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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Edmonton climate: 2345 sunshine hours/year, avg summer 23°C / winter -14°C. Compared to other Alberta cities.
Edmonton climate: 2345 sunshine hours/year, avg summer 23°C / winter -14°C. Compared to other Alberta cities.
Edmonton: cost index 108 (+2 vs national avg 106), rent $1,800/month.
Alberta region average cost index: 106. Edmonton is +2 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 58/100 — safety 55, healthcare 76, walkability 48.
Safety score: 55/100 (crime rate 72.8/1k). National average: 63/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | Sunshine hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 | 2345 |
| 2 | Saskatoon | 96 | $1,480 | $72,000 | 2449 |
| 3 | Calgary | 114 | $2,050 | $86,500 | 2396 |
| 4 | Regina | 94 | $1,370 | $70,000 | 2365 |
| 5 | Winnipeg | 93 | $1,420 | $67,500 | 2353 |
| 6 | Victoria | 120 | $2,300 | $76,000 | 2183 |
| 7 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 | 2066 |
| 8 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 | 2066 |
| 9 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 | 2060 |
| 10 | Montreal | 104 | $1,700 | $66,000 | 2051 |
| 11 | Laval | 101 | $1,500 | $67,500 | 2051 |
| 12 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 | 2003 |
| 13 | Vancouver | 134 | $2,850 | $80,000 | 1938 |
| 14 | Surrey | 124 | $2,420 | $74,000 | 1938 |
| 15 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 | 1918 |
| 16 | Quebec City | 96 | $1,350 | $63,500 | 1916 |
| 17 | Saint John | 90 | $1,210 | $59,000 | 1894 |
| 18 | Fredericton | 92 | $1,260 | $61,000 | 1887 |
| 19 | Halifax | 100 | $1,720 | $66,000 | 1886 |
| 20 | Charlottetown | 93 | $1,340 | $59,500 | 1818 |
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Edmonton has a cost index of 108 — 2 points above the Canada national average of 106. Median income is $82,000 with rent at $1,800/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 26%. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. looking at Alberta as a whole, the spread across all 21 cities is 14 points on the cost index. St. John's sits at the other end with index 94 and rent of $1,200/mo. That gap is hard to ignore.
On quality of life, Edmonton scores a composite score of 58/100 — reflecting its safety (55), healthcare (76), and walkability (48) 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.
Edmonton — cost index 108, rent $1,800/mo, income $82,000, QoL 58/100.
Saskatoon — cost index 96, rent $1,480/mo, income $72,000, QoL 59/100.
Calgary — cost index 114, rent $2,050/mo, income $86,500, QoL 61/100.
Regina — cost index 94, rent $1,370/mo, income $70,000, QoL 57/100.
Winnipeg — cost index 93, rent $1,420/mo, income $67,500, QoL 58/100.
Edmonton has a cost index of 108 (national avg: 106), rent $1,800/mo, median income $82,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 58/100.
The Alberta region of average QoL score is 61/100. Edmonton leads with 58/100, 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.
Edmonton: cost index 108, rent $1,800/mo, income $82,000/yr, QoL 58/100. Saskatoon: cost index 96, rent $1,480/mo, income $72,000/yr, QoL 59/100.
This analysis uses data from Statistics Canada, CMHC, CRA to rank cities in Canada. The cost of living index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Quality of life scores combine safety, healthcare, walkability, air quality, green space, and transit metrics. Salary ranges use national occupation data adjusted for local cost differences. Data is updated regularly to reflect current market conditions.