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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Internet speed in Saint John: 60 Mbps average — below or near the fast-broadband threshold. Walk score 55/100. Full connectivity breakdown vs New Brunswick cities.
Internet speed in Saint John: 60 Mbps average — below or near the fast-broadband threshold. Walk score 55/100. Full connectivity breakdown vs New Brunswick cities.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint John | 90 | $1,210 | $59,000 |
| 2 | Montreal | 104 | $1,700 | $66,000 |
| 3 | Quebec City | 96 | $1,350 | $63,500 |
| 4 | Halifax | 100 | $1,720 | $66,000 |
| 5 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 |
| 6 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 |
| 7 | Victoria | 120 | $2,300 | $76,000 |
| 8 | Vancouver | 134 | $2,850 | $80,000 |
| 9 | Calgary | 114 | $2,050 | $86,500 |
| 10 | Laval | 101 | $1,500 | $67,500 |
| 11 | Edmonton | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 |
| 12 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 |
| 13 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 |
| 14 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 |
| 15 | Fredericton | 92 | $1,260 | $61,000 |
| 16 | Charlottetown | 93 | $1,340 | $59,500 |
| 17 | Winnipeg | 93 | $1,420 | $67,500 |
| 18 | St. John's | 94 | $1,200 | $65,500 |
| 19 | Saskatoon | 96 | $1,480 | $72,000 |
| 20 | Surrey | 124 | $2,420 | $74,000 |
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.
After analyzing dozens of cities, one thing stands out: 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.
Now for the nuance: looking at New Brunswick as a whole, the spread across all 21 cities is 4 points on the cost index. Regina sits at the other end with index 94 and rent of $1,370/mo. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
On quality of life, Saint John scores a composite score of 62/100 — reflecting its safety (58), healthcare (64), and walkability (55) metrics. Still, the overall picture holds: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
Saint John — cost index 90, rent $1,210/mo, income $59,000, QoL 62/100.
Montreal — cost index 104, rent $1,700/mo, income $66,000, QoL 64/100.
Quebec City — cost index 96, rent $1,350/mo, income $63,500, QoL 70/100.
Halifax — cost index 100, rent $1,720/mo, income $66,000, QoL 67/100.
Toronto — cost index 126, rent $2,750/mo, income $82,000, QoL 56/100.
Saint John has a cost index of 90 (national avg: 106), rent $1,210/mo, median income $59,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 62/100.
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. Montreal: cost index 104, rent $1,700/mo, income $66,000/yr, QoL 64/100.
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.