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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ranking of cities in Canada for 2026. Montreal leads with a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,500/month.
Ranking of cities in Canada for 2026. Montreal leads with a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,500/month.
Montreal ranks #1 with a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,500/month.
The median city is Winnipeg — cost index 89, rent $1,300/mo.
Average cost index across these cities: 101 (0 vs national average of 101).
Average quality of life: 63/100. Top: Montreal at 65/100.
Safest city: Charlottetown (80/100 safety score).
Most comparisons stop at rent. We didn't. Montreal stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 98 and median income of $62,000, it offers below-average costs relative to the rest of Canada. This combination is rare — and valuable.
Context matters here. the spread across all 21 cities is 10 points on the cost index. Fredericton sits at the other end with index 88 and rent of $1,150/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. That said, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montreal | 98 | $1,500 | $62,000 |
| 2 | Toronto | 120 | $2,500 | $78,000 |
| 3 | Vancouver | 128 | $2,600 | $76,000 |
| 4 | Halifax | 95 | $1,550 | $62,000 |
| 5 | Quebec City | 92 | $1,200 | $60,000 |
| 6 | Calgary | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 |
| 7 | Ottawa | 108 | $1,900 | $82,000 |
| 8 | Victoria | 115 | $2,100 | $72,000 |
| 9 | Edmonton | 102 | $1,600 | $78,000 |
| 10 | Hamilton | 105 | $1,700 | $72,000 |
| 11 | Winnipeg | 89 | $1,300 | $64,000 |
| 12 | St. John's | 90 | $1,100 | $62,000 |
| 13 | London | 96 | $1,500 | $65,000 |
| 14 | Saskatoon | 92 | $1,350 | $68,000 |
| 15 | Mississauga | 112 | $2,200 | $76,000 |
| 16 | Regina | 90 | $1,250 | $66,000 |
| 17 | Saint John | 86 | $1,100 | $56,000 |
| 18 | Charlottetown | 88 | $1,200 | $56,000 |
| 19 | Laval | 96 | $1,350 | $64,000 |
| 20 | Surrey | 118 | $2,200 | $70,000 |
Montreal — cost index 98, rent $1,500/mo, income $62,000, QoL 65/100.
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.
Halifax — cost index 95, rent $1,550/mo, income $62,000, QoL 68/100.
Quebec City — cost index 92, rent $1,200/mo, income $60,000, QoL 71/100.
The country average QoL score is 63/100. Montreal leads with 65/100, 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.
Montreal (ranked #1) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,500/mo. Fredericton (#21) has index 88 and rent $1,150/mo — a 10-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.