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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Hamilton digital nomad score: 63/100 — internet 75 Mbps, walk score 62/100, safety 58/100, rent $1,880/mo, nightlife 55/100. Full breakdown vs Ontario peers.
Hamilton digital nomad score: 63/100 — internet 75 Mbps, walk score 62/100, safety 58/100, rent $1,880/mo, nightlife 55/100. Full breakdown vs Ontario peers.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | DN Score | Internet (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 | 63 | 75 |
| 2 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 | 70 | 92 |
| 3 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 | 70 | 88 |
| 4 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 | 63 | 88 |
| 5 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 | 63 | 70 |
Hamilton: cost index 110 (+4 vs national avg 106), rent $1,880/month.
Ontario region average cost index: 114. Hamilton is -4 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 56/100 — safety 58, healthcare 74, walkability 62.
Safety score: 58/100 (crime rate 62.8/1k). National average: 63/100.
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Hamilton has a cost index of 110 — 4 points above the Canada national average of 106. Median income is $76,000 with rent at $1,880/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 30%. That's a strong position by any measure.
Pair that with the housing data, and the pattern sharpens. looking at Ontario as a whole, the spread across all 5 cities is 9 points on the cost index. London sits at the other end with index 101 and rent of $1,660/mo. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
On quality of life, Hamilton scores a composite score of 56/100 — reflecting its safety (58), healthcare (74), and walkability (62) metrics. Zooming out, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
For digital nomads specifically, Hamilton earns a DN score of 63/100, powered by 75 Mbps internet, walkability of 62/100, and a nightlife score of 55/100. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
Hamilton — cost index 110, rent $1,880/mo, income $76,000, QoL 56/100.
Toronto — cost index 126, rent $2,750/mo, income $82,000, QoL 56/100.
Ottawa — cost index 113, rent $2,100/mo, income $86,000, QoL 64/100.
Mississauga — cost index 118, rent $2,450/mo, income $80,000, QoL 59/100.
London — cost index 101, rent $1,660/mo, income $68,500, QoL 60/100.
Hamilton earns a digital nomad score of 63/100 — internet 75 Mbps, walk score 62/100, safety 58/100, rent $1,880/month.
The Ontario region of average QoL score is 59/100. Hamilton leads with 56/100, 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.
Hamilton: cost index 110, rent $1,880/mo, income $76,000/yr, QoL 56/100. Toronto: cost index 126, rent $2,750/mo, income $82,000/yr, QoL 56/100.
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.