🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,169 in Mouscron versus $2,398 in Hamilton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,132 in Mouscron versus $3,483 in Hamilton.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,094 in Mouscron versus $4,568 in Hamilton.
🌍Living in Mouscron costs roughly 10% less than in Hamilton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mouscron57% above, Hamilton74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mouscron
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.47€19.37
$18.42CA$25.54
21.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9€68.9
$68.6CA$95.1
16.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.43€9.85
$12.07CA$16.74
-5.30%
Cappuccino
$4.57€3.94
$3.46CA$4.80
32.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14€2.70
$2.23CA$3.09
40.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04€2.62
$1.78CA$2.46
70.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.40€4.65
$5.21CA$7.22
3.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70€4.05
$6.28CA$8.70
-25.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mouscron
Hamilton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$2.03CA$2.82
-36.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.80€2.42
$2.31CA$3.20
21.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$2.93CA$4.06
-20.82%
Eggs
$4.06€3.50
$3.48CA$4.82
16.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.12€10.45
$7.40CA$10.27
63.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.91€11.13
$10.74CA$14.90
20.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.49€16.80
$14.23CA$19.73
36.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83€2.44
$3.82CA$5.30
-25.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.27€1.96
$1.30CA$1.80
74.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28€1.96
$4.16CA$5.76
-45.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37€2.04
$4.06CA$5.64
-41.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$2.67CA$3.70
-11.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.78CA$2.47
1.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$2.25CA$3.11
-32.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.79
$1.46CA$2.02
-37.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.86€11.95
$14.48CA$20.08
-4.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51€6.48
$12.96CA$17.98
-42.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.86
$2.34CA$3.25
-7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87€1.61
$4.14CA$5.74
-54.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Mouscron
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.12€2.69
$2.69CA$3.73
15.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.6€49.68
$86.3CA$120
-33.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.50€9.05
$3.59CA$4.98
192.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.63€2.27
$1.29CA$1.79
103.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.87€22.30
$24.16CA$33.51
7.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97€1.70
$1.21CA$1.68
62.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K€31.1K
$28.5KCA$39.6K
26.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K€30.0K
$19.9KCA$27.6K
74.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mouscron
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220€189
$151CA$210
45.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.15€16.51
$39.74CA$55.1
-51.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1€48.38
$51.4CA$71.3
9.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mouscron
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.86€31.77
$38.31CA$53.1
-3.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.10€18.19
$21.29CA$29.53
-0.89%
Cinema Ticket
$14.96€12.89
$10.37CA$14.39
44.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mouscron
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$715€616
$633CA$878
12.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.9K€14.6K
$17.0KCA$23.6K
-0.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mouscron
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.9€86.1
$48.71CA$67.6
105.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.65€22.97
$34.89CA$48.39
-23.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.6€79.0
$92.1CA$128
-0.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€128
$124CA$172
19.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mouscron
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$981€846
$1,302CA$1,806
-24.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$854€736
$1,196CA$1,659
-28.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,454€1,253
$2,138CA$2,965
-32.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,197€1,032
$1,923CA$2,667
-37.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,252€3,665
$2,835CA$3,932
49.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,023€2,606
$2,766CA$3,836
9.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mouscron
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,207€3,627
$2,964CA$4,111
41.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.52
4.6
-23.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mouscron: September 7, 2026
Last update for Hamilton: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $981 in Mouscron and $1,302 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mouscron pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $80.0 in Mouscron vs $69.0 in Hamilton. Groceries flip the comparison at $332 vs $335, with Mouscron 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
Mouscron vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamilton cheaper than Mouscron?
Mouscron is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mouscron or Hamilton?
Average pay runs 42% higher in Mouscron, 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 Mouscron and Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $981 in Mouscron versus $1,302 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $715 in Mouscron versus $633 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 Mouscron and in Hamilton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Hamilton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Mouscron or in Hamilton?
At $2,169 in Mouscron versus $2,398 in Hamilton, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Mouscron but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Mouscron the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mouscron or Hamilton more family-friendly?
For families, Mouscron 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 safer, Mouscron or Hamilton?
Safety-wise, Mouscron and Hamilton 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 Mouscron gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.