🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,374 in Margate versus $2,507 in Hamilton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,563 in Margate versus $3,577 in Hamilton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,753 in Margate versus $4,647 in Hamilton.
🙂Living in Margate costs roughly 5% less than in Hamilton, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Margate77% above, Hamilton87% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.29£12.11
$18.39CA$25.47
-11.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.6£71.1
$74.6CA$103
28.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.02£8.19
$10.84CA$15.02
1.66%
Cappuccino
$5.05£3.76
$4.03CA$5.58
25.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89£2.15
$2.10CA$2.90
37.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03£1.51
$1.73CA$2.39
17.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.16£6.07
$5.73CA$7.94
42.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82£5.81
$6.49CA$8.99
20.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87£1.39
$2.23CA$3.09
-16.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17£1.61
$2.11CA$2.92
2.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79£2.07
$3.00CA$4.16
-7.00%
Eggs
$4.82£3.58
$3.20CA$4.43
50.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.40£9.22
$7.76CA$10.74
59.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.34£7.68
$11.64CA$16.11
-11.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.79£13.22
$14.37CA$19.89
23.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00£1.48
$3.86CA$5.34
-48.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90£1.41
$1.31CA$1.81
45.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72£2.77
$3.58CA$4.95
3.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.57£2.66
$3.73CA$5.17
-4.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70£0.52
$2.64CA$3.65
-73.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12£1.57
$2.20CA$3.04
-3.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39£1.03
$2.22CA$3.08
-37.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47£1.09
$2.00CA$2.77
-26.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.48£15.22
$13.59CA$18.82
50.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.38£8.46
$13.08CA$18.11
-13.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41£1.79
$2.47CA$3.42
-2.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03£3.00
$3.01CA$4.16
33.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.77£2.80
$2.56CA$3.55
47.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.0£66.9
$86.2CA$119
4.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.82£5.07
$3.58CA$4.96
90.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.58£1.92
$1.21CA$1.68
113.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.23£25.44
$24.51CA$33.94
39.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99£1.48
$1.15CA$1.60
73.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K£22.0K
$25.0KCA$34.6K
18.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8K£33.3K
$20.9KCA$29.0K
114.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$343£255
$150CA$208
128.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.94£11.85
$38.86CA$53.8
-58.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.19£21.70
$53.0CA$73.3
-44.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.64£34.67
$36.45CA$50.5
27.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.88CA$30.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.65£7.92
$11.73CA$16.24
-9.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,262£1,681
$644CA$892
251.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K£17.3K
$22.4KCA$31.0K
3.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4£50.8
$56.6CA$78.4
20.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.31£29.96
$34.04CA$47.14
18.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.2£64.1
$97.3CA$135
-11.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125£92.6
$120CA$167
3.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,202£893
$1,346CA$1,864
-10.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,012£753
$1,306CA$1,808
-22.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020£1,502
$2,056CA$2,846
-1.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,676£1,245
$1,970CA$2,728
-14.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,754CA$3,813
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,768CA$3,833
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Margate
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,643£1,964
$2,916CA$4,037
-9.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
6.62
-16.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Margate: June 2, 2026
Last update for Hamilton: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,202 in Margate and $1,346 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamilton pays 10% 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: $96.0 in Margate vs $75.0 in Hamilton. Groceries flip the comparison at $340 vs $343, with Margate 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?
Margate is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Margate or Hamilton?
On paper, Hamilton earns 10% 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 Margate and Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,202 in Margate versus $1,346 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,262 in Margate versus $644 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 Hamilton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Hamilton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Margate or Hamilton?
At $2,374 in Margate versus $2,507 in Hamilton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Margate but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Margate the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Margate or Hamilton more family-friendly?
For families, Margate is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamilton, 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 Margate gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.