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 $2,623 per month in Boise, ID vs $2,186 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,640 per month in Boise, ID vs $3,285 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,656 per month in Boise, ID vs $4,385 in Edmonton, rent included.

Boise, ID costs about 20% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Boise, ID and Edmonton sit above the global median – Boise, ID by 96%, Edmonton by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$18.61 CA$26.09

7.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.9 $64.9

$65.9 CA$92.3

-1.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 $10.97

$11.58 CA$16.23

-5.27%

Cappuccino

$6.46 $6.46

$3.69 CA$5.17

75.07%

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

$2.58 $2.58

$2.18 CA$3.06

18.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.78 CA$2.49

28.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.15 $7.15

$5.76 CA$8.07

24.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.83 CA$8.17

19.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$2.03 CA$2.85

-54.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.90 CA$4.07

21.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.10 CA$4.35

70.97%

Eggs

$3.86 $3.86

$3.72 CA$5.21

3.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.07 $13.07

$12.23 CA$17.14

6.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.80 $8.80

$12.63 CA$17.71

-30.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

$16.01 CA$22.44

-18.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.65 CA$6.52

7.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.33 CA$1.87

21.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.94 CA$5.53

-4.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.62 CA$5.08

36.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.46 CA$3.44

-3.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.21 CA$3.10

-1.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.72 CA$3.81

-29.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.95 CA$2.73

10.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.37 $8.37

$14.97 CA$20.98

-44.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.66 $15.66

$12.15 CA$17.03

28.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.94 CA$4.12

-40.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.29 CA$4.62

-21.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.51 CA$3.52

-41.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.27 $42.27

$74.5 CA$104

-43.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.26 CA$4.57

-22.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.65 CA$2.31

-7.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.30 $24.30

$23.15 CA$32.46

4.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.06 CA$1.48

-4.72%

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

$33.6K $33.6K

$25.9K CA$36.3K

29.66%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$21.9K CA$30.8K

14.17%

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

$135 $135

$199 CA$278

-32.01%

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

$49.42 $49.42

$44.38 CA$62.2

11.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.0 $73.0

$66.2 CA$92.8

10.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.19 $39.19

$48.71 CA$68.3

-19.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.08 $37.08

$21.30 CA$29.86

74.08%

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 $12.56

$13.02 CA$18.26

-3.53%

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

$1,238 $1,238

$701 CA$982

76.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$11.8K CA$16.5K

99.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 $58.6

$50.3 CA$70.6

16.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.46 $33.46

$41.94 CA$58.8

-20.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 $89.4

$83.5 CA$117

7.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$104 CA$146

-3.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,592 $1,592

$1,251 CA$1,754

27.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 $1,375

$931 CA$1,305

47.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,486 $2,486

$1,933 CA$2,711

28.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,984 $1,984

$1,587 CA$2,225

25.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,438 $7,438

$2,303 CA$3,229

222.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,021 $3,021

$2,110 CA$2,958

43.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,324 $4,324

$3,313 CA$4,644

30.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.08

8.22%

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

Last update for Boise, ID: July 14, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,592 in Boise, ID versus $1,251 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 31% 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 $65.0 in Boise, ID versus $66.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $381 – making Boise, ID 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

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

Boise, ID costs about 20% 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 $3,934 per month in Boise, ID and $3,278 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 $1,238 per month in Boise, ID and $701 in Edmonton. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Boise, ID – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Edmonton, where all-in costs run around $2,186, than in Boise, ID at $2,623. 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.