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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Calgary quality of life score: 61/100 (Canada avg: 61/100). Combines safety (66), healthcare (78), walkability (52), air quality (AQI 22) and green space (18%). Compared to Alberta peers in 2026.
Calgary quality of life score: 61/100 (Canada avg: 61/100). Combines safety (66), healthcare (78), walkability (52), air quality (AQI 22) and green space (18%). Compared to Alberta peers in 2026.
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.
One stat flips the usual narrative: 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.
Here's where it gets complicated: looking at Alberta as a whole, the spread across all 21 cities is 10 points on the cost index. Surrey sits at the other end with index 124 and rent of $2,420/mo. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
On quality of life, Calgary scores a composite score of 61/100 — reflecting its safety (66), healthcare (78), and walkability (52) metrics. And here's the trade-off: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calgary | 114 | $2,050 | $86,500 |
| 2 | Quebec City | 96 | $1,350 | $63,500 |
| 3 | Charlottetown | 93 | $1,340 | $59,500 |
| 4 | Halifax | 100 | $1,720 | $66,000 |
| 5 | Fredericton | 92 | $1,260 | $61,000 |
| 6 | Victoria | 120 | $2,300 | $76,000 |
| 7 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 |
| 8 | Montreal | 104 | $1,700 | $66,000 |
| 9 | St. John's | 94 | $1,200 | $65,500 |
| 10 | Saint John | 90 | $1,210 | $59,000 |
| 11 | Laval | 101 | $1,500 | $67,500 |
| 12 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 |
| 13 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 |
| 14 | Vancouver | 134 | $2,850 | $80,000 |
| 15 | Saskatoon | 96 | $1,480 | $72,000 |
| 16 | Edmonton | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 |
| 17 | Winnipeg | 93 | $1,420 | $67,500 |
| 18 | Regina | 94 | $1,370 | $70,000 |
| 19 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 |
| 20 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 |
Calgary — cost index 114, rent $2,050/mo, income $86,500, QoL 61/100.
Quebec City — cost index 96, rent $1,350/mo, income $63,500, QoL 70/100.
Charlottetown — cost index 93, rent $1,340/mo, income $59,500, QoL 68/100.
Halifax — cost index 100, rent $1,720/mo, income $66,000, QoL 67/100.
Fredericton — cost index 92, rent $1,260/mo, income $61,000, QoL 67/100.
Calgary has a composite quality of life score of 61/100, covering safety (66), healthcare (78), walkability (52), air quality, and green space. Canada average QoL: 61/100.
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. Quebec City: cost index 96, rent $1,350/mo, income $63,500/yr, QoL 70/100.
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.