Cost of Living Comparison Between Portlaoise and Hamilton Cost of Living Comparison Between Portlaoise and Hamilton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,503 in Portlaoise versus $2,507 in Hamilton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,575 in Portlaoise versus $3,577 in Hamilton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,647 in Portlaoise versus $4,647 in Hamilton.

Monthly costs are close between Portlaoise and Hamilton; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Portlaoise 87% above, Hamilton 87% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.71 €16.10
$18.39 CA$25.47
1.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.2 €60.4
$74.6 CA$103
-5.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.62 €9.13
$10.84 CA$15.02
-2.03%
Cappuccino
$4.25 €3.66
$4.03 CA$5.58
5.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 €2.10
$2.10 CA$2.90
16.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 €1.40
$1.73 CA$2.39
-6.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.74 €5.80
$5.73 CA$7.94
17.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.76 €4.96
$6.49 CA$8.99
-11.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 €1.25
$2.23 CA$3.09
-34.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 €0.91
$2.11 CA$2.92
-50.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 €1.85
$3.00 CA$4.16
-28.00%
Eggs
$3.92 €3.37
$3.20 CA$4.43
22.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.59 €2.23
$7.76 CA$10.74
-66.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.60 €9.12
$11.64 CA$16.11
-8.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.39 €9.80
$14.37 CA$19.89
-20.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 €2.55
$3.86 CA$5.34
-23.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 €1.74
$1.31 CA$1.81
54.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 €2.44
$3.58 CA$4.95
-20.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.56 €3.06
$3.73 CA$5.17
-4.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 €1.24
$2.64 CA$3.65
-45.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 €1.21
$2.20 CA$3.04
-35.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 €1.19
$2.22 CA$3.08
-37.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$2.00 CA$2.77
-16.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.18 €14.78
$13.59 CA$18.82
26.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.75 €11.83
$13.08 CA$18.11
5.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.80 €4.13
$2.47 CA$3.42
94.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89 €4.21
$3.01 CA$4.16
62.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.04
$2.56 CA$3.55
-7.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.3 €84.6
$86.2 CA$119
14.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 €4.22
$3.58 CA$4.96
37.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.66 €2.29
$1.21 CA$1.68
119.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.46 €37.39
$24.51 CA$33.94
77.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.79
$1.15 CA$1.60
81.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.5K €36.6K
$25.0K CA$34.6K
70.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K €33.5K
$20.9K CA$29.0K
85.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$283 €244
$150 CA$208
88.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.90 €18.83
$38.86 CA$53.8
-43.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4 €46.79
$53.0 CA$73.3
2.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 €45.46
$36.45 CA$50.5
44.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.88 CA$30.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.84 €9.32
$11.73 CA$16.24
-7.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,062 €914
$644 CA$892
64.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,030 €6,908
$22.4K CA$31.0K
-64.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.8 €77.3
$56.6 CA$78.4
58.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.86 €33.43
$34.04 CA$47.14
14.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.3 €85.4
$97.3 CA$135
2.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 €92.9
$120 CA$167
-10.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,489 €1,281
$1,346 CA$1,864
10.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,249 €1,074
$1,306 CA$1,808
-4.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,345 €2,017
$2,056 CA$2,846
14.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 €1,674
$1,970 CA$2,728
-1.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,754 CA$3,813
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,768 CA$3,833
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,210 €2,761
$2,916 CA$4,037
10.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
6.62
-27.49%

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

Last update for Portlaoise: June 1, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,489 in Portlaoise and $1,346 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Portlaoise pays 10% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $70.0 in Portlaoise vs $75.0 in Hamilton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $343 per month, with Portlaoise cheaper across the board.

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
Portlaoise vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Portlaoise or Hamilton?
Portlaoise pays 10% 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 Portlaoise and Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,489 in Portlaoise versus $1,346 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Portlaoise runs roughly 14% less than in Hamilton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in Portlaoise and Hamilton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Hamilton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Portlaoise or Hamilton?
At $2,503 in Portlaoise versus $2,507 in Hamilton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Portlaoise but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Portlaoise the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Portlaoise or Hamilton more family-friendly?
For families, Portlaoise 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, Portlaoise or Hamilton?
Safety-wise, Portlaoise 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 the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Portlaoise wins on affordability, Hamilton on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Portlaoise vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities