Champaign, IL vs Edmonton
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Edmonton is approximately 17% less expensive than Champaign, IL based on cost of living including rent. This makes Edmonton a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Edmonton has a FIRE Score of 74/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 53.33, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Edmonton is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowUnited States
Champaign, IL
Canada
Edmonton
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Champaign, IL
Champaign is a genuinely affordable college town where a one-bedroom outside the center runs $1,005/mo and a monthly public transport pass costs just $20/mo, numbers that make the $3,620/mo average net salary stretch further than in most American cities. The trade-off is a small, flat, continental-climate town of 206 thousand people with a medium expat community, so anyone craving big-city energy will find the pace slow. With an overall expat score of 76/100 and a cost of living index of 67/100, it works best for remote workers, students, and retirees who value low costs and excellent healthcare over nightlife and scale.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
Edmonton costs roughly 9% less than Champaign, IL. Champaign, IL leads on digital nomad infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Edmonton is approximately 17% less expensive than Champaign, IL based on cost of living including rent. This makes Edmonton a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Edmonton has a FIRE Score of 74/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 53.33, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Edmonton is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Champaign, IL
United StatesAbout Champaign, IL
Champaign is a genuinely affordable college town where a one-bedroom outside the center runs $1,005/mo and a monthly public transport pass costs just $20/mo, numbers that make the $3,620/mo average net salary stretch further than in most American cities. The trade-off is a small, flat, continental-climate town of 206 thousand people with a medium expat community, so anyone craving big-city energy will find the pace slow. With an overall expat score of 76/100 and a cost of living index of 67/100, it works best for remote workers, students, and retirees who value low costs and excellent healthcare over nightlife and scale.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$1,198/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Edmonton
Edmonton is the rare million-person city where a single adult can live on a $1,149/mo budget tier while earning an average net salary of $3,667/mo, and a city-centre one-bedroom at $1,080/mo still leaves room to breathe. The trade-off is a continental climate at 645 m elevation, so winters are the price of admission, not a footnote. With a safety index of 80, excellent healthcare, and a large active expat community in Strathcona, Glenora, and Garneau, it suits remote workers and retirees far better than anyone chasing nightlife or mild weather.
About Canada
Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.
$1,163/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Champaign, IL | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1263.67 | $1079.59 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1005 | $901.37 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1665.67 | $1712.14 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1489.83 | $1415.61 |
| Safety Index | 60.35 | 53.33 |
| Internet Speed | 100Mbps | 140Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Champaign, IL | Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,798/mo | $1,797/mo |
| Excluding rent | $793/mo | $896/mo |
| Rent | $1,005/mo | $901/mo |
| Groceries | $166/mo | $223/mo |
| Dining out | $150/mo | $175/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $106/mo | $118/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $351/mo | $308/mo |
| Transport | $20.00/mo | $72.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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