😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,460 in Margate versus $2,321 in Hamilton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,564 in Margate versus $3,399 in Hamilton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,667 in Margate versus $4,477 in Hamilton.
🌍Living in Margate is roughly 6% more expensive than in Hamilton, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Margate79% above, Hamilton69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.53£13.70
$18.38CA$25.35
0.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2£44.48
$68.1CA$93.9
-11.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.93£8.08
$12.51CA$17.25
-12.63%
Cappuccino
$4.81£3.55
$3.56CA$4.90
35.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02£1.49
$2.20CA$3.03
-8.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39£1.02
$1.74CA$2.40
-20.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.35£6.17
$5.18CA$7.14
61.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.70£4.95
$6.50CA$8.97
3.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67£1.23
$2.05CA$2.83
-18.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78£1.31
$2.22CA$3.07
-19.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.69£1.98
$2.84CA$3.91
-5.28%
Eggs
$4.67£3.46
$3.44CA$4.75
35.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.04£7.42
$7.57CA$10.44
32.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.64£7.13
$10.40CA$14.35
-7.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.43£12.14
$14.04CA$19.37
17.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11£2.30
$3.91CA$5.40
-20.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71£1.26
$1.28CA$1.76
33.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.73£2.76
$4.27CA$5.88
-12.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.55£2.63
$3.92CA$5.41
-9.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79£1.32
$2.64CA$3.64
-32.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90£1.40
$1.75CA$2.41
8.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35£1.00
$2.34CA$3.23
-42.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.07£1.53
$1.46CA$2.02
41.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.62£17.46
$14.22CA$19.61
66.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.24£8.31
$13.06CA$18.01
-13.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78£2.06
$2.38CA$3.29
16.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17£3.08
$4.19CA$5.78
-0.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.38£2.50
$2.74CA$3.78
23.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.8£70.1
$87.7CA$121
8.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.94£5.87
$3.50CA$4.82
126.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.76£2.04
$1.33CA$1.83
107.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$51.6£38.17
$23.47CA$32.37
120.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09£1.55
$1.19CA$1.64
75.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K£28.9K
$28.9KCA$39.9K
35.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8K£30.9K
$20.1KCA$27.7K
108.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$348£258
$151CA$208
131.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.92£13.99
$40.12CA$55.3
-52.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.66£33.75
$51.2CA$70.5
-10.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.27£35.68
$37.62CA$51.9
28.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.56CA$29.73
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.33£12.81
$10.27CA$14.16
68.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,618£1,935
$615CA$849
325.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.4K£21.8K
$16.6KCA$22.9K
77.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.4£68.3
$50.2CA$69.3
83.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.32£35.72
$34.50CA$47.58
40.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.5£71.3
$91.9CA$127
4.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128£95.0
$121CA$167
6.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,254£927
$1,320CA$1,820
-4.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027£759
$1,211CA$1,670
-15.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,087£1,543
$2,063CA$2,845
1.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,736£1,283
$1,928CA$2,659
-9.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,368£3,968
$2,814CA$3,880
90.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,381£2,499
$2,808CA$3,872
20.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,675£1,978
$2,912CA$4,016
-8.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.04
4.6
9.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Margate: August 30, 2026
Last update for Hamilton: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,254 in Margate and $1,320 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamilton pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Margate vs $68.0 in Hamilton. Groceries flip the comparison at $334 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
Margate vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamilton cheaper than Margate?
Hamilton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Margate or Hamilton?
On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Hamilton. 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 Margate and Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,254 in Margate versus $1,320 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,618 in Margate versus $615 in Hamilton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Margate and in Hamilton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Margate. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Margate or in Hamilton?
At $2,321 in Hamilton versus $2,460 in Margate, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamilton but tight or insufficient in Margate. The gap between the two cities makes Hamilton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Margate or Hamilton more family-friendly?
For families, Hamilton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Margate, 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 6% less than in Margate. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.