Performance
Score Breakdown
Cold Lake
Moscow
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Moscow is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
79% higher compared to Cold Lake.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cold Lake's average rent is
10% lower than Moscow's.
| Metric | Cold Lake | Moscow | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,210 | $1,338 | -10% |
| Groceries | $321 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $176 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $487 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $200 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,394 | $1,338 | +79% |
| Cost Index | 85 | 111 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Moscow offers 39% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Moscow delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cold Lake is estimated at
$40,000 vs $84,360 in Moscow.
| Metric | Cold Lake | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $46,347 | $76,000 |
| Salary Needed | $40,000 | $84,360 |
| Purchasing Power | 54,526 idx | 68,468 idx |
| Household Income | $85,007 | $57,022 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Cold Lake | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 65.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Moscow has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Cold Lake.
Moscow scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Moscow leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cold Lake | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 14 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/10 | 45.0/10 |
| Walkability | 28.0/10 | 48.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Moscow is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Cold Lake.
From a growth perspective, Cold Lake is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Moscow has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cold Lake | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,186 | 26,286 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.18% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 25.7 |
| Unemployment | 7.90% | 3.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cold Lake
Advantages
Average salary in Cold Lake is 19.6% higher than the Canadian national average as of July 2026.
The city benefits from significant defence investment, including a $525M investment at CFB Cold Lake for a Military Fighter Squadron Facility.
Cold Lake Transit offers a free public bus service, enhancing local mobility for residents.
Recent reports from May 2026 indicate a significant downward trend in crime rates, with crimes against persons down 51% and property crimes down 53% year-over-year.
The city is actively pursuing commercial and residential growth, with ongoing planning for future development.
Drawbacks
Cold Lake's overall crime rates are 214% higher than the national average, and violent crimes are 145% higher, based on estimated data.
The regional unemployment rate for Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake was 7.9% in June 2026, which is higher than the national average.
The Cold Lake Healthcare Centre is experiencing chronic understaffing in its emergency room, leading to increased wait times and concerns about patient care as of August 2026.
The city has a low walk score of 28 out of 100, indicating it is a car-dependent neighborhood where most errands require a vehicle.
Limited bike infrastructure, with a bike score of 45, makes cycling challenging for daily errands.
Moscow
Advantages
High walkability score of 48, making many errands accessible on foot.
Short average commute time of 14.3 minutes, significantly below the national average.
Strong presence of the University of Idaho contributes to a vibrant cultural scene and job market.
Crime rates have seen a significant decrease, with violent crime rates well below the national average.
Rental prices are relatively affordable compared to national averages, despite a higher cost of living than the Idaho average.
Drawbacks
Median household income ($57,022) is below the national average.
Cost of living is 11% higher than the national average.
Limited public transit options contribute to a medium car dependency.
Job growth rate of 0.167% is modest.
Median age of 25.7 is significantly younger than the national average, which may not appeal to all demographics.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cold Lake
#26Alberta, Canada
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,210
Avg Salary
$46,347
Cost Index
85
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
35.0/10
Walkability
28.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.18%
Unemployment
7.90%
Livability
72
Business
65
Moscow
#16Idaho, USA
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,338
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
111
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
45.0/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
87
Business
65
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