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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Calgary vs Surrey in 2026: cost index 114 vs 124, rent $2,050 vs $2,420, income $86,500 vs $74,000, QoL 61 vs 54.
Calgary vs Surrey in 2026: cost index 114 vs 124, rent $2,050 vs $2,420, income $86,500 vs $74,000, QoL 61 vs 54.
Calgary: cost index 114 (+8 vs national avg 106), rent $2,050/month.
Alberta region average cost index: 119. Calgary is -5 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.
After analyzing dozens of cities, one thing stands out: 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.
On quality of life, Calgary scores a composite score of 61/100 — reflecting its safety (66), healthcare (78), and walkability (52) metrics. Still, the overall picture holds: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
Calgary has a cost index of 114 (national avg: 106), rent $2,050/mo, median income $86,500/yr, and a quality of life score of 61/100.
The Alberta region of average QoL score is 58/100. 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. Surrey: cost index 124, rent $2,420/mo, income $74,000/yr, QoL 54/100.