Performance
Score Breakdown
Barrie
New York City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Barrie is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
49% lower compared to New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Barrie's average rent is
51% lower than New York City's.
| Metric | Barrie | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,669 | $3,382 | -51% |
| Groceries | $450 | $520 | -13% |
| Utilities | $182 | $370 | -51% |
| Transport | $90 | $130 | -31% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,391 | $4,652 | -49% |
| Cost Index | 178 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 50% lower average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Barrie is estimated at
$66,756 vs $61,000 in New York City.
| Metric | Barrie | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $50,212 | $100,877 |
| Salary Needed | $66,756 | $61,000 |
| Household Income | $73,434 | $80,483 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Barrie | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 63.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Barrie has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
21,500 minutes (358 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Barrie | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 43 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 88.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 89.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 167.60 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Low |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Barrie is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, New York City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Barrie | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 169,419 | 8,585,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.10% | % |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 9.20% | 4.90% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $1,354.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Barrie
Advantages
Barrie has been consistently ranked as one of Canada's safest cities, with a Crime Severity Index significantly below the national average.
The city is experiencing strong population growth, projected to nearly double by 2051, indicating a dynamic and expanding community.
Housing costs in Barrie are considerably lower than in the Greater Toronto Area, offering more affordable homeownership opportunities.
Its prime location on Kempenfelt Bay provides extensive waterfront access, beaches, and outdoor recreational activities year-round.
The Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) is a major regional hospital and Level III trauma centre, ensuring high-quality healthcare access.
Drawbacks
Barrie experienced a relatively high unemployment rate of 9.2% in April 2026, which is above the national average.
A significant portion of Barrie's working residents commute to the Greater Toronto Area, leading to longer commute times for many.
Rental prices in Barrie are slightly above the Canadian national average, impacting affordability for renters.
While efforts are underway, the current job market requires further development to meet the needs of its growing population and reduce out-of-city commuting.
Specific public transit and walkability scores are not readily available, suggesting potential areas for improvement in urban mobility infrastructure.
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Barrie
#21Ontario, Canada
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,669
Avg Salary
$50,212
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
9.20%
Livability
75
Business
65
New York City
#69New York, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/10
Walkability
89.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
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