Cost of Living Comparison Between Edmonton and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Edmonton and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,194 per month in Edmonton vs $2,831 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,321 per month in Edmonton vs $4,231 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,448 per month in Edmonton vs $5,630 in Vancouver, rent included.

Edmonton is about 23% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Edmonton and Vancouver sit above the global median – Edmonton by 64%, Vancouver by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.25 CA$25.36

$18.26 CA$25.37

-0.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.5 CA$90.9

$77.8 CA$108

-15.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 CA$15.91

$10.85 CA$15.08

5.53%

Cappuccino

$3.87 CA$5.38

$3.98 CA$5.53

-2.76%

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

$2.08 CA$2.89

$2.12 CA$2.94

-1.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.44

$1.78 CA$2.47

-1.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.23

$5.77 CA$8.02

2.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 CA$8.13

$7.56 CA$10.50

-22.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 CA$2.88

$2.32 CA$3.23

-10.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 CA$4.05

$3.10 CA$4.30

-6.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 CA$4.42

$3.89 CA$5.40

-18.25%

Eggs

$3.76 CA$5.23

$4.53 CA$6.29

-17.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.48 CA$17.35

$12.92 CA$17.95

-3.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.38 CA$17.21

$14.14 CA$19.65

-12.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.32 CA$22.68

$15.74 CA$21.87

3.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.71

$4.26 CA$5.91

13.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.47 CA$2.04

-10.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.35

$4.02 CA$5.59

-4.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.75 CA$5.22

$5.06 CA$7.03

-25.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.34 CA$3.25

$3.02 CA$4.20

-22.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 CA$2.93

$2.95 CA$4.10

-28.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 CA$3.62

$2.60 CA$3.61

0.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.66

$1.88 CA$2.61

2.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.87 CA$20.65

$15.20 CA$21.12

-2.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.48 CA$17.35

$14.30 CA$19.86

-12.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$3.07 CA$4.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.54

$3.74 CA$5.20

-12.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.44 CA$3.39

5.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 CA$100

$84.9 CA$118

-14.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 CA$4.46

$3.74 CA$5.19

-14.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 CA$2.27

$1.50 CA$2.09

9.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.35 CA$32.44

$27.43 CA$38.11

-14.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.53

$1.34 CA$1.86

-17.91%

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

$25.6K CA$35.6K

$25.1K CA$34.9K

1.97%

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

$22.0K CA$30.6K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

6.30%

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

$199 CA$277

$91.8 CA$128

117.32%

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

$44.00 CA$61.1

$39.42 CA$54.8

11.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.0 CA$89.0

$61.1 CA$84.9

4.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.62 CA$66.2

$44.89 CA$62.4

6.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.62 CA$30.04

$15.68 CA$21.79

37.88%

Cinema Ticket

$13.06 CA$18.14

$12.37 CA$17.18

5.58%

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

$683 CA$949

$1,180 CA$1,640

-42.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.5K

$18.8K CA$26.1K

-36.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.94 CA$68.0

$62.7 CA$87.1

-21.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.19 CA$58.6

$43.13 CA$59.9

-2.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 CA$116

$94.7 CA$132

-11.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$145

$118 CA$164

-12.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,212 CA$1,683

$1,995 CA$2,771

-39.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$935 CA$1,299

$1,629 CA$2,264

-42.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,878 CA$2,609

$3,589 CA$4,986

-47.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 CA$2,239

$2,769 CA$3,848

-41.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,397 CA$3,331

$9,246 CA$12.8K

-74.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,275 CA$3,161

$7,086 CA$9,845

-67.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,486 CA$4,843

$3,474 CA$4,827

0.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

5.61

8.38%

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

Last update for Edmonton: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,212 in Edmonton versus $1,995 in Vancouver. 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 0% higher in Edmonton, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Edmonton versus $78.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $415 – 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

Edmonton vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,194 in Edmonton, $2,831 in Vancouver – roughly 29% apart. Vancouver costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,291 per month in Edmonton and $4,247 in Vancouver. 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 $2,194 in Edmonton and $2,831 in Vancouver. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 17% less in Edmonton. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Edmonton, where all-in costs run around $2,194, than in Vancouver at $2,831. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver 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, Vancouver makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.