😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,252 in Alexandria, MN versus $2,173 in Edmonton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,542 in Alexandria, MN versus $3,239 in Edmonton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,832 in Alexandria, MN versus $4,304 in Edmonton.
🌍Living in Alexandria, MN is roughly 4% more expensive than in Edmonton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alexandria, MN64% above, Edmonton58% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.68$19.68
$18.07CA$25.00
8.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1$60.1
$78.0CA$108
-22.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88$11.88
$10.23CA$14.16
16.13%
Cappuccino
$5.98$5.98
$3.89CA$5.38
53.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$2.33CA$3.22
-16.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$1.97CA$2.73
4.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.52$5.52
$5.87CA$8.12
-5.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.91$7.91
$6.57CA$9.09
20.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.66CA$2.30
-49.40%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26$3.26
$2.23CA$3.08
46.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.05$6.05
$2.96CA$4.09
104.39%
Eggs
$3.97$3.97
$3.60CA$4.98
10.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.24$10.24
$11.13CA$15.40
-8.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.14$14.14
$11.39CA$15.75
24.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.36$19.36
$18.61CA$25.74
4.03%
Apples(1kg)
$6.15$6.15
$4.44CA$6.15
38.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79$1.79
$1.37CA$1.90
30.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.73$6.73
$4.27CA$5.91
57.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.31$5.31
$4.07CA$5.63
30.47%
Potato(1kg)
$4.31$4.31
$2.24CA$3.10
92.41%
Onion(1kg)
$3.93$3.93
$1.97CA$2.73
99.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35$2.35
$2.45CA$3.39
-4.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$1.84CA$2.54
39.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.02$13.02
$14.71CA$20.35
-11.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.02$16.02
$11.61CA$16.07
37.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86$2.86
$3.51CA$4.86
-18.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85$5.85
$2.91CA$4.03
101.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.76CA$3.82
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$127$127
$73.6CA$102
71.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.93$4.93
$2.92CA$4.05
68.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75$1.75
$1.40CA$1.94
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.72$23.72
$21.29CA$29.46
11.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97$0.97
$1.18CA$1.64
-17.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K$37.0K
$29.0KCA$40.1K
27.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$20.3KCA$28.1K
23.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158$158
$229CA$317
-31.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.4$54.4
$40.12CA$55.5
35.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8$67.8
$55.9CA$77.4
21.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.5$74.5
$47.17CA$65.3
57.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.5$50.5
$18.45CA$25.53
173.50%
Cinema Ticket
$10.11$10.11
$12.93CA$17.89
-21.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$981$981
$782CA$1,082
25.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$36.1K$36.1K
$9,665CA$13.4K
273.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.80$24.80
$45.40CA$62.8
-45.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95$24.95
$46.92CA$64.9
-46.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.7$50.7
$84.2CA$117
-39.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.2$60.2
$97.2CA$134
-38.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,132$1,132
$1,126CA$1,558
0.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$881$881
$919CA$1,271
-4.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,066$2,066
$1,733CA$2,397
19.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,774$1,774
$1,437CA$1,989
23.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,764$2,764
$2,294CA$3,174
20.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,748$2,748
$2,128CA$2,945
29.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alexandria, MN
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,369$3,369
$3,730CA$5,161
-9.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.27
4.32
45.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alexandria, MN: August 29, 2026
Last update for Edmonton: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,132 in Alexandria, MN and $1,126 in Edmonton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Edmonton pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Alexandria, MN vs $78.0 in Edmonton. Groceries flip the comparison at $455 vs $368, with Edmonton 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
Alexandria, MN vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alexandria, MN or Edmonton?
Edmonton wins on cost – living expenses run 4% 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 in Edmonton?
On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Edmonton. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Alexandria, MN compared to Edmonton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,132 in Alexandria, MN versus $1,126 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 in Edmonton?
Childcare runs $981 in Alexandria, MN versus $782 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 in Edmonton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Alexandria, MN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Alexandria, MN or in Edmonton?
At $2,173 in Edmonton versus $2,252 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 – 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 – expenses run 4% 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