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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ottawa vs Saint John in 2026: cost index 113 vs 90, rent $2,100 vs $1,210, income $86,000 vs $59,000, QoL 64 vs 62.
Ottawa vs Saint John in 2026: cost index 113 vs 90, rent $2,100 vs $1,210, income $86,000 vs $59,000, QoL 64 vs 62.
Ottawa: cost index 113 (+7 vs national avg 106), rent $2,100/month.
Ontario region average cost index: 102. Ottawa is +11 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 64/100 — safety 72, healthcare 82, walkability 65.
Safety score: 72/100 (crime rate 40.5/1k). National average: 63/100.
Here's what the headline numbers don't tell you: Ottawa has a cost index of 113 — 7 points above the Canada national average of 106. Median income is $86,000 with rent at $2,100/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 29%. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Ottawa scores a composite score of 64/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (82), and walkability (65) metrics. Zooming out, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
Ottawa has a cost index of 113 (national avg: 106), rent $2,100/mo, median income $86,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 64/100.
The Ontario region of average QoL score is 63/100. Ottawa leads with 64/100, 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.
Ottawa: cost index 113, rent $2,100/mo, income $86,000/yr, QoL 64/100. Saint John: cost index 90, rent $1,210/mo, income $59,000/yr, QoL 62/100.