2026 is all about reaching wealth-life balance and now it’s your turn

You’re probably familiar with the term work-life balance, but what about wealth-life balance?

Wealth goes beyond the hours you spend working — it’s about how you earn, save, spend, and invest in ways that support what truly matters to you. It’s not just financial progress, but the sense of fulfillment that comes with building the life you want. And that’s what we’re prioritizing in 2026.

Wealth-life balance is where financial progress meets everyday happiness. Tangerine, a digital bank serving the needs of more than 2.5 million clients, is helping Canadians make money choices that support the lifestyle they actually want.

Survey says

To achieve this, Tangerine has conducted a Wealth-Life Balance study to understand how your city of residence can influence how confident, motivated, and satisfied you feel as you work toward your major life goals.

Tangerine and AskPolly.ai analyzed thousands of real conversations across Canadian cities using social listening and sentiment analysis. This method gives a more human, emotional view of what it’s actually like to live and build a future in each city.

Interestingly, the study reveals that the best cities for wealth-life balance aren’t always the biggest. For example, Saskatoon is the best city for raising a family due to its emphasis on community spaces, lower cost of living, and investment in public safety. The best city for buying a home is Halifax, where they are priced over 19 per cent lower than Canada’s average and residents report genuine emotional satisfaction.

And the city topping the list for overall wealth-life balance is – drumroll, please — Victoria!

Wealth-life balance in action

What does wealth-life balance look like in Curiocity cities? In Calgary, it’s an enticing balance between lifestyle and finances, where housing is more affordable, salary potential is high, and residents enjoy urban and outdoor leisure activities.

While Vancouver has lower sentiment around cost pressures and affordability, entrepreneurial young professionals enjoy its opportunities for networking, workplace flexibility, and higher-than-average salaries. Meanwhile, Toronto is uniquely positioned for start-ups and tech companies to thrive.

The life you want

What does wealth-life balance look like to you? Check out the study to see where your city stands, and whether or not it aligns with your financial and lifestyle goals.

Then, learn more about how Tangerine can support your momentum at every stage of your wealth-life balance journey, with straightforward banking solutions and investment tips that can help you get where you want to be.

Kendall Bistretzan

Branded Content Writer

Kendall Bistretzan is a Calgary-based writer, reporter, and coffee enthusiast. In her spare time, she loves to read, have dinner with friends, and sing in her car. She is currently querying her debut fiction novel. You can find her on Instagram @kendallbistwrites.

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