😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,524 in Salisbury versus $2,423 in Hamilton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,479 in Salisbury versus $3,571 in Hamilton.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,435 in Salisbury versus $4,718 in Hamilton.
😐Living in Salisbury is roughly 4% more expensive than Hamilton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Salisbury87% above, Hamilton80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salisbury
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.93£16.99
$18.44CA$25.26
24.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.0£68.2
$73.7CA$101
24.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.24£6.85
$10.99CA$15.05
-15.92%
Cappuccino
$4.56£3.38
$3.97CA$5.44
14.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22£1.64
$2.11CA$2.89
5.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73£1.29
$1.76CA$2.41
-1.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.99£4.44
$5.72CA$7.84
4.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.02£4.46
$6.51CA$8.92
-7.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salisbury
Hamilton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64£1.22
$2.29CA$3.14
-28.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12£0.83
$2.20CA$3.02
-49.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88£2.14
$2.95CA$4.04
-2.37%
Eggs
$3.04£2.25
$3.15CA$4.32
-3.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.52£6.31
$7.53CA$10.31
13.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.18£5.32
$11.66CA$15.98
-38.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.38£11.40
$14.32CA$19.62
7.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85£1.37
$3.81CA$5.22
-51.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31£0.97
$1.30CA$1.77
0.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.92£2.17
$3.60CA$4.94
-18.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.79£3.55
$3.84CA$5.26
24.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24£0.92
$2.72CA$3.73
-54.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20£0.89
$2.14CA$2.93
-43.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93£0.69
$2.16CA$2.96
-56.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09£0.81
$2.04CA$2.80
-46.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.08£11.92
$13.65CA$18.70
17.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.06£7.46
$13.00CA$17.81
-22.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98£1.47
$2.37CA$3.24
-16.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80£1.33
$3.12CA$4.27
-42.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Salisbury
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.51£4.08
$2.65CA$3.64
107.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$111£82.5
$87.4CA$120
27.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.71£3.49
$3.52CA$4.82
33.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52£1.13
$1.22CA$1.67
24.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.27£12.05
$23.80CA$32.61
-31.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.41
$1.11CA$1.52
72.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K£20.1K
$25.5KCA$34.9K
6.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K£25.1K
$20.4KCA$27.9K
66.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salisbury
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$390£289
$152CA$208
156.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.60£11.56
$39.72CA$54.4
-60.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.93£30.33
$51.9CA$71.1
-21.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salisbury
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8£51.0
$36.10CA$49.45
90.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.10£8.96
$22.42CA$30.72
-46.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.42£6.98
$11.81CA$16.18
-20.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salisbury
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,291£957
$632CA$866
104.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.6K£13.8K
$21.9KCA$30.0K
-15.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salisbury
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1£52.7
$56.3CA$77.1
26.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.42£15.13
$34.08CA$46.68
-40.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.0£66.7
$96.3CA$132
-6.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115£85.2
$120CA$164
-3.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salisbury
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,241£920
$1,365CA$1,870
-9.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,138£843
$1,264CA$1,732
-9.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,073£1,536
$2,015CA$2,760
2.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,491£1,105
$1,996CA$2,734
-25.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,764CA$3,787
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,832£3,580
$2,740CA$3,753
76.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salisbury
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,681£2,728
$2,845CA$3,898
29.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.77
6.62
-12.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Salisbury: April 13, 2026
Last update for Hamilton: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,241 in Salisbury and $1,365 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Salisbury pays 29% 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: $92 in Salisbury vs $74 in Hamilton. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $343, with Salisbury 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
Salisbury vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamilton cheaper than Salisbury?
Hamilton is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Salisbury or Hamilton?
Salisbury pays 29% 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 Salisbury and Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,241 in Salisbury versus $1,365 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,291 in Salisbury versus $632 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 Salisbury and Hamilton?
Shoppers in Salisbury pay roughly 28% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Salisbury or Hamilton?
At $2,423 in Hamilton versus $2,524 in Salisbury, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamilton but tight or insufficient in Salisbury. The gap between the two cities makes Hamilton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Salisbury or Hamilton more family-friendly?
For families, Hamilton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Salisbury, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Salisbury or Hamilton?
Safety-wise, Salisbury 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 Salisbury. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.