Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Rapids, MI and Edmonton Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Rapids, MI and Edmonton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,439 per month in Grand Rapids, MI vs $2,194 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,807 per month in Grand Rapids, MI vs $3,321 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,175 per month in Grand Rapids, MI vs $4,448 in Edmonton, rent included.

Grand Rapids, MI costs about 11% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Grand Rapids, MI and Edmonton sit above the global median – Grand Rapids, MI by 82%, Edmonton by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 $18.31

$18.25 CA$25.45

0.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 $69.0

$65.5 CA$91.3

5.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.19 $11.19

$11.45 CA$15.97

-2.27%

Cappuccino

$4.84 $4.84

$3.87 CA$5.39

25.06%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.08 CA$2.90

27.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.76 CA$2.45

-6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.93 CA$8.26

-1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$5.85 CA$8.16

22.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$2.07 CA$2.89

-58.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.91 CA$4.06

22.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.18 CA$4.43

54.09%

Eggs

$3.35 $3.35

$3.76 CA$5.25

-10.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.48 CA$17.41

15.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.03 $12.03

$12.38 CA$17.27

-2.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.32 CA$22.76

-8.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.83 CA$6.74

7.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.32 CA$1.84

3.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$3.85 CA$5.37

14.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.75 CA$5.24

20.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.34 CA$3.27

-10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.11 CA$2.95

32.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.61 CA$3.63

-8.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.92 CA$2.67

34.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.95 $8.95

$14.87 CA$20.73

-39.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.75 $14.75

$12.48 CA$17.41

18.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$3.07 CA$4.28

-40.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.27 CA$4.56

6.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.57 CA$3.58

-29.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.08 $46.08

$72.2 CA$101

-36.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.21 CA$4.48

-0.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.64 CA$2.28

-13.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 $28.30

$23.35 CA$32.56

21.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.10 CA$1.53

-18.18%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$25.6K CA$35.7K

-4.52%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$22.0K CA$30.7K

10.09%

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

$117 $117

$199 CA$278

-41.44%

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

$45.30 $45.30

$44.00 CA$61.4

2.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 $62.1

$64.0 CA$89.3

-3.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.24 $34.24

$47.62 CA$66.4

-28.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.64 $19.64

$21.62 CA$30.15

-9.16%

Cinema Ticket

$11.22 $11.22

$13.06 CA$18.21

-14.09%

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

$946 $946

$683 CA$953

38.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$11.9K CA$16.6K

78.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 $63.8

$48.94 CA$68.2

30.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.50 $39.50

$42.19 CA$58.8

-6.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 $94.3

$83.7 CA$117

12.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 $140

$104 CA$145

34.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,212 CA$1,690

59.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 $1,255

$935 CA$1,304

34.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,173 $3,173

$1,878 CA$2,619

68.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,389 $2,389

$1,611 CA$2,247

48.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,170 $2,170

$2,397 CA$3,343

-9.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,211 $2,211

$2,275 CA$3,173

-2.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,919 $3,919

$3,486 CA$4,861

12.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.08

7.07%

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

Last update for Grand Rapids, MI: June 1, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,938 in Grand Rapids, MI versus $1,212 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 12% higher in Grand Rapids, MI, 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 Grand Rapids, MI versus $65.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $384 – 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

Grand Rapids, MI vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,439 in Grand Rapids, MI, $2,194 in Edmonton – roughly 11% apart. Grand Rapids, MI costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,658 per month in Grand Rapids, MI and $3,291 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 $2,439 in Grand Rapids, MI and $2,194 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 57% 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 Grand Rapids, MI at $2,439. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grand Rapids, MI 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, Grand Rapids, MI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.