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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Surrey vs Halifax in 2026: cost index 118 vs 95, rent $2,200 vs $1,550, income $70,000 vs $62,000, QoL 56 vs 68.
Surrey vs Halifax in 2026: cost index 118 vs 95, rent $2,200 vs $1,550, income $70,000 vs $62,000, QoL 56 vs 68.
Surrey ranks #1 with a cost index of 118 and rent of $2,200/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 107 (+6 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 62/100. Top: Surrey at 56/100.
Safest city: Halifax (68/100 safety score).
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Surrey stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 118 and median income of $70,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. This combination is rare — and valuable.
On quality of life, Halifax leads with a composite score of 68/100 — reflecting its safety (68), healthcare (72), and walkability (72) metrics. That said, 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. Surrey leads with 56/100, 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.
Surrey (ranked #1) has a cost index of 118 and rent of $2,200/mo. Halifax (#2) has index 95 and rent $1,550/mo — a 23-point gap.