Cost of Living Comparison Between Rochester, NY and Edmonton Cost of Living Comparison Between Rochester, NY and Edmonton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,471 per month in Rochester, NY vs $2,194 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,734 per month in Rochester, NY vs $3,321 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,997 per month in Rochester, NY vs $4,448 in Edmonton, rent included.

Rochester, NY costs about 13% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Rochester, NY and Edmonton sit above the global median – Rochester, NY by 84%, Edmonton by 64%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rochester, NY
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.34 $25.34
$18.25 CA$25.45
38.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 $80.7
$65.5 CA$91.3
23.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.33 $10.33
$11.45 CA$15.97
-9.78%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$3.87 CA$5.39
46.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.08 CA$2.90
26.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.76 CA$2.45
60.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 $3.98
$5.93 CA$8.26
-32.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10 $6.10
$5.85 CA$8.16
4.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rochester, NY
Edmonton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.07 CA$2.89
-50.72%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.91 CA$4.06
3.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.18 CA$4.43
62.58%
Eggs
$4.06 $4.06
$3.76 CA$5.25
7.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.83 $10.83
$12.48 CA$17.41
-13.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 $7.95
$12.38 CA$17.27
-35.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.93 $15.93
$16.32 CA$22.76
-2.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.69 $5.69
$4.83 CA$6.74
17.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.32 CA$1.84
4.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.85 CA$5.37
7.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$3.75 CA$5.24
27.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.59 $3.59
$2.34 CA$3.27
53.42%
Onion (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$2.11 CA$2.95
53.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.61 CA$3.63
-17.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.92 CA$2.67
-10.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.11 $15.11
$14.87 CA$20.73
1.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.84 $9.84
$12.48 CA$17.41
-21.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.07 CA$4.28
-17.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 $3.89
$3.27 CA$4.56
18.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Rochester, NY
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.57 CA$3.58
-20.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.75 $46.75
$72.2 CA$101
-35.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.21 CA$4.48
-21.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.64 CA$2.28
12.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.09 $21.09
$23.35 CA$32.56
-9.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.10 CA$1.53
-12.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$25.6K CA$35.7K
16.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$22.0K CA$30.7K
15.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rochester, NY
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 $146
$199 CA$278
-27.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.2 $51.2
$44.00 CA$61.4
16.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.0 $66.0
$64.0 CA$89.3
3.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rochester, NY
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.79 $43.79
$47.62 CA$66.4
-8.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.86 $44.86
$21.62 CA$30.15
107.49%
Cinema Ticket
$13.48 $13.48
$13.06 CA$18.21
3.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rochester, NY
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,335 $1,335
$683 CA$953
95.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.0K $29.0K
$11.9K CA$16.6K
144.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rochester, NY
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.02 $40.02
$48.94 CA$68.2
-18.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.86 $33.86
$42.19 CA$58.8
-19.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 $85.0
$83.7 CA$117
1.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 $86.3
$104 CA$145
-17.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rochester, NY
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,550 $1,550
$1,212 CA$1,690
27.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,189 $1,189
$935 CA$1,304
27.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,230 $2,230
$1,878 CA$2,619
18.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,260 $2,260
$1,611 CA$2,247
40.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,479 $1,479
$2,397 CA$3,343
-38.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 $1,467
$2,275 CA$3,173
-35.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rochester, NY
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,079 $4,079
$3,486 CA$4,861
17.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.08
8.06%

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

Last update for Rochester, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,550 in Rochester, NY 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 17% higher in Rochester, NY, 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 $81.0 in Rochester, NY versus $65.0 in Edmonton. Groceries tell a different story – $361 in Rochester, NY vs $384 in Edmonton – so Rochester, NY 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
Rochester, NY vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Rochester, NY and Edmonton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,471 in Rochester, NY, $2,194 in Edmonton – roughly 13% apart. Rochester, NY costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Rochester, NY compared to Edmonton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,707 per month in Rochester, NY and $3,291 in Edmonton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Rochester, NY 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: Rochester, NY or Edmonton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,471 in Rochester, NY and $2,194 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Rochester, NY and Edmonton?
Public transport costs about 55% 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 $2,194, than in Rochester, NY at $2,471. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rochester, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Rochester, NY and Edmonton?
It depends on your priorities. Rochester, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,194 in Edmonton to $2,471 in Rochester, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Rochester, NY and Edmonton?
If budget matters most, go with Edmonton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rochester, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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