Ottawa’s quality of life has been ranked highest in North America for 2026, positioning Canada’s capital as the most livable city on the continent, according to newly released data. The city placed 28th globally, outperforming every other North American city across indicators such as safety, cost of living, healthcare, and commute times.
Canadian Cities Recognized For High Livability
In total, 17 Canadian cities across seven provinces were included in Numbeo’s 2026 Quality of Life Index, highlighting Canada’s continued strength in global livability comparisons . Ontario recorded the most cities on the list.
Cities By Province
- Ontario: Ottawa, London, Mississauga, Toronto, Brampton, Hamilton
- British Columbia: Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna
- Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton
- Quebec: Quebec City, Montreal
- Saskatchewan: Regina
- Manitoba: Winnipeg
- Nova Scotia: Halifax
Compared to 2025, three new cities joined the rankings: Brampton, Hamilton, and Nanaimo, reflecting shifting affordability and quality-of-life dynamics across provinces.
National Rankings Within Canada
When ranked nationally, Ottawa emerged as the top Canadian city for quality of life in 2026, followed closely by several cities in British Columbia.
Top 17 Canadian Cities For Quality Of Life
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Nanaimo, British Columbia
- Victoria, British Columbia
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Quebec City, Quebec
- Calgary, Alberta
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Edmonton, Alberta
- Kelowna, British Columbia
- Montreal, Quebec
- London, Ontario
- Mississauga, Ontario
- Toronto, Ontario
- Brampton, Ontario
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Hamilton, Ontario
Notably, Ottawa moved up from second place in 2025 to first place in 2026, while Calgary dropped from first to sixth following rising housing costs and affordability pressures .
How Canadian Cities Performed Globally
Numbeo assessed 304 cities across 95 countries in its 2026 rankings . Six Canadian cities placed within the global top 100, slightly down from seven in 2025.
Cities ranking ahead of Canada were entirely European, including locations in Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, and Luxembourg. Several Canadian cities tied with international counterparts in overall scores, even though individual factors such as healthcare access and safety varied.
Examples include:
- Nanaimo tied with Colorado Springs, United States.
- Vancouver and Quebec City tied with Auckland, New Zealand
- Toronto tied with Tel Aviv Yafo, Israel
- Winnipeg tied with Lisbon, Portugal
Methodology Behind The Quality Of Life Index
Numbeo’s Quality of Life Index combines multiple weighted indicators to generate an overall livability score . Data is sourced from user submissions and verified public datasets, with manual updates conducted twice yearly.
Key Factors Assessed
- Purchasing power and cost of living relative to New York City
- Housing affordability and income ratios
- Safety and crime perception
- Healthcare quality and accessibility
- Environmental conditions and pollution
- Climate comfort
- Traffic congestion and commute efficiency
Key Takeaways
- Ottawa is officially the most livable city in North America for 2026
- 17 Canadian cities ranked among the world’s most livable
- Ontario leads all provinces in the total number of cities listed.
- European cities continue to dominate global top rankings.
- Housing affordability and safety remain decisive ranking factors.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
