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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Edmonton vs Ottawa in 2026: cost index 108 vs 113, rent $1,800 vs $2,100, income $82,000 vs $86,000, QoL 58 vs 64.
Edmonton vs Ottawa in 2026: cost index 108 vs 113, rent $1,800 vs $2,100, income $82,000 vs $86,000, QoL 58 vs 64.
Edmonton ranks #1 with a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,800/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 111 (+5 vs national average of 106).
Average quality of life: 61/100. Top: Edmonton at 58/100.
Safest city: Ottawa (72/100 safety score).
Let's cut to what actually matters here. Edmonton 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. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
On quality of life, Ottawa leads with a composite score of 64/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (82), and walkability (65) 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 61/100. Edmonton leads with 58/100, 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 108 and rent of $1,800/mo. Ottawa (#2) has index 113 and rent $2,100/mo — a 5-point gap.