Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton, IL and Edmonton Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton, IL and Edmonton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,648 per month in Alton, IL vs $2,236 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,888 per month in Alton, IL vs $3,321 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,128 per month in Alton, IL vs $4,406 in Edmonton, rent included.

Alton, IL costs about 18% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Alton, IL and Edmonton sit above the global median – Alton, IL by 98%, Edmonton by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.14 $19.14

$18.19 CA$24.92

5.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.6 $66.6

$66.1 CA$90.6

0.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$11.27 CA$15.43

4.97%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$3.69 CA$5.06

35.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.16 CA$2.96

0.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.84 CA$2.52

4.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 $5.03

$5.82 CA$7.98

-13.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 $6.65

$5.91 CA$8.10

12.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$2.09 CA$2.86

-62.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.77 CA$3.80

-3.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.15 $6.15

$3.14 CA$4.30

95.86%

Eggs

$3.77 $3.77

$3.57 CA$4.88

5.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.73 $7.73

$12.42 CA$17.02

-37.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.55 $7.55

$12.71 CA$17.41

-40.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.52 $19.52

$15.96 CA$21.87

22.31%

Apples (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$4.79 CA$6.57

40.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.38 CA$1.89

84.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$3.83 CA$5.25

80.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.77 CA$5.17

37.40%

Potato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$2.46 CA$3.37

104.07%

Onion (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.21 CA$3.02

93.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.67 CA$3.65

-25.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.03 CA$2.78

25.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.05 $7.05

$14.66 CA$20.09

-51.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.86 $14.86

$13.25 CA$18.16

12.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$3.05 CA$4.18

-37.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.19 CA$4.37

24.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.65 CA$3.64

-23.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.9 CA$99.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.22 CA$4.42

-4.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.73 CA$2.37

-8.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$23.83 CA$32.64

24.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.09 CA$1.49

-19.27%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.4K $29.4K

$25.6K CA$35.0K

15.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K $25.2K

$22.4K CA$30.7K

12.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$239 $239

$204 CA$280

17.06%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.8 $50.8

$45.23 CA$62.0

12.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$65.3 CA$89.5

-4.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.67 $42.67

$47.44 CA$65.0

-10.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.91 CA$30.02

Cinema Ticket

$12.21 $12.21

$13.02 CA$17.83

-6.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,289 $1,289

$696 CA$954

85.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$11.9K CA$16.3K

98.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 $57.2

$48.81 CA$66.9

17.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.17 $44.17

$41.60 CA$57.0

6.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 $75.6

$82.2 CA$113

-8.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$196 $196

$102 CA$139

92.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$1,206 CA$1,653

32.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,349 $1,349

$928 CA$1,272

45.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,657 $2,657

$1,889 CA$2,588

40.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,266 $2,266

$1,568 CA$2,149

44.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,531 $1,531

$2,383 CA$3,264

-35.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,465 $1,465

$2,277 CA$3,120

-35.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,837 $3,837

$3,330 CA$4,562

15.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.08

7.89%

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

Last update for Alton, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,599 in Alton, IL versus $1,206 in Edmonton. 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 15% higher in Alton, IL, 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 $67 in Alton, IL versus $66 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $405 vs $385 – making Edmonton 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

Alton, IL vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alton, IL costs about 18% more than Edmonton, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,972 per month in Alton, IL and $3,354 in Edmonton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Edmonton, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,648 in Alton, IL and $2,236 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,289 per month in Alton, IL and $696 in Edmonton. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Edmonton, where all-in costs run around $2,236, than in Alton, IL at $2,648. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alton, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Edmonton – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Edmonton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alton, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.