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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ranking of cities in Ontario for 2026. Toronto leads with a cost index of 120 and rent of $2,500/month.
Toronto ranks #1 with a cost index of 120 and rent of $2,500/month.
The median city is Hamilton — cost index 105, rent $1,700/mo.
Average cost index across these cities: 108 (+7 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 60/100. Top: Toronto at 58/100.
Safest city: Ottawa (72/100 safety score).
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | Walk Score | Transit Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto | 120 | $2,500 | $78,000 | 82 | 80 |
| 2 | Ottawa | 108 | $1,900 | $82,000 | 65 | 58 |
| 3 | Hamilton | 105 | $1,700 | $72,000 | 62 | 48 |
| 4 | London | 96 | $1,500 | $65,000 | 55 | 38 |
| 5 | Mississauga | 112 | $2,200 | $76,000 | 45 | 52 |
The numbers tell a story most people wouldn't expect. Toronto stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 120 and median income of $78,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. Financially, that's significant.
Now for the nuance: the spread across all 5 cities is 8 points on the cost index. Mississauga sits at the other end with index 112 and rent of $2,200/mo. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
On quality of life, Ottawa leads with a composite score of 65/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (82), and walkability (65) metrics. Looking at the bigger picture, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
Toronto — cost index 120, rent $2,500/mo, income $78,000, QoL 58/100.
Ottawa — cost index 108, rent $1,900/mo, income $82,000, QoL 65/100.
Hamilton — cost index 105, rent $1,700/mo, income $72,000, QoL 58/100.
London — cost index 96, rent $1,500/mo, income $65,000, QoL 61/100.
Mississauga — cost index 112, rent $2,200/mo, income $76,000, QoL 60/100.
Toronto ranks #1 in Ontario for this analysis with a cost index of 120 and median income of $78,000.
The region average QoL score is 63/100. Toronto leads with 58/100, reflecting its 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.
Toronto (ranked #1) has a cost index of 120 and rent of $2,500/mo. Mississauga (#5) has index 112 and rent $2,200/mo — a 8-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.