Cost of Living Comparison Between Tucson, AZ and Edmonton Cost of Living Comparison Between Tucson, AZ and Edmonton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,467 per month in Tucson, AZ vs $2,254 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,600 per month in Tucson, AZ vs $3,284 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,734 per month in Tucson, AZ vs $4,315 in Edmonton, rent included.

Tucson, AZ costs about 9% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tucson, AZ and Edmonton sit above the global median – Tucson, AZ by 84%, Edmonton by 68%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.48 $18.48

$18.31 CA$25.09

0.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 $75.8

$65.6 CA$89.9

15.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.54 CA$15.82

4.59%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.74 CA$5.12

48.66%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.08 CA$2.85

38.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.82 CA$2.49

20.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$6.00 CA$8.22

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$5.81 CA$7.96

19.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$2.01 CA$2.76

-58.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.88 CA$3.95

18.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$3.12 CA$4.28

71.15%

Eggs

$4.15 $4.15

$3.73 CA$5.11

11.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.90 $10.90

$12.21 CA$16.73

-10.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$12.66 CA$17.34

-7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$16.23 CA$22.24

-9.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.67 CA$6.40

4.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.31 CA$1.80

48.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$3.84 CA$5.26

1.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.61 CA$4.95

14.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.37 CA$3.24

4.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.21 CA$3.03

14.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.66 CA$3.65

-25.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.96 CA$2.68

26.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.35 $9.35

$14.53 CA$19.90

-35.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$13.12 CA$17.98

13.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.96 CA$4.05

-30.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.22 CA$4.42

3.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 $0.77

$2.65 CA$3.63

-70.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.15 $20.15

$72.8 CA$99.7

-72.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.09 CA$4.23

-13.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.66 CA$2.28

-18.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.04 $36.04

$22.95 CA$31.44

57.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.08 CA$1.48

-18.52%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$25.8K CA$35.4K

21.28%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$22.4K CA$30.7K

19.68%

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

$266 $266

$201 CA$275

32.31%

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

$70.4 $70.4

$45.28 CA$62.0

55.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.7 $80.7

$64.7 CA$88.7

24.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.84 $39.84

$47.39 CA$64.9

-15.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.19 $10.19

$21.14 CA$28.97

-51.80%

Cinema Ticket

$13.19 $13.19

$13.07 CA$17.91

0.92%

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

$1,089 $1,089

$698 CA$956

56.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K $15.3K

$11.9K CA$16.3K

28.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$50.4 CA$69.1

2.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 $39.79

$41.33 CA$56.6

-3.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 $83.1

$82.4 CA$113

0.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$105 CA$143

2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,247 $1,247

$1,217 CA$1,667

2.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,111 $1,111

$938 CA$1,285

18.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,181 $2,181

$1,935 CA$2,650

12.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,865 $1,865

$1,595 CA$2,186

16.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,384 $3,384

$2,374 CA$3,253

42.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,542 $2,542

$2,262 CA$3,099

12.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,941 $3,941

$3,319 CA$4,547

18.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.08

7.57%

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

Last update for Tucson, AZ: April 26, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,247 in Tucson, AZ versus $1,217 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 19% higher in Tucson, AZ, 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 $76.0 in Tucson, AZ versus $66.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $383 – 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

Tucson, AZ vs Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,467 in Tucson, AZ, $2,254 in Edmonton – roughly 9% apart. Tucson, AZ costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,700 per month in Tucson, AZ and $3,381 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 $2,467 in Tucson, AZ and $2,254 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 261% 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 $2,254, than in Tucson, AZ at $2,467. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tucson, AZ 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, Tucson, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.