Cost of Living Comparison Between Winterthur and Hamilton Cost of Living Comparison Between Winterthur and Hamilton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,111 per month in Winterthur vs $4,842 in Hamilton, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,075 per month in Winterthur vs $9,251 in Hamilton, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,039 per month in Winterthur vs $13.7K in Hamilton, rent included.

Winterthur is about 15% cheaper than Hamilton, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Winterthur and Hamilton sit above the global median – Winterthur by 208%, Hamilton by 262%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Winterthur
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$39.98 CHF 32.32
$59.9 BMD 59.9
-33.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$131 CHF 106
$177 BMD 177
-25.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.82 CHF 16.02
$15.27 BMD 15.27
29.80%
Cappuccino
$6.68 CHF 5.40
$6.40 BMD 6.40
4.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84 CHF 3.92
$3.50 BMD 3.50
38.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 CHF 3.67
$2.98 BMD 2.98
52.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.61 CHF 6.96
$10.17 BMD 10.17
-15.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98 CHF 4.83
$8.41 BMD 8.41
-28.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Winterthur
Hamilton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 CHF 1.78
$4.34 BMD 4.34
-49.31%
White Bread (500g)
$4.58 CHF 3.70
$9.00 BMD 9.00
-49.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 CHF 3.76
$5.37 BMD 5.37
-13.41%
Eggs
$7.68 CHF 6.21
$7.57 BMD 7.57
1.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.30 CHF 25.31
$11.68 BMD 11.68
167.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$32.81 CHF 26.52
$24.47 BMD 24.47
34.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$46.30 CHF 37.44
$31.87 BMD 31.87
45.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 CHF 2.63
$10.38 BMD 10.38
-68.59%
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 CHF 1.71
$6.27 BMD 6.27
-66.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.14 CHF 2.54
$12.59 BMD 12.59
-75.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.99 CHF 6.46
$11.30 BMD 11.30
-29.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 CHF 1.99
$8.40 BMD 8.40
-70.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 CHF 1.84
$4.98 BMD 4.98
-54.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 CHF 2.07
$5.83 BMD 5.83
-56.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 CHF 0.80
$3.20 BMD 3.20
-69.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.49 CHF 9.29
$17.49 BMD 17.49
-34.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.14 CHF 10.62
$24.59 BMD 24.59
-46.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 CHF 1.63
$5.26 BMD 5.26
-61.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 CHF 2.71
$4.63 BMD 4.63
-27.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Winterthur
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.05 CHF 3.27
$4.80 BMD 4.80
-15.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$125 CHF 101
$70.1 BMD 70.1
78.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 CHF 6.85
$6.09 BMD 6.09
39.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.89 CHF 3.95
$3.43 BMD 3.43
42.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$85.2 CHF 68.9
$54.2 BMD 54.2
57.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 CHF 1.76
$2.37 BMD 2.37
-8.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8K CHF 32.1K
$34.4K BMD 34.4K
15.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.9K CHF 37.9K
$39.6K BMD 39.6K
18.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Winterthur
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$257 CHF 208
$234 BMD 234
9.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.0 CHF 54.2
$121 BMD 121
-44.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 CHF 48.08
$154 BMD 154
-61.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Winterthur
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$116 CHF 94.1
$185 BMD 185
-37.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$43.84 CHF 35.44
$32.99 BMD 32.99
32.89%
Cinema Ticket
$28.45 CHF 23.00
$13.72 BMD 13.72
107.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Winterthur
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,680 CHF 2,167
$1,339 BMD 1,339
100.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K CHF 17.3K
$24.6K BMD 24.6K
-13.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Winterthur
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$218 CHF 176
$78.5 BMD 78.5
177.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$146 CHF 118
$61.1 BMD 61.1
139.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$226 CHF 182
$135 BMD 135
66.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$423 CHF 342
$130 BMD 130
226.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Winterthur
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,213 CHF 1,790
$3,377 BMD 3,377
-34.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,704 CHF 1,377
$2,260 BMD 2,260
-24.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,523 CHF 2,849
$8,611 BMD 8,611
-59.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,643 CHF 2,137
$7,542 BMD 7,542
-64.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$23.0K CHF 18.6K
$14.6K BMD 14.6K
57.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.1K CHF 13.8K
$9,325 BMD 9,325
83.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Winterthur
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,442 CHF 5,208
$6,684 BMD 6,684
-3.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.5
7.22
-65.37%

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

Last update for Winterthur: July 13, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,213 in Winterthur versus $3,377 in Hamilton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Hamilton, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $131 in Winterthur versus $177 in Hamilton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $673 vs $816 – making Winterthur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Winterthur vs Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Winterthur and in Hamilton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,111 in Winterthur, $4,842 in Hamilton – roughly 18% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Winterthur compared to Hamilton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,166 per month in Winterthur and $7,263 in Hamilton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Winterthur and Hamilton?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Winterthur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $131 in Winterthur and $177 in Hamilton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Winterthur or Hamilton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,111 in Winterthur and $4,842 in Hamilton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is feasible on a $5,000 budget?
$5,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,111 in Winterthur and $4,842 in Hamilton. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Winterthur and Hamilton?
It depends on your priorities. Hamilton has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $4,111 in Winterthur to $4,842 in Hamilton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Winterthur or Hamilton safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Winterthur and Hamilton?
If budget matters most, go with Winterthur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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