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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ranking of cities in Canada for 2026. Ottawa leads with a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,900/month.
Ranking of cities in Canada for 2026. Ottawa leads with a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,900/month.
Ottawa ranks #1 with a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,900/month.
The median city is Regina — cost index 90, rent $1,250/mo.
Average cost index across these cities: 101 (0 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 63/100. Top: Ottawa at 65/100.
Safest city: Charlottetown (80/100 safety score).
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ottawa | 108 | $1,900 | $82,000 |
| 2 | Calgary | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 |
| 3 | Toronto | 120 | $2,500 | $78,000 |
| 4 | Edmonton | 102 | $1,600 | $78,000 |
| 5 | Mississauga | 112 | $2,200 | $76,000 |
| 6 | Vancouver | 128 | $2,600 | $76,000 |
| 7 | Hamilton | 105 | $1,700 | $72,000 |
| 8 | Victoria | 115 | $2,100 | $72,000 |
| 9 | Surrey | 118 | $2,200 | $70,000 |
| 10 | Saskatoon | 92 | $1,350 | $68,000 |
| 11 | Regina | 90 | $1,250 | $66,000 |
| 12 | London | 96 | $1,500 | $65,000 |
| 13 | Laval | 96 | $1,350 | $64,000 |
| 14 | Winnipeg | 89 | $1,300 | $64,000 |
| 15 | Montreal | 98 | $1,500 | $62,000 |
| 16 | Halifax | 95 | $1,550 | $62,000 |
| 17 | St. John's | 90 | $1,100 | $62,000 |
| 18 | Quebec City | 92 | $1,200 | $60,000 |
| 19 | Fredericton | 88 | $1,150 | $58,000 |
| 20 | Saint John | 86 | $1,100 | $56,000 |
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Ottawa stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 108 and median income of $82,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. Financially, that's significant.
And there's one more thing: the spread across all 21 cities is 20 points on the cost index. Charlottetown sits at the other end with index 88 and rent of $1,200/mo. Financially, that's significant.
On quality of life, Quebec City leads with a composite score of 71/100 — reflecting its safety (78), healthcare (78), and walkability (68) metrics. Context matters here. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
Ottawa — cost index 108, rent $1,900/mo, income $82,000, QoL 65/100.
Calgary — cost index 108, rent $1,800/mo, income $82,000, QoL 62/100.
Toronto — cost index 120, rent $2,500/mo, income $78,000, QoL 58/100.
Edmonton — cost index 102, rent $1,600/mo, income $78,000, QoL 59/100.
Mississauga — cost index 112, rent $2,200/mo, income $76,000, QoL 60/100.
The country average QoL score is 63/100. Ottawa leads with 65/100, reflecting its 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.
Ottawa (ranked #1) has a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,900/mo. Charlottetown (#21) has index 88 and rent $1,200/mo — a 20-point gap.
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.