😐A single person spends $3,294 per month in Surrey vs $2,194 in Edmonton, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,965 per month in Surrey vs $3,321 in Edmonton, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,637 per month in Surrey vs $4,448 in Edmonton, rent included.
😐Surrey costs about 50% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Surrey and Edmonton sit above the global median – Surrey by 146%, Edmonton by 64%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surrey
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.68£15.37
$18.25CA$25.27
13.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.4£62.7
$65.5CA$90.6
28.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.85£6.58
$11.45CA$15.86
-22.71%
Cappuccino
$4.53£3.37
$3.87CA$5.36
17.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30£1.71
$2.08CA$2.88
10.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67£1.24
$1.76CA$2.43
-5.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.15£4.57
$5.93CA$8.21
3.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54£4.12
$5.85CA$8.10
-5.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surrey
Edmonton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51£1.12
$2.07CA$2.87
-27.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50£1.12
$2.91CA$4.03
-48.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.87£2.13
$3.18CA$4.40
-9.75%
Eggs
$3.34£2.49
$3.76CA$5.21
-11.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.88£6.60
$12.48CA$17.29
-28.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.22£5.37
$12.38CA$17.15
-41.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.66£11.64
$16.32CA$22.60
-4.04%
Apples(1kg)
$4.27£3.17
$4.83CA$6.69
-11.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32£1.72
$1.32CA$1.82
75.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.97£2.21
$3.85CA$5.33
-22.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.72£3.51
$3.75CA$5.20
25.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24£0.92
$2.34CA$3.24
-47.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64£1.22
$2.11CA$2.92
-22.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05£0.78
$2.61CA$3.61
-59.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93£1.43
$1.92CA$2.65
0.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.58£10.09
$14.87CA$20.58
-8.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.34£8.43
$12.48CA$17.29
-9.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95£2.19
$3.07CA$4.25
-3.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83£1.36
$3.27CA$4.53
-44.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Surrey
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.16£3.09
$2.57CA$3.56
61.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$138£103
$72.2CA$100
91.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60£3.42
$3.21CA$4.44
43.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.77£1.32
$1.64CA$2.26
7.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.27£29.93
$23.35CA$32.33
72.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87£1.39
$1.10CA$1.52
70.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K£28.6K
$25.6KCA$35.5K
50.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K£29.5K
$22.0KCA$30.5K
80.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surrey
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$275£204
$199CA$276
37.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.69£11.66
$44.00CA$60.9
-64.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.88£30.39
$64.0CA$88.7
-36.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surrey
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.8£40.75
$47.62CA$65.9
15.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.62CA$29.94
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.80£8.03
$13.06CA$18.08
-17.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surrey
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,319£981
$683CA$946
93.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0K£13.3K
$11.9KCA$16.5K
51.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surrey
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.5£64.3
$48.94CA$67.8
76.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.13£31.32
$42.19CA$58.4
-0.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.1£67.0
$83.7CA$116
7.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139£104
$104CA$144
33.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surrey
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,341£1,740
$1,212CA$1,678
93.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,963£1,459
$935CA$1,295
109.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,419£2,541
$1,878CA$2,600
82.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,729£1,285
$1,611CA$2,231
7.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,397CA$3,319
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,376£5,483
$2,275CA$3,150
224.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surrey
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,470£2,579
$3,486CA$4,827
-0.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
6.08
-2.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surrey: May 31, 2026
Last update for Edmonton: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Surrey 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 0% 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 $84.0 in Surrey versus $65.0 in Edmonton. Groceries tell a different story – $311 in Surrey vs $384 in Edmonton – so Surrey 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
Surrey vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Surrey and Edmonton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,294 in Surrey, $2,194 in Edmonton – roughly 50% apart. Surrey costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Surrey compared to Edmonton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,941 per month in Surrey 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 Surrey 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: Surrey or Edmonton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,294 in Surrey 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 Surrey and Edmonton?
Public transport costs about 92% 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 Surrey at $3,294. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Surrey it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Surrey 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.
Is Surrey or Edmonton safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Surrey and Edmonton?
If budget matters most, go with Edmonton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surrey makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.