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 $2,340 per month in Tucson, AZ vs $2,216 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,433 per month in Tucson, AZ vs $3,231 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,525 per month in Tucson, AZ vs $4,245 in Edmonton, rent included.

Tucson, AZ costs about 6% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tucson, AZ and Edmonton sit above the global median – Tucson, AZ by 70%, Edmonton by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.35 $19.35

$20.53 CA$28.47

-5.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 $81.4

$79.7 CA$110

2.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.11 $13.11

$9.98 CA$13.84

31.36%

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$4.04 CA$5.60

28.22%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.19 CA$3.04

26.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.92 CA$2.66

15.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.87 CA$8.14

21.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.43 $7.43

$6.58 CA$9.13

12.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.68 CA$2.33

-42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.23 CA$3.09

50.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.13 CA$4.34

58.79%

Eggs

$4.63 $4.63

$3.46 CA$4.80

33.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.59 $13.59

$10.96 CA$15.20

24.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.52 $11.52

$11.62 CA$16.11

-0.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.09 $17.09

$18.52 CA$25.68

-7.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$4.44 CA$6.16

2.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.35 CA$1.87

45.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.28 CA$5.94

-11.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.05 CA$5.62

3.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.26 CA$3.13

14.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.90 CA$2.64

52.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.42 CA$3.36

-14.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.81 CA$2.51

18.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.66 $10.66

$14.49 CA$20.10

-26.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 $13.49

$11.72 CA$16.26

15.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.66 CA$5.07

-33.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.05 CA$4.23

21.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.66 CA$3.69

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.03 CA$4.20

-11.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.36 CA$1.89

1.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.33 $36.33

$21.77 CA$30.20

66.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.16 CA$1.61

-6.90%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$29.2K CA$40.4K

26.06%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$19.7K CA$27.4K

30.12%

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

$196 $196

$228 CA$316

-13.86%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$41.39 CA$57.4

45.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.2 $73.2

$55.2 CA$76.5

32.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.32 $37.32

$48.77 CA$67.6

-23.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.80 $9.80

$18.21 CA$25.25

-46.18%

Cinema Ticket

$12.82 $12.82

$12.98 CA$18.00

-1.23%

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

$1,116 $1,116

$783 CA$1,086

42.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K $15.7K

$9,700 CA$13.5K

61.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$45.17 CA$62.7

22.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.24 $44.24

$47.85 CA$66.4

-7.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 $98.0

$86.1 CA$119

13.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$98.2 CA$136

17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 $1,397

$1,136 CA$1,576

22.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 $1,075

$920 CA$1,276

16.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,222 $2,222

$1,734 CA$2,404

28.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,652 $1,652

$1,453 CA$2,015

13.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,456 $3,456

$2,251 CA$3,122

53.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,561 $2,561

$2,112 CA$2,929

21.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,263 $4,263

$3,780 CA$5,243

12.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.06

4.32

40.28%

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

Last update for Tucson, AZ: September 6, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,397 in Tucson, AZ versus $1,136 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 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 $81.0 in Tucson, AZ versus $80.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $369 – 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: $2,340 in Tucson, AZ, $2,216 in Edmonton – roughly 6% apart. Tucson, AZ costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,510 per month in Tucson, AZ and $3,324 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Tucson, AZ and $80.0 in Edmonton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Tucson, AZ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Edmonton, where all-in costs run around $2,216, than in Tucson, AZ at $2,340. 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.