Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Portlaoise and Hamilton

For one person, living costs are similar in Portlaoise and in Hamilton: $2,347 and $2,253 a month, rent and utilities included.

Portlaoise
🇮🇪 Ireland
$2,347
/mo nomad
Hamilton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,253
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Portlaoise and in Hamilton

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Portlaoise and in Hamilton actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,347 in Portlaoise versus $2,253 in Hamilton.

  • Portlaoise $2,347
  • Hamilton $2,253

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,746 in Portlaoise versus $3,331 in Hamilton.

  • Portlaoise $3,746
  • Hamilton $3,331

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,145 in Portlaoise versus $4,408 in Hamilton.

  • Portlaoise $5,145
  • Hamilton $4,408

Living in Portlaoise is roughly 4% more expensive than in Hamilton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Portlaoise 74% above, Hamilton 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.70 €20.19
$17.21 CA$24.33
31.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.5 €69.8
$65.7 CA$92.8
19.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.72 €11.31
$11.87 CA$16.77
7.16%
Cappuccino
$4.40 €3.91
$3.37 CA$4.77
30.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 €2.22
$2.22 CA$3.14
12.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 €1.51
$1.69 CA$2.39
0.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.60 €5.87
$4.99 CA$7.05
32.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.12 €5.44
$6.03 CA$8.52
1.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 €1.52
$1.89 CA$2.67
-9.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.12 CA$2.99
6.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$3.13 CA$4.43
-40.58%
Eggs
$4.62 €4.11
$3.33 CA$4.70
38.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.04 €12.48
$7.88 CA$11.13
78.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.88 €11.45
$11.30 CA$15.98
13.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.74 €14.89
$14.24 CA$20.13
17.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 €2.95
$3.81 CA$5.38
-12.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 €2.62
$1.27 CA$1.79
131.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 €2.90
$3.98 CA$5.63
-18.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.86 €4.32
$3.82 CA$5.40
27.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.32 €2.07
$2.71 CA$3.83
-14.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.73 €1.54
$1.91 CA$2.69
-9.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 €1.23
$1.95 CA$2.75
-29.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.33 CA$1.88
57.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.38 €18.12
$12.49 CA$17.65
63.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.49 €12.00
$13.95 CA$19.72
-3.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.10 €3.64
$2.65 CA$3.74
54.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 €3.21
$3.77 CA$5.33
-4.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.66 €4.14
$2.56 CA$3.62
82.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.08 €39.21
$84.1 CA$119
-47.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.23 €4.65
$3.36 CA$4.76
55.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 €1.38
$1.28 CA$1.82
21.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.30 €29.62
$23.24 CA$32.85
43.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.80
$1.21 CA$1.71
67.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K €34.5K
$27.6K CA$39.1K
40.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K €33.8K
$19.6K CA$27.7K
94.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$239 €212
$152 CA$214
57.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.79 €19.38
$41.21 CA$58.3
-47.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.6 €49.40
$50.2 CA$70.9
10.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.3 €49.22
$36.85 CA$52.1
50.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.62 CA$24.91
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.45 €11.96
$10.23 CA$14.46
31.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,072 €953
$600 CA$848
78.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,427 €4,827
$16.6K CA$23.4K
-67.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5 €84.0
$47.93 CA$67.8
97.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.66 €37.94
$30.45 CA$43.05
40.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €96.2
$83.8 CA$118
29.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €108
$114 CA$161
6.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,229 €1,093
$1,251 CA$1,769
-1.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$984 €875
$1,123 CA$1,588
-12.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,264 €2,014
$2,042 CA$2,887
10.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,151 €1,913
$1,873 CA$2,647
14.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,695 CA$3,810
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,668 CA$3,771
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portlaoise
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,785 €2,477
$2,860 CA$4,044
-2.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
4.6
-23.91%

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

Last update for Portlaoise: October 10, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Portlaoise
$984
Hamilton
$1.1K 14.2% $140
Groceries & Markets
Portlaoise
$390
Hamilton
$335 14.1% $55
Eating Out
Portlaoise
$335
Hamilton
$266 20.4% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portlaoise
$316
Hamilton
$243 23.1% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Portlaoise
$165
Hamilton
$124 24.7% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Portlaoise
$82
Hamilton
$57 30.3% $25
Getting Around
Portlaoise
$76
Hamilton
$104 37.6% $28

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,229 in Portlaoise and $1,251 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hamilton pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $78.0 in Portlaoise vs $66.0 in Hamilton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $390 vs $335 per month, with Hamilton cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇪 Portlaoise
🇨🇦 Hamilton
🕒 Local time
11:32 11:32 AM
06:32 6:32 AM
5 h behind Portlaoise
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
23,494
519,949
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Portlaoise Hamilton 5,250 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Portlaoise
  • Hamilton

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Hamilton cheaper than Portlaoise?
Hamilton is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Portlaoise or Hamilton?
On paper, salaries run 3% 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 Portlaoise and Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,229 in Portlaoise versus $1,251 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,072 in Portlaoise versus $600 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 Portlaoise and in Hamilton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Portlaoise. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Portlaoise or in Hamilton?
At $2,253 in Hamilton versus $2,347 in Portlaoise, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamilton but tight or insufficient in Portlaoise. The gap between the two cities makes Hamilton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Portlaoise or Hamilton more family-friendly?
For families, Hamilton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Portlaoise, 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hamilton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Portlaoise. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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