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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Saint John safety score: 58/100 (crime rate 68.5/1k) — below the Canada average of 63/100. Here's how Saint John compares to cities in New Brunswick and what the data means for everyday life.
Saint John safety score: 58/100 (crime rate 68.5/1k) — below the Canada average of 63/100. Here's how Saint John compares to cities in New Brunswick and what the data means for everyday life.
Saint John: cost index 90 (-16 vs national avg 106), rent $1,210/month.
New Brunswick region average cost index: 106. Saint John is -16 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 62/100 — safety 58, healthcare 64, walkability 55.
Safety score: 58/100 (crime rate 68.5/1k). National average: 63/100.
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Saint John has a cost index of 90 — 16 points below the Canada national average of 106. Median income is $59,000 with rent at $1,210/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 25%. This combination is rare — and valuable.
But here's the flip side: looking at New Brunswick as a whole, the spread across all 21 cities is 3 points on the cost index. Winnipeg sits at the other end with index 93 and rent of $1,420/mo. This combination is rare — and valuable.
On quality of life, Saint John scores a composite score of 62/100 — reflecting its safety (58), healthcare (64), and walkability (55) metrics. Zooming out, 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 | Saint John | 90 | $1,210 | $59,000 | 62 | 58 |
| 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 | Calgary | 114 | $2,050 | $86,500 | 61 | 66 |
| 11 | St. John's | 94 | $1,200 | $65,500 | 63 | 66 |
| 12 | Vancouver | 134 | $2,850 | $80,000 | 59 | 65 |
| 13 | Montreal | 104 | $1,700 | $66,000 | 64 | 64 |
| 14 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 | 56 | 62 |
| 15 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 | 60 | 60 |
| 16 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 | 56 | 58 |
| 17 | Surrey | 124 | $2,420 | $74,000 | 54 | 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 |
Saint John — cost index 90, rent $1,210/mo, income $59,000, QoL 62/100.
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.
Saint John has a safety score of 58/100 and a crime rate of 68.5/1,000 residents. The Canada average safety score is 63/100.
The New Brunswick region of average QoL score is 61/100. Saint John leads with 62/100, 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.
Saint John: cost index 90, rent $1,210/mo, income $59,000/yr, QoL 62/100. 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.