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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Winnipeg vs Quebec City in 2026: cost index 89 vs 92, rent $1,300 vs $1,200, income $64,000 vs $60,000, QoL 59 vs 71.
Winnipeg vs Quebec City in 2026: cost index 89 vs 92, rent $1,300 vs $1,200, income $64,000 vs $60,000, QoL 59 vs 71.
Winnipeg ranks #1 with a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,300/month.
Average cost index across these cities: 91 (-10 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 65/100. Top: Winnipeg at 59/100.
Safest city: Quebec City (78/100 safety score).
One stat flips the usual narrative: Winnipeg stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 89 and median income of $64,000, it offers below-average costs relative to the rest of Canada. That's a strong position by any measure.
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. Winnipeg 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.
Winnipeg (ranked #1) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,300/mo. Quebec City (#2) has index 92 and rent $1,200/mo — a 3-point gap.