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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Calgary safety score: 66/100 (crime rate 52.4/1k) — above the Canada average of 63/100. Here's how Calgary compares to cities in Alberta and what the data means for everyday life.
Calgary safety score: 66/100 (crime rate 52.4/1k) — above the Canada average of 63/100. Here's how Calgary compares to cities in Alberta and what the data means for everyday life.
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.
A closer look reveals a more interesting picture. 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%. That's a strong position by any measure.
Now for the nuance: 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. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
On quality of life, Calgary scores a composite score of 61/100 — reflecting its safety (66), healthcare (78), and walkability (52) metrics. Now for the nuance: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | QoL | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calgary | 114 | $2,050 | $86,500 | 61 | 66 |
| 2 | Charlottetown | 93 | $1,340 | $59,500 | 68 | 80 |
| 3 | Quebec City | 96 | $1,350 | $63,500 | 70 | 78 |
| 4 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 | 64 | 72 |
| 5 | Victoria | 120 | $2,300 | $76,000 | 66 | 72 |
| 6 | Fredericton | 92 | $1,260 | $61,000 | 67 | 72 |
| 7 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 | 59 | 70 |
| 8 | Laval | 101 | $1,500 | $67,500 | 61 | 70 |
| 9 | Halifax | 100 | $1,720 | $66,000 | 67 | 68 |
| 10 | St. John's | 94 | $1,200 | $65,500 | 63 | 66 |
| 11 | Vancouver | 134 | $2,850 | $80,000 | 59 | 65 |
| 12 | Montreal | 104 | $1,700 | $66,000 | 64 | 64 |
| 13 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 | 56 | 62 |
| 14 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 | 60 | 60 |
| 15 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 | 56 | 58 |
| 16 | Surrey | 124 | $2,420 | $74,000 | 54 | 58 |
| 17 | Saint John | 90 | $1,210 | $59,000 | 62 | 58 |
| 18 | Edmonton | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 | 58 | 55 |
| 19 | Saskatoon | 96 | $1,480 | $72,000 | 59 | 48 |
| 20 | Regina | 94 | $1,370 | $70,000 | 57 | 45 |
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 has a safety score of 66/100 and a crime rate of 52.4/1,000 residents. The Canada average safety score is 63/100.
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.