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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ottawa safety score: 72/100 (crime rate 40.5/1k) — above the Canada average of 63/100. Here's how Ottawa compares to cities in Ontario and what the data means for everyday life.
Ottawa safety score: 72/100 (crime rate 40.5/1k) — above the Canada average of 63/100. Here's how Ottawa compares to cities in Ontario and what the data means for everyday life.
Ottawa: cost index 113 (+7 vs national avg 106), rent $2,100/month.
Ontario region average cost index: 114. Ottawa is -1 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 64/100 — safety 72, healthcare 82, walkability 65.
Safety score: 72/100 (crime rate 40.5/1k). National average: 63/100.
The numbers tell a story most people wouldn't expect. Ottawa has a cost index of 113 — 7 points above the Canada national average of 106. Median income is $86,000 with rent at $2,100/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 29%. Financially, that's significant.
The trade-off becomes clearer when you add healthcare into the mix. looking at Ontario as a whole, the spread across all 5 cities is 3 points on the cost index. Hamilton sits at the other end with index 110 and rent of $1,880/mo. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Ottawa scores 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.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | QoL | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 | 64 | 72 |
| 2 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 | 59 | 70 |
| 3 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 | 56 | 62 |
| 4 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 | 60 | 60 |
| 5 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 | 56 | 58 |
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 — 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 has a safety score of 72/100 and a crime rate of 40.5/1,000 residents. The Canada average safety score is 63/100.
The Ontario region of average QoL score is 59/100. Ottawa leads with 64/100, 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.
Ottawa: cost index 113, rent $2,100/mo, income $86,000/yr, QoL 64/100. Mississauga: cost index 118, rent $2,450/mo, income $80,000/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.