πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,932 in Poughkeepsie, NY versus $2,507 in Hamilton.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,032 in Poughkeepsie, NY versus $3,577 in Hamilton.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,131 in Poughkeepsie, NY versus $4,647 in Hamilton.
πLiving in Poughkeepsie, NY is roughly 17% more expensive than Hamilton, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Poughkeepsie, NY119% above, Hamilton87% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Poughkeepsie, NY
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.35$19.35
$18.39CA$25.65
5.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3$79.3
$74.6CA$104
6.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.36$11.36
$10.84CA$15.12
4.80%
Cappuccino
$3.65$3.65
$4.03CA$5.62
-9.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02$2.02
$2.10CA$2.93
-3.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22$1.22
$1.73CA$2.41
-29.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.93$4.93
$5.73CA$8.00
-13.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.99$5.99
$6.49CA$9.05
-7.70%
π Groceries & Markets
Poughkeepsie, NY
Hamilton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$2.23CA$3.11
-54.26%
White Bread(500g)
$3.94$3.94
$2.11CA$2.94
86.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.70$5.70
$3.00CA$4.19
90.00%
Eggs
$5.40$5.40
$3.20CA$4.46
68.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.13$13.13
$7.76CA$10.82
69.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.52$14.52
$11.64CA$16.23
24.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.35$17.35
$14.37CA$20.04
20.74%
Apples(1kg)
$4.64$4.64
$3.86CA$5.38
20.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02$1.02
$1.31CA$1.83
-22.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.62$4.62
$3.58CA$4.99
29.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.02$5.02
$3.73CA$5.20
34.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.94$2.94
$2.64CA$3.68
11.36%
Onion(1kg)
$3.54$3.54
$2.20CA$3.06
60.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96$1.96
$2.22CA$3.10
-11.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81$1.81
$2.00CA$2.79
-9.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.61$14.61
$13.59CA$18.95
7.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.91$9.91
$13.08CA$18.24
-24.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19$2.19
$2.47CA$3.45
-11.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03$4.03
$3.01CA$4.19
33.89%
π Getting Around
Poughkeepsie, NY
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.96$2.96
$2.56CA$3.57
15.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$86.2CA$120
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.93$4.93
$3.58CA$4.99
37.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.99$1.99
$1.21CA$1.69
64.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.45$27.45
$24.51CA$34.18
12.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.15CA$1.61
-18.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K$30.3K
$25.0KCA$34.8K
21.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$20.9KCA$29.2K
21.03%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poughkeepsie, NY
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102$102
$150CA$209
-32.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.0$59.0
$38.86CA$54.2
51.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3$68.3
$53.0CA$73.9
28.90%
π Sport & Entertainment
Poughkeepsie, NY
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.79$19.79
$36.45CA$50.8
-45.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.03$40.03
$21.88CA$30.51
82.95%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19$15.19
$11.73CA$16.36
29.50%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Poughkeepsie, NY
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,405$1,405
$644CA$899
118.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.4K$28.4K
$22.4KCA$31.2K
26.78%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Poughkeepsie, NY
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8$51.8
$56.6CA$79.0
-8.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86$45.86
$34.04CA$47.47
34.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.1$82.1
$97.3CA$136
-15.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104$104
$120CA$168
-13.67%
π Accommodation & Living
Poughkeepsie, NY
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,666$1,666
$1,346CA$1,877
23.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,785$1,785
$1,306CA$1,821
36.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085$2,085
$2,056CA$2,867
1.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,434$2,434
$1,970CA$2,747
23.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,599$1,599
$2,754CA$3,840
-41.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,304$2,304
$2,768CA$3,860
-16.78%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Poughkeepsie, NY
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,393$4,393
$2,916CA$4,066
50.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
6.62
-2.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Poughkeepsie, NY: May 31, 2026
Last update for Hamilton: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,666 in Poughkeepsie, NY and $1,346 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Poughkeepsie, NY pays 51% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $79.0 in Poughkeepsie, NY vs $75.0 in Hamilton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $343 per month, with Hamilton 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
Poughkeepsie, NY vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamilton cheaper than Poughkeepsie, NY?
Hamilton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Poughkeepsie, NY or Hamilton?
Poughkeepsie, NY pays 51% 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 Poughkeepsie, NY and Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,666 in Poughkeepsie, NY versus $1,346 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Poughkeepsie, NY and Hamilton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Poughkeepsie, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Poughkeepsie, NY vs Hamilton?
All in, you'll spend $2,932 per month in Poughkeepsie, NY versus $2,507 in Hamilton β a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Poughkeepsie, NY or Hamilton?
At $2,507 in Hamilton versus $2,932 in Poughkeepsie, NY, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamilton but tight or insufficient in Poughkeepsie, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Hamilton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Poughkeepsie, NY or Hamilton more family-friendly?
For families, Hamilton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Poughkeepsie, NY, 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 β expenses run 17% less than in Poughkeepsie, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Poughkeepsie, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared