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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Edmonton vs Hamilton in 2026: cost index 102 vs 105, rent $1,600 vs $1,700, income $78,000 vs $72,000, QoL 59 vs 58.
Edmonton vs Hamilton in 2026: cost index 102 vs 105, rent $1,600 vs $1,700, income $78,000 vs $72,000, QoL 59 vs 58.
Edmonton ranks #1 with a cost index of 102 and rent of $1,600/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 104 (+3 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 59/100. Top: Edmonton at 59/100.
Safest city: Hamilton (58/100 safety score).
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Edmonton stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 102 and median income of $78,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. This combination is rare — and valuable.
On quality of life, Edmonton leads with a composite score of 59/100 — reflecting its safety (55), healthcare (76), and walkability (48) metrics. Pair that with the housing data, and the pattern sharpens. 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. Edmonton leads with 59/100, 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.
Edmonton (ranked #1) has a cost index of 102 and rent of $1,600/mo. Hamilton (#2) has index 105 and rent $1,700/mo — a 3-point gap.