If you’re looking for a new place to call home, Canada certainly has no shortage of incredible cities to choose from.
Global Citizen Solutions recently published its “Best Places to Live in Canada 2025” report, ranking cities in Canada based on quality of life, diversity, and employment opportunities. Depending on what you’re looking for, these top ten cities are likely to fit your needs, whether you’re looking for a bustling metropolis or a more laid-back city with small-town vibes.
Each city on this list was ranked based on various factors such as employment opportunities, affordability, and quality of life. Despite being the biggest city in Canada, Toronto ranked at number 11, just shy of 10th place. In fact, at number 10, Waterloo surpassed Toronto due to its low housing and living costs.
Read on to find out the best 10 places to live in Canada right now.
10. Waterloo, Ont.
SherryInBloom/Shutterstock
As far as mid-sized cities go, Waterloo is a serious contender. It’s a great place for families and offers excellent schools and prestigious universities like the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. The average salary is $69,820 a year, and the biggest employers are in automotive, food processing, manufacturing, aerospace, and technology. Average home prices here are quite steep at $764,844, but there are some affordable options. Traffic isn’t terrible compared to larger cities, but keep in mind the harsh Ontario winters when temperatures can drop below -20°C.
9. Winnipeg, Man.
Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock
There are plenty of pros to living in Manitoba’s capital. For starters, it has a strong job market and low housing costs — the average home price is $402,915. The cost of living is also low, and a single person can get by on $1,440 a month, excluding rent. Hydroelectric power also helps keep utility costs low compared to other cities in Canada. The city is home to a large immigrant community, which is especially evident during the annual Folklorama festival. The average salary here is $51,031 a year, and the biggest employers are in manufacturing, aerospace, mining, tourism, and agriculture.
8. Vancouver, B.C.
AlbertArt/Shutterstock
As one of the most expensive cities to live in Canada, it probably shouldn’t come as much of a shock that it’ll cost you an average of $1,239,418 to buy a home in Vancouver. The biggest employers are in technology and innovation, tourism, and natural resources. Unfortunately, salaries are struggling to keep pace, and the average annual income is $69,512. But beyond Vancouver’s affordability issue, the city is considered among the most livable due to its stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. On top of that, it’s an extremely scenic place to live with plenty of greenery and the Pacific Ocean nearby. If you don’t plan to drive, you can easily get around on buses, SeaBuses, and SkyTrains.
7. Halifax, N.S.
Paul McKinnon/Shutterstock
This charming city is known for its landmarks such as the Halifax Citadel and the Halifax Waterfront boardwalk. It’s also home to the Halifax Jazz Festival and boasts a growing tech and business scene. The majority of employers are in transportation and logistics, financial services, technology, ocean economy, and life sciences. There are plenty of other reasons to consider Halifax: its low crime rate and low cost of living, where a single person can expect to spend $1,475 a month on expenses, excluding rent. The average annual salary in Halifax is $59,447, and the average home price is $601,250.
6. Victoria, B.C.
pr2is/Shutterstock
B.C.’s capital city is a great place for young adults looking for opportunities in technology, tourism, transportation, hospitality, and healthcare. For a mid-sized city, the average salary is pretty competitive at an average of $54,007 a year. Home prices are quite high, though, at an average of $961,000, as are living expenses at $1,542 per person, not including rent. On the plus side, residents here enjoy the moderate summers and mild winters. With plenty of beaches to choose from, there’s always something to do outdoors.
5. Hamilton, Ont.
NelzTabcharani316/Shutterstock
Known for its 100+ waterfalls, Hamilton is a pretty great place to live with a strong economy, particularly in healthcare, education, and manufacturing. The city’s biggest employers are in food processing, agriculture, finance, technology, manufacturing, tourism, and life sciences. The downside is the city’s expensive real estate market, where the average home costs $764,838. The average annual income is $46,045, and monthly expenses for a single person (minus rent) are quite affordable at around $1,405. The city also hosts popular art events such as Supercrawl and Art Crawl.
4. Montreal, Que.
Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock
Montreal residents pretty much have it all. For such a bustling city with a thriving business scene, Montreal is relatively affordable. The average annual salary is $57,246, and a single person can expect to spend just $1,385 on monthly expenses excluding housing. Compared to other major Canadian cities, home prices are quite affordable at an average of $671,600. The biggest employers are in innovation and technology, visual effects and animation, artificial intelligence, life sciences and healthcare, cybersecurity, and food processing.
3. Edmonton, Alta.
Jeff Whyte/Shutterstock
With over 50 annual festivals, Edmonton certainly earned its name as Canada’s “Festival City,” so you can be sure that there’s plenty to keep you entertained. The city also has a strong economy, with the biggest employers in agriculture, manufacturing, oil, gas, mining, construction, real estate, and wholesale. Compared to other cities, the average annual income is quite low at just $51,965; however, the cost of living is also quite affordable. The average price of a home in Edmonton is $431,300, and a single person can expect to spend $1,486 per month on expenses.
2. Ottawa, Ont.
Jay Thaker/Shutterstock
Residents in Ottawa have plenty to choose from when it comes to activities and attractions. Visit Parliament Hill, shop for produce at ByWard Market, or stroll along the Rideau Canal in summer or skate on it in winter. Compared to other cities in Canada, like Vancouver or Toronto, housing is comparatively affordable, as the average home price in Ottawa is $719,800. The biggest employers are in technology, healthcare, professional services, retail, education, construction, and administration. The average salary is $64,995, and excluding housing, a single person can expect to spend $1,479 per month.
1. Calgary, Alta.
Wirestock Collection/Shutterstock
With its excellent healthcare, low crime rates, low taxes, and low home prices, it’s not surprising that Calgary is one of the best places to work and live in Canada. It has one of the largest education systems nationwide, making it a great option for families. Not including rent, a single person can spend around $1,581 per month on expenses, and the average salary is $58,243. In Calgary, the average home costs $635,903. The city’s biggest employers are in business services, international trade, hospitality, construction, national resources, and manufacturing. The city is also known for its friendliness, and outdoorsy types can enjoy its proximity to the Rocky Mountains.