Montreal has long been considered one of the coolest cities in Canada among those who’ve lived here. Between the iconic food scene, the electric nightlife, and hidden gems that’ll transport you straight to Europe, it’s a city that doesn’t really need to prove itself. Or so we thought.
Last week, a new ranking from Global Citizen Solutions listed the best places to live in Canada based on factors like job opportunities, crime rates, average salaries, housing prices, the cost of living, and more.
And on that list, Montreal didn’t take the top spot. In fact, it didn’t even land in the top three. It came fourth — and it wasn’t national hubs like Toronto and Vancouver that stole the show. In fact, Canada’s top three “best places to live” might come as a bit of a surprise.
Although it missed out on a top-three finish, Montreal did score pretty highly overall. The city’s average salary is $57,246, and while the average home price ($671,600) isn’t exactly cheap, it’s still more reasonable than other big Canadian cities.
Plus, the STM got a shoutout in the ranking as being one of the best public transit systems in the world (some Montrealers may disagree), and the city’s hospitals were described as “world class” thanks to their advanced medical services and contributions to innovation in healthcare.
Factor in Montreal’s famous nightlife, thriving startup scene, arts and culture fests, and multilingual charm, and it’s still very much a place people want to live.
But it’s not quite good enough to rank within Canada’s top three cities, apparently.
Perhaps surprisingly, it was Calgary that snagged the number one spot.
According to Global Citizen Solutions, the Alberta city is the full package, with solid career growth opportunities, a low crime rate, lower taxes, and moderate living costs. You can make a good salary ($58,243 on average — slightly higher than Montreal), buy a home for under $640,000 (cheaper than Montreal’s $671,600), and hike the Rockies on the weekend.
Ottawa came in second, and while that might raise some eyebrows, the stats speak for themselves. It has the highest Quality of Life Index score in Canada, according to Numbeo, thanks to its healthcare system, safe neighbourhoods, and fairly low cost of living (monthly expenses hover around $1,479). Plus, the city’s average salary? A comfy $64,995.
And then there’s Edmonton in third. Frequently overlooked, this sunlit Alberta city shines with super affordable home prices (around $431,000), tons of green space, and a jam-packed festival calendar. It’s one of the sunniest cities in Canada, with 325 days of sun every year, and is a hub for those working in industries like agriculture, manufacturing, construction and retail.
The best places to live in Canada
- Calgary, AB
- Ottawa, ON
- Edmonton, AB
- Montreal, QC
- Hamilton, ON
- Victoria, BC
- Halifax, NS
- Vancouver, BC
- Winnipeg, MB
- Waterloo, ON
- Toronto, ON
- Saskatoon, SK
- Charlottetown, PEI
- Fredricton, NB
- Quebec City, QC
You can find the full report here.
While Montreal didn’t quite crack the top three, it still holds its own as a vibrant, culture-packed place to live. Although 325 days of sunshine every year does sound nice…
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