Rock Island, IL vs 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.

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.