Cost of Living Comparison Between Boise, ID and Edmonton Cost of Living Comparison Between Boise, ID and Edmonton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,620 per month in Boise, ID vs $2,173 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,707 per month in Boise, ID vs $3,239 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,795 per month in Boise, ID vs $4,304 in Edmonton, rent included.

Boise, ID costs about 21% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Boise, ID and Edmonton sit above the global median – Boise, ID by 91%, Edmonton by 58%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.98 $19.98

$18.07 CA$24.91

10.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.2 $69.2

$78.0 CA$108

-11.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.26 $13.26

$10.23 CA$14.11

29.62%

Cappuccino

$5.94 $5.94

$3.89 CA$5.36

52.70%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.33 CA$3.21

19.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.97 CA$2.72

0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.48 $6.48

$5.87 CA$8.09

10.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 $6.48

$6.57 CA$9.05

-1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.66 CA$2.30

-40.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.23 CA$3.07

63.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$2.96 CA$4.08

105.74%

Eggs

$4.24 $4.24

$3.60 CA$4.96

17.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.01 $15.01

$11.13 CA$15.35

34.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$11.39 CA$15.70

-4.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.43 $17.43

$18.61 CA$25.66

-6.34%

Apples (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$4.44 CA$6.12

6.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.37 CA$1.89

29.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.27 CA$5.89

-7.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$4.07 CA$5.61

20.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.24 CA$3.09

30.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.97 CA$2.72

30.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.45 CA$3.38

-6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.84 CA$2.54

38.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 $9.21

$14.71 CA$20.28

-37.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.49 $15.49

$11.61 CA$16.01

33.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$3.51 CA$4.84

-41.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.91 CA$4.02

14.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.76 CA$3.80

-44.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.46 $41.46

$73.6 CA$101

-43.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.92 CA$4.03

-9.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.40 CA$1.94

5.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.10 $24.10

$21.29 CA$29.36

13.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.18 CA$1.63

-5.08%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

$29.0K CA$39.9K

26.93%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$20.3K CA$28.0K

28.01%

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

$177 $177

$229 CA$316

-22.76%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$40.12 CA$55.3

49.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$55.9 CA$77.1

27.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.80 $38.80

$47.17 CA$65.0

-17.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.06 $38.06

$18.45 CA$25.44

106.29%

Cinema Ticket

$12.39 $12.39

$12.93 CA$17.83

-4.18%

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

$984 $984

$782 CA$1,078

25.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K $24.3K

$9,665 CA$13.3K

151.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 $54.7

$45.40 CA$62.6

20.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.77 $40.77

$46.92 CA$64.7

-13.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 $90.9

$84.2 CA$116

7.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$97.2 CA$134

10.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 $1,614

$1,126 CA$1,552

43.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,307 $1,307

$919 CA$1,267

42.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,401 $2,401

$1,733 CA$2,389

38.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,770 $1,770

$1,437 CA$1,982

23.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,230 $7,230

$2,294 CA$3,163

215.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,025 $3,025

$2,128 CA$2,935

42.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,312 $4,312

$3,730 CA$5,144

15.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

4.32

40.74%

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

Last update for Boise, ID: August 31, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,614 in Boise, ID versus $1,126 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 16% higher in Boise, ID, 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 $69.0 in Boise, ID versus $78.0 in Edmonton. Groceries tell a different story – $416 in Boise, ID vs $368 in Edmonton – so Edmonton wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Boise, ID vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boise, ID costs about 21% more than Edmonton, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,930 per month in Boise, ID and $3,259 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.

Kindergarten costs $984 per month in Boise, ID and $782 in Edmonton. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Boise, ID, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Edmonton, where all-in costs run around $2,173, than in Boise, ID at $2,620. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boise, ID 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.

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