11.01 €9.47
249.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.0 NZ$91.2
$31.31 €26.93
72.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.91 NZ$53.9
$64.1 €55.1
-50.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.55 NZ$27.95
$23.81 €20.48
-30.49%
Cinema Ticket
$13.40 NZ$22.62
$11.73 €10.09
14.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$830 NZ$1,401
$528 €454
57.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K NZ$30.8K
$10.4K €8,966
75.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Rome
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 NZ$104
$73.3 €63.0
-15.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.63 NZ$68.6
$34.57 €29.74
17.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 NZ$149
$87.0 €74.8
1.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 NZ$198
$119 €102
-1.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$971 NZ$1,639
$1,325 €1,139
-26.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$869 NZ$1,468
$885 €761
-1.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,213 NZ$2,048
$2,661 €2,289
-54.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 NZ$2,737
$1,636 €1,407
-0.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,122 NZ$6,960
$8,730 €7,510
-52.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,679 NZ$7,899
$3,452 €2,970
35.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,752 NZ$4,646
$2,058 €1,770
33.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.83
3.95
72.91%

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

Last update for Hamilton: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $971 in Hamilton and $1,325 in Rome. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hamilton pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Hamilton vs $74.0 in Rome. Groceries flip the comparison at $310 vs $333, 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 Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rome cheaper than Hamilton?
Hamilton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hamilton or Rome?
Hamilton pays 34% 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 Rome?
Rent for a central apartment: $971 in Hamilton versus $1,325 in Rome. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Hamilton or Rome?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamilton – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $74.0 in Rome. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamilton vs Rome?
All in, you'll spend $1,873 per month in Hamilton versus $2,027 in Rome – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Hamilton or Rome?
At $1,873 in Hamilton versus $2,027 in Rome, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamilton but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Hamilton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamilton or Rome more family-friendly?
For families, Hamilton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rome, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hamilton or Rome?
Safety-wise, Hamilton and Rome 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 8% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Hamilton vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities