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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ranking of cities in Ontario for 2026. London leads with a cost index of 101 and rent of $1,660/month.
London ranks #1 with a cost index of 101 and rent of $1,660/month.
The median city is Ottawa — cost index 113, rent $2,100/mo.
Average cost index across these cities: 114 (+8 vs national average of 106).
Average quality of life: 59/100. Top: London at 60/100.
Safest city: Ottawa (72/100 safety score).
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 |
| 2 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 |
| 3 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 |
| 4 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 |
| 5 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 |
Strip away assumptions, and something unexpected emerges. London stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 101 and median income of $68,500, it offers below-average costs relative to the rest of Canada. This is where the math gets real for actual people.
Here's where it gets complicated: the spread across all 5 cities is 25 points on the cost index. Toronto sits at the other end with index 126 and rent of $2,750/mo. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
On quality of life, Ottawa leads with a composite score of 64/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (82), and walkability (65) metrics. But here's the flip side: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
London — cost index 101, rent $1,660/mo, income $68,500, QoL 60/100.
Hamilton — cost index 110, rent $1,880/mo, income $76,000, 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.
Toronto — cost index 126, rent $2,750/mo, income $82,000, QoL 56/100.
London ranks #1 in Ontario for this analysis with a cost index of 101 and median income of $68,500.
In London, rent would be about 20% of your gross monthly income on CA$100K. Well within the recommended 30% threshold.
The region average QoL score is 61/100. London leads with 60/100, 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.
London (ranked #1) has a cost index of 101 and rent of $1,660/mo. Toronto (#5) has index 126 and rent $2,750/mo — a 25-point gap.
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.