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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ranking of cities in Canada for 2026. Victoria leads with a cost index of 120 and rent of $2,300/month.
Ranking of cities in Canada for 2026. Victoria leads with a cost index of 120 and rent of $2,300/month.
Victoria: cost index 120 (+14 vs national avg 106), rent $2,300/month.
British Columbia region average cost index: 108. Victoria is +12 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 66/100 — safety 72, healthcare 80, walkability 72.
Safety score: 72/100 (crime rate 45.2/1k). National average: 63/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 120 | $2,300 | $76,000 |
| 2 | Quebec City | 96 | $1,350 | $63,500 |
Here's the finding that keeps coming up in different analyses: Victoria has a cost index of 120 — 14 points above the Canada national average of 106. Median income is $76,000 with rent at $2,300/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 36%. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Victoria scores a composite score of 66/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (80), and walkability (72) metrics. Here's where it gets complicated: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
Victoria — cost index 120, rent $2,300/mo, income $76,000, QoL 66/100.
Quebec City — cost index 96, rent $1,350/mo, income $63,500, QoL 70/100.
Victoria has a cost index of 120 (national avg: 106), rent $2,300/mo, median income $76,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 66/100.
The British Columbia region of average QoL score is 68/100. Victoria leads with 66/100, 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.
Victoria: cost index 120, rent $2,300/mo, income $76,000/yr, QoL 66/100. Quebec City: cost index 96, rent $1,350/mo, income $63,500/yr, QoL 70/100.
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.