Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guelph and Edmonton

For one person, living is cheaper in Edmonton: $2,170 a month against $2,574 in Guelph, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Guelph
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,574
/mo nomad
Edmonton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,170
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Guelph and in Edmonton

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Guelph and in Edmonton actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,574 per month in Guelph vs $2,170 in Edmonton, rent included.

  • Guelph $2,574
  • Edmonton $2,170

A couple spends around $3,642 per month in Guelph vs $3,160 in Edmonton, rent included.

  • Guelph $3,642
  • Edmonton $3,160

A family of three spends $4,711 per month in Guelph vs $4,150 in Edmonton, rent included.

  • Guelph $4,711
  • Edmonton $4,150

Guelph costs about 19% more than Edmonton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Guelph and Edmonton sit above the global median – Guelph by 91%, Edmonton by 61%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelph
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.94 CA$29.61
$19.45 CA$27.49
7.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.8 CA$100
$74.3 CA$105
-4.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.35 CA$16.04
$9.51 CA$13.45
19.35%
Cappuccino
$3.27 CA$4.62
$3.96 CA$5.60
-17.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 CA$2.02
$2.30 CA$3.25
-37.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 CA$1.87
$1.92 CA$2.71
-31.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.78 CA$6.75
$5.52 CA$7.81
-13.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.69 CA$8.04
$6.24 CA$8.82
-8.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelph
Edmonton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 CA$3.10
$1.53 CA$2.17
43.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 CA$3.87
$2.11 CA$2.98
29.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.55 CA$5.02
$2.90 CA$4.10
22.41%
Eggs
$3.02 CA$4.26
$3.53 CA$4.99
-14.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 CA$14.18
$10.95 CA$15.48
-8.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.98 CA$22.59
$11.39 CA$16.11
40.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.72 CA$30.71
$18.22 CA$25.76
19.21%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 CA$4.93
$4.16 CA$5.88
-16.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 CA$1.82
$1.38 CA$1.95
-6.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 CA$6.05
$4.31 CA$6.09
-0.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.63 CA$6.54
$3.98 CA$5.62
16.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.82
$2.10 CA$2.97
62.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 CA$3.15
$1.83 CA$2.59
21.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.84 CA$4.02
$2.33 CA$3.30
21.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.09
$1.77 CA$2.51
-16.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.77 CA$15.23
$13.56 CA$19.17
-20.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.74 CA$15.18
$11.40 CA$16.12
-5.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.46 CA$4.89
$3.46 CA$4.88
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 CA$4.39
$2.83 CA$4.00
9.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelph
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 CA$3.02
$2.61 CA$3.68
-18.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.8 CA$91.7
$70.0 CA$99.0
-7.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.33 CA$3.29
$2.81 CA$3.98
-17.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 CA$2.64
$1.34 CA$1.89
39.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.09 CA$34.06
$21.32 CA$30.14
12.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 CA$1.66
$1.12 CA$1.58
4.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K CA$39.2K
$27.4K CA$38.7K
1.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K CA$28.8K
$19.2K CA$27.2K
6.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelph
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 CA$174
$230 CA$325
-46.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.11 CA$59.5
$42.84 CA$60.6
-1.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 CA$77.3
$52.8 CA$74.6
3.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelph
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 CA$77.9
$44.96 CA$63.6
22.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.24 CA$20.14
$18.06 CA$25.53
-21.15%
Cinema Ticket
$10.69 CA$15.11
$12.84 CA$18.16
-16.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelph
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$796 CA$1,126
$766 CA$1,083
4.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K CA$23.4K
$9,441 CA$13.3K
75.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelph
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.5 CA$88.3
$44.07 CA$62.3
41.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.00 CA$50.9
$45.73 CA$64.7
-21.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 CA$122
$84.1 CA$119
2.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 CA$176
$95.9 CA$136
29.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelph
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,442 CA$2,038
$1,086 CA$1,535
32.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,361 CA$1,925
$915 CA$1,293
48.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,044 CA$2,890
$1,704 CA$2,409
19.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,921 CA$2,716
$1,386 CA$1,960
38.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,782 CA$6,760
$2,206 CA$3,119
116.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,727 CA$6,682
$1,983 CA$2,804
138.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelph
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,174 CA$4,487
$3,595 CA$5,083
-11.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.99
4.32
15.51%

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

Last update for Guelph: October 11, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Guelph
$1.4K
Edmonton
$915 32.8% $446
Groceries & Markets
Guelph
$405
Edmonton
$359 11.3% $46
Eating Out
Guelph
$287
Edmonton
$289 0.5% $1.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelph
$220
Edmonton
$326 47.9% $105
Clothing & Footwear
Guelph
$139
Edmonton
$121 12.7% $18
Getting Around
Guelph
$85
Edmonton
$90 5.7% $4.9
Sport & Entertainment
Guelph
$77
Edmonton
$71 7.7% $5.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,442 in Guelph versus $1,086 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 13% 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 $71.0 in Guelph versus $74.0 in Edmonton. Groceries tell a different story – $405 in Guelph vs $359 in Edmonton – so Edmonton wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Guelph
🇨🇦 Edmonton
🕒 Local time
16:59 4:59 PM
14:59 2:59 PM
2 h behind Guelph
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
131,794
1,010,899
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Guelph Edmonton 2,660 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Guelph
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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Guelph vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Guelph and in Edmonton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,574 in Guelph, $2,170 in Edmonton – roughly 19% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Guelph compared to Edmonton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,861 per month in Guelph and $3,255 in Edmonton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Guelph 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: Guelph or Edmonton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,574 in Guelph and $2,170 in Edmonton. That's a gap of about 19%.
How do commuting costs compare in Guelph and in Edmonton?
Public transport costs about 8% 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 $2,170, than in Guelph at $2,574. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guelph it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Guelph 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 Guelph and Edmonton?
If budget matters most, go with Edmonton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guelph makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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