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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Average salary in Calgary: $86,500/year — $14,667 above the Canada median. Cost index 114, purchasing power 75877/100. Compare incomes across Alberta below.
Average salary in Calgary: $86,500/year — $14,667 above the Canada median. Cost index 114, purchasing power 75877/100. Compare incomes across Alberta below.
Calgary: cost index 114 (+8 vs national avg 106), rent $2,050/month.
Alberta region average cost index: 106. Calgary is +8 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 61/100 — safety 66, healthcare 78, walkability 52.
Safety score: 66/100 (crime rate 52.4/1k). National average: 63/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calgary | 114 | $2,050 | $86,500 |
| 2 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 |
| 3 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 |
| 4 | Edmonton | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 |
| 5 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 |
| 6 | Vancouver | 134 | $2,850 | $80,000 |
| 7 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 |
| 8 | Victoria | 120 | $2,300 | $76,000 |
| 9 | Surrey | 124 | $2,420 | $74,000 |
| 10 | Saskatoon | 96 | $1,480 | $72,000 |
| 11 | Regina | 94 | $1,370 | $70,000 |
| 12 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 |
| 13 | Laval | 101 | $1,500 | $67,500 |
| 14 | Winnipeg | 93 | $1,420 | $67,500 |
| 15 | Montreal | 104 | $1,700 | $66,000 |
| 16 | Halifax | 100 | $1,720 | $66,000 |
| 17 | St. John's | 94 | $1,200 | $65,500 |
| 18 | Quebec City | 96 | $1,350 | $63,500 |
| 19 | Fredericton | 92 | $1,260 | $61,000 |
| 20 | Charlottetown | 93 | $1,340 | $59,500 |
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Calgary has a cost index of 114 — 8 points above the Canada national average of 106. Median income is $86,500 with rent at $2,050/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 28%. This combination is rare — and valuable.
And here's the trade-off: looking at Alberta as a whole, the spread across all 21 cities is 24 points on the cost index. Saint John sits at the other end with index 90 and rent of $1,210/mo. This combination is rare — and valuable.
On quality of life, Calgary scores a composite score of 61/100 — reflecting its safety (66), healthcare (78), and walkability (52) metrics. And there's one more thing: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
Calgary — cost index 114, rent $2,050/mo, income $86,500, QoL 61/100.
Ottawa — cost index 113, rent $2,100/mo, income $86,000, QoL 64/100.
Toronto — cost index 126, rent $2,750/mo, income $82,000, QoL 56/100.
Edmonton — cost index 108, rent $1,800/mo, income $82,000, QoL 58/100.
Mississauga — cost index 118, rent $2,450/mo, income $80,000, QoL 59/100.
The median gross income in Calgary is $86,500/year — above the Canada national average of $71,833.
The Alberta region of average QoL score is 61/100. Calgary leads with 61/100, reflecting safety, healthcare access, walkability, and green space.
Our index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Sub-categories cover housing, food, transport, utilities, and healthcare. Data sources include Statistics Canada, CMHC, CRA.
Calgary: cost index 114, rent $2,050/mo, income $86,500/yr, QoL 61/100. Ottawa: cost index 113, rent $2,100/mo, income $86,000/yr, QoL 64/100.
This analysis uses data from Statistics Canada, CMHC, CRA to rank cities in Canada. The cost of living index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Quality of life scores combine safety, healthcare, walkability, air quality, green space, and transit metrics. Salary ranges use national occupation data adjusted for local cost differences. Data is updated regularly to reflect current market conditions.