Syncing Contacts on iPhone/MAC and iCloud

I have managed to get different info for the same contacts - I updated on my iPhone and expected that iCloud would pick it up and keep it all the same for all devices where I use iCloud? I just have a MAC running Monterey (12.5) and iPhone Xr running 15.6.1 I use my iCloud for the bare minimum (no backing up pics to iCloud). But I do have the options turned on each device to sync Contacts, Notes, Reminders and Calendar.

Can anyone explain how the sync SHOULD work and how I can get all 3 devices to show me the same info. Unfortunately, the most recent data seems to be on my iphone - definitely NOT in iCloud.

How can I know what info is being updated on what device? In testing, I tried updating a contact on my phone - how long should the sync to iCloud take?

Thanks.