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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Is Calgary good for families? Safety score 66/100, crime rate 52.4/1k. Cost index 114, rent $2,050/mo. Compared to 20 other Alberta cities below.
Is Calgary good for families? Safety score 66/100, crime rate 52.4/1k. Cost index 114, rent $2,050/mo. Compared to 20 other Alberta cities below.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calgary | 114 | $2,050 | $86,500 |
| 2 | Charlottetown | 93 | $1,340 | $59,500 |
| 3 | Quebec City | 96 | $1,350 | $63,500 |
| 4 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 |
| 5 | Victoria | 120 | $2,300 | $76,000 |
| 6 | Fredericton | 92 | $1,260 | $61,000 |
| 7 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 |
| 8 | Laval | 101 | $1,500 | $67,500 |
| 9 | Halifax | 100 | $1,720 | $66,000 |
| 10 | St. John's | 94 | $1,200 | $65,500 |
| 11 | Vancouver | 134 | $2,850 | $80,000 |
| 12 | Montreal | 104 | $1,700 | $66,000 |
| 13 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 |
| 14 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 |
| 15 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 |
| 16 | Surrey | 124 | $2,420 | $74,000 |
| 17 | Saint John | 90 | $1,210 | $59,000 |
| 18 | Edmonton | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 |
| 19 | Saskatoon | 96 | $1,480 | $72,000 |
| 20 | Regina | 94 | $1,370 | $70,000 |
Calgary: cost index 114 (+8 vs national avg 106), rent $2,050/month.
Alberta region average cost index: 106. Calgary is +8 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 61/100 — safety 66, healthcare 78, walkability 52.
Safety score: 66/100 (crime rate 52.4/1k). National average: 63/100.
Let's cut to what actually matters here. Calgary has a cost index of 114 — 8 points above the Canada national average of 106. Median income is $86,500 with rent at $2,050/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 28%. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
And here's the trade-off: looking at Alberta as a whole, the spread across all 21 cities is 21 points on the cost index. Winnipeg sits at the other end with index 93 and rent of $1,420/mo. Financially, that's significant.
On quality of life, Calgary scores a composite score of 61/100 — reflecting its safety (66), healthcare (78), and walkability (52) metrics. Zooming out, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
Calgary — cost index 114, rent $2,050/mo, income $86,500, QoL 61/100.
Charlottetown — cost index 93, rent $1,340/mo, income $59,500, QoL 68/100.
Quebec City — cost index 96, rent $1,350/mo, income $63,500, QoL 70/100.
Ottawa — cost index 113, rent $2,100/mo, income $86,000, QoL 64/100.
Victoria — cost index 120, rent $2,300/mo, income $76,000, QoL 66/100.
Calgary scores 61/100 on the relevant index for families — with rent of $2,050/month and cost index 114 (8 points above the national average of 106).
The Alberta region of average QoL score is 61/100. Calgary leads with 61/100, 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.
Calgary: cost index 114, rent $2,050/mo, income $86,500/yr, QoL 61/100. Charlottetown: cost index 93, rent $1,340/mo, income $59,500/yr, QoL 68/100.
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.