Cost of Living in Edmonton [2025]: Your Budget Guide

Edmonton offers one of the more affordable lifestyles among major Canadian cities. With lower housing costs, accessible rental options, and reasonable living expenses, the city provides balance. Compared to Vancouver, Toronto, and even the national average, Edmonton’s affordability stands out while still offering the amenities of a popular metropolitan area.

While housing trends affordable, some general living expenses are a bit more expensive, such as groceries, dining out, and transportation. However, higher salaries help to offset this and ensure Edmonton is a great place to live. Here's everything to know about the cost of living.

Average Monthly Costs For Edmonton Needs

• Housing: ~$1,882.14 (owning, 20% down on $460,000 home) or ~$1,000–$3,000 (rent)
• Utilities & Internet: ~$400–$600 (includes electricity, gas, water, trash, and internet)
• Groceries: ~$800–$1,600 (household average)
• Transportation: ~$260–$400+ (public transit, auto insurance, fuel/other costs)
• Healthcare (Supplemental): $100+
• Childcare: ~$326.25–$3,466 (subsidized daycare vs. full-time nanny)
• Entertainment: Free–$200+ (movies, outings, events)

Edmonton Housing Costs

Edmonton has an affordable housing market in comparison to many other big Canadian cities. Prices for homes in Edmonton are around $460,000, which is under the Alberta average of roughly $500,000. At the national level, Canadian home prices average over $600,000.

At more than $1 million, average home prices in the greater Vancouver and Toronto areas are among the most expensive in the country.

Median Home Price

While single-family homes are on the affordable side, buyers can have even more savings by investing in an attached home. Condos in Edmonton average around $200,000, with townhouses falling in the middle at about $313,000.

Housing prices vary based on neighbourhood. The central part of the city has the lowest home prices (~$316,000), while the southwest section has the highest home values (~$662,000).

Median Rent

The cost to rent in Edmonton ranges from about $1,000 per month to $3,000 per month. The smallest flats tend to be the least expensive, starting at just over $1,000 per month for a studio and about $1,269 per month for a one-bedroom flat. Single-family home rentals cost the most, starting at almost $1,800 per month.

Utilities & Insurance

The estimated monthly cost for utilities is around $400–$600 in Edmonton. Exact prices relate to the season, size of the home, and energy consumption. Electricity and gas range between $150 and $200. Water, sewer, and trash prices are about $100 to $150 per month. Internet services average a little higher than $50 per month, depending on the service plan. Some companies offer Internet, television, and phone services together, which can range from $120 to $180 per month.

Most Edmonton residents pay about $1,000 per year for home insurance, translating to just under $100 per month. Although these averages help people know what to expect, it is important to remember that insurance rates depend on a variety of factors, such as:

• Home type
• Size of the space
• Homeowner or tenant record
• Location
• Level of coverage

Those who are looking for the lowest rates may need to shop around and get multiple quotes before they make a choice.

Edmonton Food Costs

The cost of food in Canada as a whole is less expensive than it is in Edmonton or Alberta.

Groceries

The average weekly expense for groceries (including non-food items) in Edmonton is about $200 to $400, which means around $800 to $1,600 per month. Prices are dependent on product choices, selection, and consumption—and, of course, the size of the household.

People who are looking for the lowest prices on groceries in Edmonton should search for stores like No Frills. These stores may also offer price matching on advertisements from other stores.

Restaurants

The price of restaurants in Edmonton depends on the type and the amount of food purchased. For example, a fast-food restaurant meal costs about $11 per person. By comparison, an inexpensive, casual restaurant averages about $15 per person. A large meal with multiple courses for two people costs between $70 and $90 total. This range may not include drinks, such as an imported beer or a moderately priced bottle of wine.

Edmonton Transportation Costs

Many people get around Edmonton by car. Petrol prices are typically around 115 cents per litre. The least expensive places to buy petrol generally include Costco, 204 Fuels, and Esso. These costs are similar to other parts of Alberta.

Calling a taxi averages about $4 to start, with increases based on the number of kilometres in total distance for the trip.

The average price of auto insurance in Edmonton is $1,900 per year, which breaks down to a little more than $158 per month. People should keep in mind that there are many aspects that can affect an insurance estimate, such as the driver's age, experience, and driving record. Be sure to compare auto insurance rates in Alberta to get what's best for you.

Public Transit Costs

Edmonton's buses and light rail transit have several fare options:

• Arc Card Pay-as-you-go (90 minutes): $3 (capped at $10.50 daily, $102 monthly)
• Arc Ticket (90 minutes): $3.75
• Arc Ticket (24 hours): $10.50
• Cash: $3.75

The fares listed are for adults 19–64, but seniors, youths, and students can save with a lower monthly fare cap. Multi-day passes are also available.

Edmonton Healthcare Costs

Residents of Edmonton mostly rely on the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan for coverage, an insurance plan financed and administered by the province. This plan is designed to be fairly comprehensive, but it does not cover everything. For healthcare, the AHCIP provides full coverage for:

• Medically necessary care
• Care required by a doctor
• Testing and other diagnostic procedures
• Surgery
• Hospital stays

As a general rule, the coverage residents will receive depends on necessity. This means that people often need to follow a specific protocol to ensure visits or procedures are covered.

Residents of Alberta may spend extra on services that are only partially covered or not covered by the AHCIP. Although the province has an insurance plan for everyone, many people decide to purchase a supplemental insurance plan that covers other aspects of healthcare, such as vision or dental. This coverage starts at almost $100 per month.

Paying for pet health in Edmonton varies, depending on the type of pet and the procedure needed. It is recommended for people to request a fee schedule in advance of any necessary procedures. Some people choose to sign up for pet insurance, which can help them pay for certain types of procedures in exchange for premiums paid in advance.

Edmonton Child Care Cost

Parents in Alberta can take advantage of legislation that has implemented more affordable childcare. Many families can qualify for full-time childcare at about $15 per day. However, it's important to note that some may face extra fees from programs for things like food or field trips.

Some families prefer to hire a nanny to care for their children inside their home. A full-time nanny in Edmonton costs around $15 to $20 per hour.

Edmonton Entertainment Costs

With a population of about 1.4 million residents, the Edmonton metropolitan area offers a variety of entertainment options. The prices people pay for leisure activities depend on their budgets and the type of entertainment they choose. Most parks in the city are free, and some museums are as well.

Otherwise, people can expect to pay about $15 for a ticket to see a film, or at least $60 for a ticket to a theatre performance. Activities like an indoor swimming pool session or bowling are moderately priced. A day out at Galaxyland or World Waterpark generally starts at $64 per person, while zoo admission ranges between $9.95 and $15.95..

Provinces set tax rates based on a variety of factors, which means that rates can be significantly different across the country. Alberta sets a Goods and Services Tax of 5 percent and does not levy a Provincial Sales Tax.

Edmonton Salary

The median household income in Edmonton is just over $110,000, as of 2022 data. This is about $10,000 more than the median income in Canada as a whole. The highest-paying jobs include physicians, project managers, pharmacy managers, and architects.

Income tax rates in Alberta are progressive, ranging from 8 to 15 percent.

Alberta's minimum wage is $15 per hour. The most common jobs typically focus on retail and other service-based positions.

Edmonton's unemployment rate generally sits around 8 percent.

FAQs About Edmonton's Cost of Living

What salary do you need to live in Edmonton?

It depends on the lifestyle you're looking to live. Recent reports have the living wage in Edmonton at $20.85 an hour, which comes out to $43,368 annually.

Is $50,000 a good salary in Edmonton?

With the living wage annual salary coming to around $43,000, a $50,000 salary would be above that. However, the average yearly salary is closer to $55,000. So a $50,000 salary may be sufficient for your needs, but it may be a tight budget depending on your habits.

Enjoying Edmonton's Affordability

The city of Edmonton offers a lot of economic variety in a beautiful area. Overall, it combines affordability with opportunity. From housing and food to transportation and childcare, residents enjoy a cost of living in Edmonton that's lower than in many other Canadian cities. Paired with strong salaries and access to essential services, the city presents an attractive option for those seeking financial stability and quality of life.