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 $2,476 per month in Tucson, AZ vs $2,203 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,618 per month in Tucson, AZ vs $3,241 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,761 per month in Tucson, AZ vs $4,279 in Edmonton, rent included.

Tucson, AZ costs about 12% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tucson, AZ and Edmonton sit above the global median – Tucson, AZ by 84%, Edmonton by 64%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tucson, AZ
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16 $18.16
$18.36 CA$25.68
-1.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8 $75.8
$65.7 CA$91.9
15.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.96 $11.96
$11.48 CA$16.06
4.18%
Cappuccino
$5.35 $5.35
$3.87 CA$5.41
38.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.09 CA$2.92
37.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.77 CA$2.48
29.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$5.94 CA$8.31
3.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 $6.94
$5.86 CA$8.20
18.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tucson, AZ
Edmonton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$2.07 CA$2.90
-59.90%
White Bread (500g)
$3.40 $3.40
$2.76 CA$3.86
23.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.06 $5.06
$3.05 CA$4.26
65.90%
Eggs
$4.27 $4.27
$3.69 CA$5.16
15.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.13 $11.13
$12.45 CA$17.41
-10.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.95 $11.95
$12.53 CA$17.52
-4.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.81 $14.81
$16.06 CA$22.47
-7.78%
Apples (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$4.73 CA$6.61
2.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.34 CA$1.87
47.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$3.88 CA$5.42
-1.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$3.63 CA$5.07
17.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.43 CA$3.40
-2.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.40 $2.40
$2.21 CA$3.09
8.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.71 CA$3.80
-30.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.95 CA$2.73
26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.12 $9.12
$14.66 CA$20.50
-37.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 $13.42
$12.02 CA$16.82
11.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.97 CA$4.15
-29.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 $3.38
$3.16 CA$4.42
6.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Tucson, AZ
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 $0.78
$2.51 CA$3.51
-68.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.95 $19.95
$72.9 CA$102
-72.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.10 CA$4.33
-9.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.67 CA$2.34
-20.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.31 $36.31
$23.18 CA$32.42
56.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.06 CA$1.48
-16.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K $31.2K
$25.1K CA$35.1K
24.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$22.2K CA$31.0K
17.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tucson, AZ
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$264 $264
$202 CA$283
30.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.4 $69.4
$44.72 CA$62.6
55.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.8 $80.8
$65.0 CA$90.9
24.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tucson, AZ
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.76 $39.76
$48.66 CA$68.1
-18.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.88 $9.88
$21.22 CA$29.68
-53.44%
Cinema Ticket
$13.26 $13.26
$13.50 CA$18.88
-1.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tucson, AZ
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,111 $1,111
$692 CA$969
60.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K $15.7K
$11.8K CA$16.5K
33.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tucson, AZ
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 $52.1
$50.4 CA$70.6
3.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.85 $38.85
$41.78 CA$58.5
-7.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.1 $84.1
$82.1 CA$115
2.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$103 CA$144
0.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tucson, AZ
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,245 $1,245
$1,231 CA$1,722
1.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,112 $1,112
$924 CA$1,293
20.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,156 $2,156
$1,930 CA$2,700
11.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,817 $1,817
$1,610 CA$2,253
12.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,377 $3,377
$2,344 CA$3,279
44.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,545 $2,545
$2,296 CA$3,212
10.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tucson, AZ
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,973 $3,973
$3,426 CA$4,793
15.96%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,245 in Tucson, AZ versus $1,231 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 16% 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: $383 vs $380 – 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
How do living costs in Tucson, AZ and Edmonton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,476 in Tucson, AZ, $2,203 in Edmonton – roughly 12% apart. Tucson, AZ costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tucson, AZ compared to Edmonton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,714 per month in Tucson, AZ and $3,304 in Edmonton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tucson, AZ 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: Tucson, AZ or Edmonton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,476 in Tucson, AZ and $2,203 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Tucson, AZ and Edmonton?
Public transport costs about 266% 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 $2,203, than in Tucson, AZ at $2,476. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tucson, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Tucson, AZ 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.
How do I decide between Tucson, AZ and Edmonton?
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.

Tucson, AZ vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities