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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.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | DN Score | Internet (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montreal | 98 | $1,500 | $62,000 | 77 | 85 |
| 2 | Quebec City | 92 | $1,200 | $60,000 | 74 | 75 |
| 3 | Halifax | 95 | $1,550 | $62,000 | 73 | 78 |
| 4 | Toronto | 120 | $2,500 | $78,000 | 71 | 92 |
| 5 | Ottawa | 108 | $1,900 | $82,000 | 71 | 88 |
| 6 | Vancouver | 128 | $2,600 | $76,000 | 69 | 95 |
| 7 | Victoria | 115 | $2,100 | $72,000 | 69 | 80 |
| 8 | Calgary | 108 | $1,800 | $82,000 | 68 | 88 |
| 9 | Laval | 96 | $1,350 | $64,000 | 67 | 82 |
| 10 | Edmonton | 102 | $1,600 | $78,000 | 66 | 82 |
| 11 | Hamilton | 105 | $1,700 | $72,000 | 65 | 75 |
| 12 | Mississauga | 112 | $2,200 | $76,000 | 64 | 88 |
| 13 | London | 96 | $1,500 | $65,000 | 64 | 70 |
| 14 | Fredericton | 88 | $1,150 | $58,000 | 64 | 62 |
| 15 | Charlottetown | 88 | $1,200 | $56,000 | 64 | 55 |
| 16 | Winnipeg | 89 | $1,300 | $64,000 | 63 | 72 |
| 17 | Saint John | 86 | $1,100 | $56,000 | 61 | 60 |
| 18 | St. John's | 90 | $1,100 | $62,000 | 61 | 55 |
| 19 | Saskatoon | 92 | $1,350 | $68,000 | 60 | 68 |
| 20 | Surrey | 118 | $2,200 | $70,000 | 59 | 85 |
Montreal ranks #1 with a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,500/month.
The median city is Hamilton — cost index 105, rent $1,700/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).
Here's the surprising part: 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. That's a strong position by any measure.
And there's one more thing: the spread across all 21 cities is 8 points on the cost index. Regina sits at the other end with index 90 and rent of $1,250/mo. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
On quality of life, Quebec City leads with a composite score of 71/100 — reflecting its safety (78), healthcare (78), and walkability (68) metrics. And here's the trade-off: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Canada is a good example of that tension.
For digital nomads specifically, Montreal earns a DN score of 77/100, powered by 85 Mbps internet, walkability of 78/100, and a nightlife score of 92/100. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
Montreal — cost index 98, rent $1,500/mo, income $62,000, QoL 65/100.
Quebec City — cost index 92, rent $1,200/mo, income $60,000, QoL 71/100.
Halifax — cost index 95, rent $1,550/mo, income $62,000, QoL 68/100.
Toronto — cost index 120, rent $2,500/mo, income $78,000, QoL 58/100.
Ottawa — cost index 108, rent $1,900/mo, income $82,000, QoL 65/100.
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. Regina (#21) has index 90 and rent $1,250/mo — a 8-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.