A Comparative Journey Between Toronto and Edmonton [2024]

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Cost of Living in Edmonton vs. Toronto

Considering housing, utilities, transportation, and childcare, the cost of living in Edmonton is 5.72% more expensive than in Toronto. The average monthly living cost in Toronto is $2,348, while it’s $2,482 in Edmonton.

Take a closer look at the cost of living in Edmonton and Toronto by checking the table of information below from LivingCost.org:

Expenses	Edmonton Cost	Toronto Cost
Housing (Average Rent per Month)
1-bedroom apartment (downtown)	$815	$1511
1-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre)	$644	$1256
3-bedroom apartment (downtown)	$1,306	$2615
3-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre)	$1,109	$2059
Utilities (Average Monthly Bill)
Utility bill for one person	$125	$75.4
Utility bill for a family	$191	$116
Internet plan	$51.7	$53.8
Transportation (Fare)
1-way ticket (local transport ticket)	$2.61	$2.44
Monthly pass (local transport ticket)	$74.8	$116
Taxi start (normal tariff)	$19.3	$14.7
Gasoline (1 litre)	$1.16	$1.3
Childcare (Tuition Fee)
Private Preschool/Kindergarten (full day)	$766 per month	$1156
International Primary School	$8,254 per year	$19,602

While the average monthly costs of living Edmonton and Toronto are not too far from each other, you’ll notice that rent and childcare are significantly cheaper in Edmonton.

However, utilities are cheaper in Toronto. If you’re leaning towards Edmonton, one thing you can do is share utility bills.

Real Estate Prices in Edmonton vs. Toronto

The average price of a single-family home in Toronto is 157.2% more expensive than in Edmonton. On the other hand, a condo apartment is 74.7% cheaper in Edmonton.

The difference in real estate pricing in Toronto and Edmonton is drastic. Toronto being a capital city also means there’s a high demand for housing, which drives the prices up.

The table below compares the average price of single-family homes in the suburbs and condo apartments in Edmonton and Toronto.

Property Type	Edmonton	Toronto
Single-Family Home	$459,600	$1,182,120
Condo Apartment (per square metre)	$187,325	$739,395

Property Type

Edmonton

Toronto

Single-Family Home

$459,600

$1,182,120

Condo Apartment

(per square metre)

$187,325

$739,395

Diversity and Demographics in Edmonton vs. Toronto

Half of Toronto’s population were born in foreign countries. On the other hand, only 24% of Edmonton’s population is foreign-born.

While Edmonton is also considered a diverse city, Toronto beats its record by a mile. In fact, Toronto is coined the most culturally diverse city in the world.

It’s worth noting, though, that Edmonton’s foreign-born population has been growing steadily in recent years.

Edmonton’s land area is also small compared to the massive Toronto. On top of that, the estimated population count in the latter is almost twice as much as Edmonton’s.

	Edmonton	Toronto
Geographic Location	Alberta	Ontario
Size (Area)	684.4 square kilometres	7187.217 square kilometres
Population	1,544,000	2,938,390
Female Population	50.2%	1,479,213
Male Population	49.8%	1,459,177
Median Age	37 years old	39.3 years
Life Expectancy at Birth	82 years old	82.1 years

Let’s get a closer look at the two cities’ demographics and observe their populations’ racial composition. Here are statistics gathered from World Population Review:

Racial Composition	Edmonton	Racial Composition	Toronto
White	64.7%	White	50.2%
Asian	21.6%	Black	8.5%
Chinese	7.2%	East Asian (Chinese, Korean, Japanese)	12.7%
Filipino	4.6%	South Asian	12.3%
Black/African American	3.8%	Arab	1.1%
Southeast Asian	1.9%	South-east Asian	7.0%
Arab	1.7%	Latin American	2.8%
West Asian	0.8%	West Asian	2.0%
Other Visible Minorities	0.3%	Other Visible Minorities	1.5%
Multiple Visible Minorities	0.8%	Aboriginal	0.70%
Aboriginal	5.3%

Career Opportunities in Edmonton vs. Toronto

As of June 2023, both Toronto and Edmonton have the same unemployment rate (6.1%), which is close to the global unemployment rate of 5.8%.

Toronto is the financial capital of Canada, while Edmonton is a centre for the oil and gas industry. The average annual salary in Edmonton is $55,907, while it’s $71,427 in Toronto.

Crime and Safety in Edmonton vs. Toronto

Based on Statistics Canada’s data from 2017 to 2021, Edmonton is safer than Toronto.

Toronto had consistently higher numbers of criminal code violations, actual incidents, and persons charged.

Below is a comparison of Edmonton and Toronto’s total criminal code violations from Statistics Canada.

	E (2017)	T (2017)	E (2018)	T (2018)	E (2019)	T (2019)	E (2020)	T (2020)	E (2021)	T (2021)
					Total Criminal Code Violations of Edmonton and Ottawa
Actual incidents Total	121,434 5.38%	195,794 5.50%	125,765 1.77%	215,027 7.83%	131,980 2.97%	221,545 0.96%	112,753 -16%	189,246 -15.41%	108,126 -4.87%	194,978 3.18%
Unfounded Incidents	6,693 5.22%	9,091 4.44%	6,187 4.69%	8,374 3.75%	5,875 4.26%	8,231 3.58%	5,140 4.36%	7,123 3.63%	4,913 4.35%	8,148 4.01%
Total cleared	54,532	78,733	56,673	78,114	51,637	80,664	43,195	64,870	43,727	61,748
Total persons charged	37,805	47,831	41,088	49,320	40,179	50,860	34,162	43,078	34,727	42,580

Legend: E for Edmonton | T for Toronto

Lifestyle in Edmonton vs. Toronto

Edmonton suits nature enthusiasts, solitude-seekers, and festival-enjoyers. Meanwhile, Toronto is the ideal place to live for those who are looking for a fast-paced, vibrant, and diverse community.

We also compared Edmonton and Toronto in several aspects namely, the weather, recreational opportunities, and healthcare services for you to be able to understand the kind of lifestyle each city offers better.

Weather in Edmonton vs. Toronto

While Edmonton and Toronto both experience a continental climate with warm summers and freezing winters, the former has a more extreme climate than Toronto.

In January, the average temperature in Edmonton is -14.8°C (5.4°F), while the average temperature in Toronto is -6.7°C (20.1°F). This means that Edmonton is about 8°C (14.4°F) colder than Toronto during winter.

The difference in temperature between Edmonton and Toronto is also noticeable in the summer months. In July, the average temperature in Edmonton is 27°C (80.6°F), while the average temperature in Toronto is 25.6°C (78°F).

Things to Do in Edmonton vs. Toronto

Both Edmonton and Toronto offer a variety of leisure and recreational activities. While Edmonton celebrates its connection with nature, Toronto embraces the energy of a bustling metropolis.

If you’re looking for outdoor activities, Edmonton may be a better choice.

From hiking along scenic trails and skiing in the nearby mountains during winter to exploring the lush river valley parks and enjoying water-based activities during the warmer months, Edmonton offers a nature lover’s paradise.

On the other hand, Toronto boasts a vibrant urban lifestyle enriched with diverse entertainment options.

From world-class theatres and art galleries to trendy neighbourhoods bustling with cafes, restaurants, and shopping districts, Toronto caters to the cosmopolitan enthusiast.

Healthcare in Edmonton vs. Toronto

Both being under Canada’s universal healthcare system, residents of Edmonton and Ottawa rate their healthcare services highly.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) is the provincial health authority that provides healthcare services to all Albertans, including those in Edmonton. Meanwhile, Ontario Health (OH) is the provincial health authority that provides healthcare services to all Torontonians.

Both AHS and OH operate a network of hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities across the province.

However, it’s worth noting that there are some differences between the two healthcare systems.

For example, Edmonton has a higher proportion of rural residents, so its healthcare system has to be more decentralized. Toronto, on the other hand, is a more urbanised city, so its healthcare system is more centralised.

Nonetheless, both Edmonton and Toronto have excellent healthcare systems.

Edmonton and Toronto: Which City is Right for You?

Both Edmonton and Toronto are wonderful cities that have so much to offer but in the end, deciding which city is the best one for you still depends on your goals and preferences.

Here’s a little summary to help you out:

Factors	The Better City	Why
Cost of Living	Toronto	Edmonton is 5.72% more expensive than in Toronto.
Real Estate	Edmonton	The average prices for real estate properties in Edmonton are significantly cheaper.
Diversity and Demographics	Toronto	Toronto is more diverse than Edmonton, although both cities are considered to be diverse.
Career Opportunities	Tied	Toronto and Edmonton have the same unemployment rate. However, the average annual salary in Toronto is higher.
Crime Index	Edmonton	The crime index in Edmonton is lower than in Toronto.
Lifestyle	Tied (depends on what kind of lifestyle you prefer)	While Edmonton and Toronto both experience a continental climate, Edmonton has a more extreme climate than Toronto. While Edmonton celebrates its connection with nature, Toronto embraces the energy of a bustling metropolis. Both Edmonton and Toronto have excellent healthcare services however, Toronto’s is more centralized.

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