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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Montreal vs Quebec City in 2026: cost index 98 vs 92, rent $1,500 vs $1,200, income $62,000 vs $60,000, QoL 65 vs 71.
Montreal vs Quebec City in 2026: cost index 98 vs 92, rent $1,500 vs $1,200, income $62,000 vs $60,000, QoL 65 vs 71.
Montreal ranks #1 with a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,500/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 95 (-6 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 68/100. Top: Montreal at 65/100.
Safest city: Quebec City (78/100 safety score).
Here's the finding that keeps coming up in different analyses: Montreal stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 98 and median income of $62,000, it offers below-average costs relative to the rest of Canada. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks.
On quality of life, Quebec City leads with a composite score of 71/100 — reflecting its safety (78), healthcare (78), and walkability (68) 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. Montreal leads with 65/100, 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.
Montreal (ranked #1) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,500/mo. Quebec City (#2) has index 92 and rent $1,200/mo — a 6-point gap.