Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Edmonton

For one person, living is cheaper in Edmonton: $2,202 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Edmonton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Edmonton

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Edmonton actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $2,202 in Edmonton.

  • Austin, TX $2,704
  • Edmonton $2,202

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $3,234 in Edmonton.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Edmonton $3,234

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $4,267 in Edmonton.

  • Austin, TX $5,562
  • Edmonton $4,267

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 23% more expensive than in Edmonton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Edmonton 64% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$19.26 CA$27.46
4.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$76.9 CA$110
10.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$10.02 CA$14.28
23.25%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$3.88 CA$5.53
40.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.22 CA$3.17
72.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.96 CA$2.79
27.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$5.62 CA$8.02
43.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$6.30 CA$8.98
42.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Edmonton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.57 CA$2.24
-28.03%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.13 CA$3.03
77.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.00 CA$4.28
8.33%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$3.51 CA$5.00
17.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$10.71 CA$15.26
22.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$11.26 CA$16.05
27.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$18.50 CA$26.37
-13.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$4.26 CA$6.07
2.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.38 CA$1.97
5.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$4.15 CA$5.91
9.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$4.07 CA$5.80
2.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.12 CA$3.02
24.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.83 CA$2.60
28.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.37 CA$3.38
-25.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.85 CA$2.64
16.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$13.83 CA$19.72
-29.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$11.26 CA$16.05
30.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.55 CA$5.06
-21.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.90 CA$4.14
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.70 CA$3.85
-44.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$70.7 CA$101
-42.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.80 CA$3.99
-4.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.37 CA$1.95
15.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$21.34 CA$30.42
65.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.11 CA$1.58
-10.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$28.1K CA$40.1K
27.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$19.7K CA$28.0K
38.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$223 CA$318
-1.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$44.02 CA$62.7
31.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$53.2 CA$75.8
28.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$46.33 CA$66.1
24.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$18.21 CA$25.96
-18.62%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$12.91 CA$18.41
9.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$762 CA$1,086
98.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$9,587 CA$13.7K
123.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$43.40 CA$61.9
19.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$45.36 CA$64.7
-2.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$83.4 CA$119
2.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$96.8 CA$138
8.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$1,086 CA$1,548
77.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$900 CA$1,283
41.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$1,702 CA$2,426
115.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$1,409 CA$2,008
79.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$2,153 CA$3,069
253.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$1,988 CA$2,834
60.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$3,684 CA$5,251
38.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
4.32
57.18%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Edmonton
$900 29.2% $372
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$403
Edmonton
$361 10.3% $42
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Edmonton
$288 17.2% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$346
Edmonton
$320 7.4% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Edmonton
$121 6% $7.8
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Edmonton
$72 16.2% $14
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Edmonton
$91 59.9% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $1,086 in Edmonton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 39% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $77.0 in Edmonton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $361 per month, with Edmonton cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇨🇦 Edmonton
🕒 Local time
05:25 5:25 AM
04:25 4:25 AM
1 h behind Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
1,010,899
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Edmonton 2,880 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Edmonton

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Austin, TX vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Edmonton?
Edmonton wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Austin, TX. 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 Austin, TX or in Edmonton?
Average pay runs 39% higher in Austin, TX, 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 Austin, TX compared to Edmonton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $1,086 in Edmonton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Edmonton?
All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,202 in Edmonton – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Edmonton?
A monthly transit pass in Edmonton runs roughly 75% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Austin, TX or in Edmonton?
At $2,202 in Edmonton versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Edmonton but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Edmonton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX 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 23% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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