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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Toronto air quality: AQI 32 — good. Green space 13%. Compared to Ontario cities in 2026.
Toronto air quality: AQI 32 — good. Green space 13%. Compared to Ontario cities in 2026.
Toronto: cost index 126 (+20 vs national avg 106), rent $2,750/month.
Ontario region average cost index: 114. Toronto is +12 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 56/100 — safety 62, healthcare 80, walkability 82.
Safety score: 62/100 (crime rate 54.2/1k). National average: 63/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto | 126 | $2,750 | $82,000 |
| 2 | Ottawa | 113 | $2,100 | $86,000 |
| 3 | London | 101 | $1,660 | $68,500 |
| 4 | Mississauga | 118 | $2,450 | $80,000 |
| 5 | Hamilton | 110 | $1,880 | $76,000 |
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Toronto has a cost index of 126 — 20 points above the Canada national average of 106. Median income is $82,000 with rent at $2,750/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 40%. That's a strong position by any measure.
Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. looking at Ontario as a whole, the spread across all 5 cities is 16 points on the cost index. Hamilton sits at the other end with index 110 and rent of $1,880/mo. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
On quality of life, Toronto scores a composite score of 56/100 — reflecting its safety (62), healthcare (80), and walkability (82) 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.
Toronto — cost index 126, rent $2,750/mo, income $82,000, QoL 56/100.
Ottawa — cost index 113, rent $2,100/mo, income $86,000, QoL 64/100.
London — cost index 101, rent $1,660/mo, income $68,500, QoL 60/100.
Mississauga — cost index 118, rent $2,450/mo, income $80,000, QoL 59/100.
Hamilton — cost index 110, rent $1,880/mo, income $76,000, QoL 56/100.
Toronto has a cost index of 126 (national avg: 106), rent $2,750/mo, median income $82,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 56/100.
The Ontario region of average QoL score is 59/100. Toronto leads with 56/100, 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.
Toronto: cost index 126, rent $2,750/mo, income $82,000/yr, QoL 56/100. Ottawa: cost index 113, rent $2,100/mo, income $86,000/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.