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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ranking of cities in Canada for 2026. Toronto leads with a cost index of 120 and rent of $2,500/month.
Ranking of cities in Canada 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 London — cost index 96, rent $1,500/mo.
Average cost index across these cities: 101 (0 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 63/100. Top: Toronto at 58/100.
Safest city: Charlottetown (80/100 safety score).
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | Walk Score | Transit Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto | 120 | $2,500 | $78,000 | 82 | 80 |
| 2 | Vancouver | 128 | $2,600 | $76,000 | 80 | 78 |
| 3 | Montreal | 98 | $1,500 | $62,000 | 78 | 78 |
| 4 | Victoria | 115 | $2,100 | $72,000 | 72 | 52 |
| 5 | Halifax | 95 | $1,550 | $62,000 | 72 | 52 |
| 6 | Quebec City | 92 | $1,200 | $60,000 | 68 | 52 |
| 7 | Ottawa | 108 | $1,900 | $82,000 | 65 | 58 |
| 8 | Hamilton | 105 | $1,700 | $72,000 | 62 | 48 |
| 9 | Charlottetown | 88 | $1,200 | $56,000 | 62 | 22 |
| 10 | Fredericton | 88 | $1,150 | $58,000 | 58 | 24 |
| 11 | London | 96 | $1,500 | $65,000 | 55 | 38 |
| 12 | Saint John | 86 | $1,100 | $56,000 | 55 | 28 |
| 13 | St. John's | 90 | $1,100 | $62,000 | 55 | 28 |
| 14 | Calgary | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 | 52 | 48 |
| 15 | Winnipeg | 89 | $1,300 | $64,000 | 52 | 42 |
| 16 | Edmonton | 102 | $1,600 | $78,000 | 48 | 42 |
| 17 | Mississauga | 112 | $2,200 | $76,000 | 45 | 52 |
| 18 | Saskatoon | 92 | $1,350 | $68,000 | 45 | 32 |
| 19 | Surrey | 118 | $2,200 | $70,000 | 42 | 50 |
| 20 | Regina | 90 | $1,250 | $66,000 | 42 | 28 |
Here's the surprising part: 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.
Here's where it gets complicated: the spread across all 21 cities is 24 points on the cost index. Laval sits at the other end with index 96 and rent of $1,350/mo. This combination is rare — and valuable.
On quality of life, Quebec City leads with a composite score of 71/100 — reflecting its safety (78), healthcare (78), and walkability (68) metrics. Pair that with the housing data, and the pattern sharpens. 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.
Vancouver — cost index 128, rent $2,600/mo, income $76,000, QoL 61/100.
Montreal — cost index 98, rent $1,500/mo, income $62,000, QoL 65/100.
Victoria — cost index 115, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000, QoL 67/100.
Halifax — cost index 95, rent $1,550/mo, income $62,000, QoL 68/100.
The country 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. Laval (#21) has index 96 and rent $1,350/mo — a 24-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.