City Comparison
St. Albert vs Bay City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
St. Albert scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
St. Albert
Bay City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Bay City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
10% lower than in St. Albert.
Housing costs are a major driver: St. Albert's average rent is
21% higher than Bay City's.
| Metric | St. Albert | Bay City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,150 | $950 | +21% |
| Groceries | $420 | $380 | +11% |
| Utilities | $160 | $175 | -9% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,060 | $1,845 | +12% |
| Cost Index | 102 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
St. Albert offers 31% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, St. Albert delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in St. Albert is estimated at
$52,000 vs $42,000 in Bay City.
| Metric | St. Albert | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,000 | $52,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $42,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 66,667 idx | 61,176 idx |
| Household Income | $82,500 | $48,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Bay City runs warmer on average — a 9.6°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, St. Albert comes out ahead with 12 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — St. Albert sees 9.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | St. Albert | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 39.20°F | 48.80°F |
| Summer High | 71.20°F | 79.90°F |
| Winter Low | 0.70°F | 16.80°F |
| Rainfall | 20.10 in | 29.50 in |
| Snowfall | 43.90 in | 34.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 270 | 258 |
| Humidity | 62.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bay City has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to St. Albert.
St. Albert scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Bay City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | St. Albert | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
St. Albert is the larger city
— approximately 2.1x the population of Bay City.
From a growth perspective, St. Albert is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bay City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | St. Albert | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 68,576 | 32,611 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.80% | — |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 41.5 |
| Unemployment | 5.60% | 5.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
St. Albert
Advantages
Consistently ranks among the safest cities in Canada with low violent and property crime rates per Statistics Canada.
Extensive 85+ km Red Willow Park trail system offering exceptional outdoor recreation and nature access.
Alberta's tax structure features no provincial retail sales tax, reducing everyday purchasing burdens.
Home to Western Canada's largest outdoor farmers' market, driving vibrant local culture and commerce.
Top-performing local school divisions with high student achievement and robust extracurricular programs.
Drawbacks
Higher-than-average housing and rental costs driven by strong regional demand.
Car dependency is high for daily commuting, with limited rapid transit rail options.
Cold winter climate with extended periods of freezing temperatures requiring dedicated winter preparation.
Many residents must commute outside city limits for specialized employment sectors in Edmonton.
Property taxes tend to be relatively elevated to support local municipal infrastructure and services.
Bay City
Advantages
Median home prices in Bay City are significantly lower than the national average per recent housing market data.
Abundant waterfront access along the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay supports a strong boating and outdoor recreation culture.
Rich architectural heritage featuring expansive historic districts with preserved 19th-century Victorian homes.
Low overall cost of living indices allow residents to enjoy greater financial affordability on everyday goods and utilities.
Active downtown district featuring local dining, craft beverage makers, and community festivals.
Drawbacks
Cold, snowy winters require residents to adapt to significant seasonal snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Limited public transit infrastructure creates a high reliance on personal automobiles for daily transportation.
Job growth in certain traditional sectors has lagged behind larger metropolitan areas in Michigan.
Higher poverty rates in specific city neighborhoods compared to the broader suburban county areas.
Cooler spring and autumn shoulder seasons shorten the peak window for outdoor activities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
St. Albert
#16Alberta, Canada
69.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$68,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
270/yr
Avg Temp
39.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
85
Business
72
Bay City
#401Michigan, USA
58.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
258/yr
Avg Temp
48.80°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
72
Business
65
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