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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Edmonton vs Saint John in 2026: cost index 102 vs 86, rent $1,600 vs $1,100, income $78,000 vs $56,000, QoL 59 vs 63.
Edmonton vs Saint John in 2026: cost index 102 vs 86, rent $1,600 vs $1,100, income $78,000 vs $56,000, QoL 59 vs 63.
Edmonton ranks #1 with a cost index of 102 and rent of $1,600/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 94 (-7 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 61/100. Top: Edmonton at 59/100.
Safest city: Saint John (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, Saint John leads with a composite score of 63/100 — reflecting its safety (58), healthcare (64), and walkability (55) metrics. Context matters here. 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. Saint John (#2) has index 86 and rent $1,100/mo — a 16-point gap.