๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,232 in Alexandria, MN versus $2,186 in Edmonton.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,457 in Alexandria, MN versus $3,279 in Edmonton.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,682 in Alexandria, MN versus $4,372 in Edmonton.
๐Living in Alexandria, MN is roughly 2% more expensive than Edmonton, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alexandria, MN66% above, Edmonton62% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.27$15.27
$18.53CA$25.39
-17.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1$59.1
$65.9CA$90.3
-10.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.05$10.05
$11.16CA$15.29
-9.95%
Cappuccino
$5.29$5.29
$3.83CA$5.24
38.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$2.10CA$2.87
-7.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$1.81CA$2.47
8.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.40$5.40
$5.87CA$8.04
-8.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20$7.20
$6.04CA$8.27
19.21%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$2.04CA$2.79
-50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.33$3.33
$2.78CA$3.80
19.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96$3.96
$3.18CA$4.35
24.53%
Eggs
$3.21$3.21
$3.68CA$5.05
-12.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20$9.20
$12.41CA$17.00
-25.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.50$11.50
$12.34CA$16.91
-6.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.28$14.28
$16.17CA$22.16
-11.69%
Apples(1kg)
$5.00$5.00
$4.80CA$6.57
4.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17$1.17
$1.37CA$1.88
-14.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.90$5.90
$3.83CA$5.25
54.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.12$5.12
$3.74CA$5.13
36.90%
Potato(1kg)
$3.94$3.94
$2.44CA$3.35
61.48%
Onion(1kg)
$3.78$3.78
$2.14CA$2.94
76.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04$2.04
$2.73CA$3.74
-25.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$1.93CA$2.64
1.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.47$10.47
$15.00CA$20.54
-30.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.20$16.20
$12.93CA$17.72
25.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$3.06CA$4.19
-41.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37$4.37
$3.23CA$4.42
35.29%
๐ Getting Around
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96$1.96
$2.60CA$3.56
-24.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$126$126
$73.7CA$101
71.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.86$4.86
$3.23CA$4.42
50.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43$1.43
$1.65CA$2.26
-13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.07$29.07
$23.59CA$32.31
23.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.06CA$1.45
-17.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K$35.1K
$25.7KCA$35.1K
36.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$22.2KCA$30.5K
14.08%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220$220
$205CA$281
6.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.87$47.87
$44.92CA$61.6
6.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6$72.6
$64.6CA$88.5
12.38%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.9$75.9
$48.36CA$66.3
56.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.6$50.6
$21.87CA$29.97
131.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.93$9.93
$13.06CA$17.89
-23.97%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$994$994
$709CA$971
40.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.2K$30.2K
$11.9KCA$16.3K
153.42%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.56$24.56
$49.75CA$68.2
-50.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.94$24.94
$41.81CA$57.3
-40.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.3$50.3
$83.9CA$115
-40.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.9$60.9
$102CA$139
-40.13%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,064$1,064
$1,212CA$1,660
-12.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$917$917
$953CA$1,305
-3.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,124$2,124
$1,892CA$2,591
12.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,850$1,850
$1,615CA$2,213
14.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,776$2,776
$2,295CA$3,144
20.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,741$2,741
$2,229CA$3,054
22.98%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,354$3,354
$3,086CA$4,227
8.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.43
6.08
5.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alexandria, MN: April 13, 2026
Last update for Edmonton: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,064 in Alexandria, MN and $1,212 in Edmonton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐAlexandria, MN pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $59 in Alexandria, MN vs $66 in Edmonton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $383 per month, with Alexandria, MN 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
Alexandria, MN vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alexandria, MN or Edmonton?
Edmonton wins on cost โ living expenses run 2% lower than in Alexandria, MN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Edmonton the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Alexandria, MN or Edmonton?
Alexandria, MN pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Alexandria, MN vs Edmonton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,064 in Alexandria, MN versus $1,212 in Edmonton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Alexandria, MN and Edmonton?
Childcare runs $994 in Alexandria, MN versus $709 in Edmonton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Alexandria, MN or Edmonton?
Shoppers in Alexandria, MN pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Alexandria, MN or Edmonton?
At $2,186 in Edmonton versus $2,232 in Alexandria, MN, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Edmonton but tight or insufficient in Alexandria, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Edmonton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Alexandria, MN or Edmonton?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Edmonton gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 2% less than in Alexandria, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alexandria, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared