City Comparison
Gatineau vs Bessemer
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Alabama, USA
View Bessemer profile
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Gatineau scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Gatineau
Bessemer
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Gatineau | Bessemer | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,353 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $90 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,273 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Gatineau offers similar average salaries.
| Metric | Gatineau | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $0 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Gatineau | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 78.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bessemer has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
14,000 minutes (233 hours) per year compared to Gatineau.
Gatineau scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Gatineau leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Gatineau | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 37.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Gatineau is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Gatineau is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bessemer has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Gatineau | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 309,193 | 0 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.01% | — |
| Median Age | 40.3 | |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | % |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Gatineau
Advantages
Gatineau offers a significantly lower cost of living compared to Ottawa, with an aggregate house price of $438,000 in 2024, approximately $300,000 less than Ottawa.
The city is recognized as one of Canada's most affordable cities, ranking 15th on a list by Royal LePage in 2024.
Gatineau provides a more affordable housing market, with median single-family home prices around $490,000, similar to the previous year, and condos slightly increasing to $312,000.
The city is part of the National Capital Region, offering access to a broad job market and a wide range of industries, particularly in public administration and technology.
Gatineau boasts a rich natural environment with Gatineau Park offering extensive opportunities for outdoor recreation year-round.
Drawbacks
Rental prices in Gatineau have increased, with average rents climbing by 7.6% in 2024, exceeding national inflation and making it difficult to secure affordable housing.
The housing market faces pressure from population growth and migration from Ottawa, leading to low vacancy rates and affordability challenges.
While public transit is available, Gatineau is generally car-dependent, with most errands requiring a vehicle.
Healthcare services in Gatineau may have longer wait times and less robust emergency care compared to Ottawa.
Childcare costs are substantially lower in Gatineau, but there are limited English-speaking education options.
Bessemer
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Gatineau
#31Quebec, Canada
65.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,353
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
37.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.01%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
74
Business
68
Bessemer
Alabama, USA
0.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
%
Livability
0
Business
0
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