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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Calgary digital nomad score: 67/100 — internet 88 Mbps, walk score 52/100, safety 66/100, rent $2,050/mo, nightlife 65/100. Full breakdown vs Alberta peers.
Calgary digital nomad score: 67/100 — internet 88 Mbps, walk score 52/100, safety 66/100, rent $2,050/mo, nightlife 65/100. Full breakdown vs Alberta peers.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | DN Score | Internet (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calgary | 114 | $2,050 | $86,500 | 67 | 88 |
| 2 | Montreal | 104 | $1,700 | $66,000 | 75 | 85 |
| 3 | Quebec City | 96 | $1,350 | $63,500 | 73 | 75 |
| 4 | Halifax | 100 | $1,720 | $66,000 | 72 | 78 |
| 5 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 | 70 | 92 |
| 6 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 | 70 | 88 |
| 7 | Victoria | 120 | $2,300 | $76,000 | 68 | 80 |
| 8 | Vancouver | 134 | $2,850 | $80,000 | 67 | 95 |
| 9 | Laval | 101 | $1,500 | $67,500 | 65 | 82 |
| 10 | Edmonton | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 | 64 | 82 |
| 11 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 | 63 | 75 |
| 12 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 | 63 | 88 |
| 13 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 | 63 | 70 |
| 14 | Fredericton | 92 | $1,260 | $61,000 | 63 | 62 |
| 15 | Charlottetown | 93 | $1,340 | $59,500 | 63 | 55 |
| 16 | Winnipeg | 93 | $1,420 | $67,500 | 62 | 72 |
| 17 | Saint John | 90 | $1,210 | $59,000 | 60 | 60 |
| 18 | St. John's | 94 | $1,200 | $65,500 | 60 | 55 |
| 19 | Saskatoon | 96 | $1,480 | $72,000 | 59 | 68 |
| 20 | Surrey | 124 | $2,420 | $74,000 | 58 | 85 |
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.
Here's the finding that keeps coming up in different analyses: 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%. That's a strong position by any measure.
That said, looking at Alberta as a whole, the spread across all 21 cities is 20 points on the cost index. Regina sits at the other end with index 94 and rent of $1,370/mo. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
On quality of life, Calgary scores a composite score of 61/100 — reflecting its safety (66), healthcare (78), and walkability (52) metrics. Here's where it gets complicated: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
For digital nomads specifically, Calgary earns a DN score of 67/100, powered by 88 Mbps internet, walkability of 52/100, and a nightlife score of 65/100. That's a strong position by any measure.
Calgary — cost index 114, rent $2,050/mo, income $86,500, QoL 61/100.
Montreal — cost index 104, rent $1,700/mo, income $66,000, QoL 64/100.
Quebec City — cost index 96, rent $1,350/mo, income $63,500, QoL 70/100.
Halifax — cost index 100, rent $1,720/mo, income $66,000, QoL 67/100.
Toronto — cost index 126, rent $2,750/mo, income $82,000, QoL 56/100.
Calgary earns a digital nomad score of 67/100 — internet 88 Mbps, walk score 52/100, safety 66/100, rent $2,050/month.
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. Montreal: cost index 104, rent $1,700/mo, income $66,000/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.