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 $2,409 per month in Grand Rapids, MI vs $2,224 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,707 per month in Grand Rapids, MI vs $3,257 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,006 per month in Grand Rapids, MI vs $4,291 in Edmonton, rent included.

Grand Rapids, MI costs about 8% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Grand Rapids, MI and Edmonton sit above the global median – Grand Rapids, MI by 80%, Edmonton by 66%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Rapids, MI
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16 $18.16
$18.44 CA$25.98
-1.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9 $70.9
$67.5 CA$95.0
5.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.86 $10.86
$11.28 CA$15.89
-3.72%
Cappuccino
$4.70 $4.70
$3.86 CA$5.43
21.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.17 CA$3.05
19.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.76 CA$2.48
-7.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 $6.02
$6.04 CA$8.50
-0.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81 $6.81
$6.04 CA$8.51
12.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Rapids, MI
Edmonton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.08 CA$2.93
-57.21%
White Bread (500g)
$3.53 $3.53
$2.85 CA$4.02
23.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.80 $4.80
$3.03 CA$4.26
58.42%
Eggs
$3.18 $3.18
$3.73 CA$5.26
-14.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.11 $14.11
$12.21 CA$17.19
15.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.92 $11.92
$12.26 CA$17.27
-2.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.20 $15.20
$16.01 CA$22.55
-5.06%
Apples (1kg)
$5.18 $5.18
$4.78 CA$6.74
8.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.36 CA$1.92
-0.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$4.00 CA$5.63
10.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$3.66 CA$5.15
25.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.36 CA$3.33
-10.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.18 CA$3.07
25.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.66 CA$3.74
-10.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.92 CA$2.71
34.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.08 $9.08
$14.84 CA$20.90
-38.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.24 $15.24
$11.85 CA$16.70
28.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.96 CA$4.18
-40.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 $3.67
$3.28 CA$4.62
11.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Rapids, MI
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.61 CA$3.67
-34.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.33 $46.33
$72.5 CA$102
-36.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.26 CA$4.59
0.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.71 CA$2.41
-15.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.37 $28.37
$23.43 CA$33.00
21.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.09 CA$1.54
-22.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$24.9K CA$35.1K
1.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$22.6K CA$31.8K
6.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Rapids, MI
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 $119
$199 CA$280
-39.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.75 $44.75
$44.97 CA$63.4
-0.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2 $62.2
$66.3 CA$93.4
-6.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Rapids, MI
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.17 $34.17
$47.41 CA$66.8
-27.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.18 $20.18
$21.65 CA$30.50
-6.79%
Cinema Ticket
$10.83 $10.83
$13.03 CA$18.35
-16.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Rapids, MI
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$963 $963
$695 CA$979
38.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.7K $20.7K
$11.9K CA$16.8K
73.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Rapids, MI
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.3 $65.3
$49.94 CA$70.4
30.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.82 $39.82
$42.14 CA$59.4
-5.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 $96.2
$83.7 CA$118
14.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$105 CA$147
30.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Rapids, MI
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,917 $1,917
$1,216 CA$1,713
57.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,282 $1,282
$942 CA$1,326
36.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,231 $3,231
$1,891 CA$2,663
70.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,395 $2,395
$1,588 CA$2,237
50.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,394 $2,394
$2,266 CA$3,192
5.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,154 $2,154
$2,157 CA$3,038
-0.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Rapids, MI
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,923 $3,923
$3,376 CA$4,755
16.22%
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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,917 in Grand Rapids, MI versus $1,216 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 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 $71.0 in Grand Rapids, MI versus $67.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $379 – 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
How do living costs in Grand Rapids, MI and in Edmonton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,409 in Grand Rapids, MI, $2,224 in Edmonton – roughly 8% apart. Grand Rapids, MI costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Grand Rapids, MI compared to Edmonton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,614 per month in Grand Rapids, MI and $3,335 in Edmonton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Grand Rapids, MI and Edmonton?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Grand Rapids, MI or Edmonton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,409 in Grand Rapids, MI and $2,224 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Grand Rapids, MI and in Edmonton?
Public transport costs about 56% less in Edmonton. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Edmonton, where all-in costs run around $2,224, than in Grand Rapids, MI at $2,409. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grand Rapids, MI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Grand Rapids, MI or Edmonton?
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.
How do I decide between Grand Rapids, MI and Edmonton?
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.

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