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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Calgary vs Ottawa in 2026: cost index 108 vs 108, rent $1,800 vs $1,900, income $82,000 vs $82,000, QoL 62 vs 65.
Calgary vs Ottawa in 2026: cost index 108 vs 108, rent $1,800 vs $1,900, income $82,000 vs $82,000, QoL 62 vs 65.
Calgary ranks #1 with a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,800/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 108 (+7 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 64/100. Top: Calgary at 62/100.
Safest city: Ottawa (72/100 safety score).
Here's what the headline numbers don't tell you: Calgary 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. That gap is hard to ignore.
On quality of life, Ottawa leads with a composite score of 65/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (82), and walkability (65) metrics. Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
The country average QoL score is 63/100. Calgary leads with 62/100, 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.
Calgary (ranked #1) has a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,800/mo. Ottawa (#2) has index 108 and rent $1,900/mo — a 0-point gap.