Monthly Cost of Living Summary
| Expense | Single Person | Couple | Family of 4 |
|---|
| Rent (1-bed / 2-bed / 3-bed) | $1,300–$1,600 | $1,600–$2,100 | $2,000–$2,700 |
| Groceries | $370–$490 | $630–$860 | $920–$1,280 |
| Transportation | $105–$380 | $190–$520 | $280–$650 |
| Utilities | $160–$240 | $190–$270 | $220–$320 |
| Internet + phone | $120–$160 | $160–$220 | $180–$260 |
| Insurance | $80–$170 | $120–$250 | $170–$340 |
| Dining/entertainment | $130–$350 | $220–$500 | $220–$450 |
| Fitness/personal | $40–$110 | $60–$170 | $80–$200 |
| Miscellaneous | $80–$150 | $110–$220 | $150–$270 |
| Total | $2,385–$3,650 | $3,280–$5,110 | $4,220–$6,470 |
Rent Prices by Neighbourhood
| Neighbourhood | Studio | 1-Bedroom | 2-Bedroom | 3-Bedroom |
|---|
| Downtown / Oliver | $1,100–$1,400 | $1,400–$1,800 | $1,800–$2,300 | $2,200–$2,800 |
| Strathcona / Whyte Ave | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,300–$1,700 | $1,700–$2,100 | $2,000–$2,600 |
| University area | $900–$1,200 | $1,200–$1,500 | $1,500–$1,900 | $1,800–$2,300 |
| Glenora / Crestwood | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,300–$1,700 | $1,700–$2,200 | $2,100–$2,700 |
| Mill Woods | $800–$1,000 | $1,100–$1,400 | $1,300–$1,700 | $1,500–$2,000 |
| Windermere / SW | $900–$1,200 | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,600–$2,000 | $1,900–$2,500 |
| Bonnie Doon / Capilano | $800–$1,000 | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,300–$1,700 | $1,500–$2,000 |
| NW (Castle Downs) | $800–$1,000 | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,500–$1,900 |
| Sherwood Park (nearby) | $900–$1,100 | $1,200–$1,500 | $1,500–$1,900 | $1,800–$2,300 |
| St. Albert (nearby) | $900–$1,200 | $1,200–$1,500 | $1,500–$1,900 | $1,800–$2,300 |
Home Prices
| Property Type | Average Price | Monthly Mortgage (20% down, 5.5%) |
|---|
| Condo (downtown) | $180,000–$300,000 | $930–$1,550 |
| Condo (suburbs) | $150,000–$250,000 | $770–$1,290 |
| Townhouse | $250,000–$400,000 | $1,290–$2,060 |
| Semi-detached | $300,000–$420,000 | $1,550–$2,170 |
| Detached house | $400,000–$600,000 | $2,060–$3,090 |
| Detached (premium areas) | $600,000–$1,000,000 | $3,090–$5,160 |
Grocery Costs
| Item | Average Price |
|---|
| Milk (4L) | $6.00–$7.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.50–$4.50 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $4.50–$5.50 |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $13.00–$17.00 |
| Ground beef (1 kg) | $9.00–$13.00 |
| Rice (5 kg) | $11.00–$15.00 |
| Monthly groceries (1 person) | $370–$490 |
| Monthly groceries (family of 4) | $920–$1,280 |
Transportation
| Mode | Monthly Cost |
|---|
| ETS monthly pass (adult) | $105 |
| ETS monthly pass (youth/senior) | $80 |
| ETS single ride | $3.50 |
| LRT (included in ETS) | — |
| Car ownership (total) | $680–$1,150 |
| Car insurance (average) | $140–$230 |
| Gas | $120–$210 |
| Parking (monthly downtown) | $150–$350 |
Utilities
| Utility | Monthly Cost (1-bed) | Monthly Cost (3-bed) |
|---|
| Electricity | $80–$140 | $130–$210 |
| Natural gas | $60–$90 | $90–$140 |
| Water/sewer/waste | $50–$70 | $70–$100 |
| Internet | $50–$80 | $50–$80 |
| Cell phone | $40–$80 | $40–$80/person |
| Total | $280–$460 | $380–$610 |
Edmonton has the highest utility costs among major Canadian cities due to harsh winters and deregulated energy.
Income Needed
| Living Situation | Monthly Expenses | Gross Annual Salary Needed |
|---|
| Single (frugal, roommate) | $1,600–$2,000 | $28,000–$36,000 |
| Single (own 1-bedroom) | $2,400–$3,200 | $42,000–$56,000 |
| Single (comfortable) | $3,200–$3,800 | $56,000–$68,000 |
| Couple (1-bedroom) | $3,300–$4,500 | $58,000–$80,000 (combined) |
| Family of 4 (renting) | $4,800–$6,500 | $88,000–$120,000 |
| Family of 4 (homeowner) | $6,000–$8,000 | $110,000–$148,000 |
Edmonton vs Other Cities
| Monthly Expense | Edmonton | Calgary | Toronto | Vancouver | Montreal |
|---|
| 1-bed rent | $1,450 | $1,750 | $2,400 | $2,600 | $1,650 |
| Groceries (single) | $430 | $440 | $475 | $490 | $420 |
| Transit pass | $105 | $115 | $160 | $110 | $97 |
| Utilities (1-bed) | $190 | $180 | $130 | $95 | $120 |
| Sales tax | 5% | 5% | 13% | 12% | 14.975% |
| Total (single) | $2,600 | $2,900 | $3,800 | $3,900 | $2,800 |
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