Cost of Living Comparison Between Reading, PA and Edmonton Cost of Living Comparison Between Reading, PA and Edmonton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,616 per month in Reading, PA vs $2,186 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,594 per month in Reading, PA vs $3,279 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,572 per month in Reading, PA vs $4,372 in Edmonton, rent included.

Reading, PA costs about 20% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Reading, PA and Edmonton sit above the global median – Reading, PA by 94%, Edmonton by 62%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.28 $18.28

$18.53 CA$25.39

-1.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 $64.7

$65.9 CA$90.3

-1.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.16 CA$15.29

4.39%

Cappuccino

$4.40 $4.40

$3.83 CA$5.24

14.88%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$2.10 CA$2.87

13.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.81 CA$2.47

-13.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.87 CA$8.04

9.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.04 CA$8.27

35.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$2.04 CA$2.79

-35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.78 CA$3.80

18.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.18 CA$4.35

16.35%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$3.68 CA$5.05

28.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.11 $13.11

$12.41 CA$17.00

5.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.04 $12.04

$12.34 CA$16.91

-2.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$16.17 CA$22.16

7.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.80 CA$6.57

-9.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.37 CA$1.88

28.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.83 CA$5.25

1.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.74 CA$5.13

-12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.44 CA$3.35

4.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.14 CA$2.94

25.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.73 CA$3.74

-12.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.93 CA$2.64

-6.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.50 $9.50

$15.00 CA$20.54

-36.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$12.93 CA$17.72

17.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$3.06 CA$4.19

-41.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.23 CA$4.42

-5.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.60 CA$3.56

-21.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.35 $44.35

$73.7 CA$101

-39.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.23 CA$4.42

-8.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.65 CA$2.26

29.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.41 $24.41

$23.59 CA$32.31

3.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.06 CA$1.45

-13.21%

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

$19.8K $19.8K

$25.7K CA$35.1K

-22.86%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$22.2K CA$30.5K

-10.31%

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

$125 $125

$205 CA$281

-39.32%

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

$45.71 $45.71

$44.92 CA$61.6

1.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 $52.4

$64.6 CA$88.5

-18.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.64 $43.64

$48.36 CA$66.3

-9.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.87 CA$29.97

Cinema Ticket

$16.83 $16.83

$13.06 CA$17.89

28.87%

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

$1,103 $1,103

$709 CA$971

55.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$11.9K CA$16.3K

98.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.6 $73.6

$49.75 CA$68.2

47.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.0 $64.0

$41.81 CA$57.3

53.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 $75.1

$83.9 CA$115

-10.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 $133

$102 CA$139

30.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 $1,677

$1,212 CA$1,660

38.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,423 $1,423

$953 CA$1,305

49.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 $2,136

$1,892 CA$2,591

12.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,963 $1,963

$1,615 CA$2,213

21.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,823 $1,823

$2,295 CA$3,144

-20.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,854 $1,854

$2,229 CA$3,054

-16.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,754 $2,754

$3,086 CA$4,227

-10.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.08

8.88%

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

Last update for Reading, PA: April 11, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Reading, PA 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 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 in Reading, PA versus $66 in Edmonton. Groceries tell a different story – $385 in Reading, PA vs $383 in Edmonton – so Edmonton wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Reading, PA vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,616 in Reading, PA, $2,186 in Edmonton – roughly 20% apart. Reading, PA costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,924 per month in Reading, PA and $3,279 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 $2,616 in Reading, PA and $2,186 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 66% 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 $2,186, than in Reading, PA at $2,616. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reading, PA 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, Reading, PA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.