For prospective newcomers researching landing cities in Canada, it’s vital to assess what city will best meet your needs. Knowing what a city offers can help you pick the one that is right for you, so let’s discover 10 of the most livable cities for immigrants.
Looking only at rent prices, cities like Saskatoon and Regina in Saskatchewan have the cheapest rents among Canada’s large and mid-sized cities. In Alberta, Edmonton and Lethbridge have the cheapest rents, as do Winnipeg in Manitoba and Windsor, Niagara Falls, and St. Catharines in Ontario.
Cities such as Toronto and Vancouver are popular but not cheap. In fact, they are by far, the most expensive cities in Canada to rent.
But livability for newcomers to Canada is about much more than rent. For example, it’s important to consider job market opportunities and the cost of living (inflation). Another thing for newcomers to consider is available settlement services to help you adapt to life in Canada.
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Many experts consider picking the right Canadian city to live in as the best job strategy for immigrants.
Recently, The Globe and Mail published research* listing the most livable cities in Canada for immigrants.
Information was gathered from 439 Canadian cities with a population greater than 10,000. The ranking is based on newcomers who landed in Canada within the last five years.
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Categories and Criteria to Judge Most Liveable Cities in Canada
The following categories and criteria were used to judge the most liveable cities in Canada for newcomers. Unsurprisingly, housing was rated as one of the top concerns.
| CATEGORY | CRITERIA |
|---|---|
| HOUSING | Affordability, ease of finding a home, property taxes, percentage of income spent on housing |
| ECONOMY | Jobs, earnings, taxes, and economic stability |
| DEMOGRAPHICS | Population, stability, diversity, languages spoken |
| HEALTHCARE | Ease of access and satisfaction with care |
| SAFETY | Crime rates and feeling of safety |
| EDUCATION | Residents’ academic qualifications and availability of schools and universities |
| COMMUNITY | Social spaces, events, volunteering opportunities, and the sense of connection residents feel |
| AMENITIES | Number of recreational places, shopping options, and other facilities, plus cannabis stores, gyms, movie theatres, and essential services such as childcare, grocery stores, libraries, and parks |
| TRANSPORTATION | Public transit, ease of getting around, and proximity to airports and public transportation |
| WEATHER | Extreme conditions, overall climate, humidity, and coldness. |
Top 10 Most Livable Cities in Canada for Newcomers
Among the top 10 cities in Canada for newcomers, rent prices and home prices** vary.
1. Pitt Meadows, British Columbia
Rent: 1 bedroom $2,205/month
Average House Price: $962,362
2. Victoria, British Columbia
Rent: 1 bedroom $2,111/month
Average House Price: $1,286,600
3. Winnipeg, Manitoba
Rent: 1 bedroom $1,365/month
Average House Price: $375,390
Read more about Living in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
4. North Vancouver, British Columbia
Rent: 1-bedroom $2,704/month
Average House Price: $1,318,687
Read more about living in Vancouver, British Columbia.
5. Saanich, British Columbia
Rent: 1-bedroom $2,023
Average House Price: $1,259,309
6. Wellesley, Ontario
Rent: 1 bedroom $1,900/month
Average House Price: $1,637,450
7. Burlington, Ontario
Rent: 1 bedroom $2,145/month
Average House Price: $826,462
Read more about Living in Burlington, Ontario.
8. Regina, Saskatchewan
Rent: 1 bedroom $1,267/month
Average House Price: $304,464
Read more about living in Regina, Saskatchewan.
9. Delta, British Columbia
Rent: 1 bedroom $2,074/month
Average House Price: $1,357,323
Read more about living in Delta, British Columbia.
10. Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Rent: 1 bedroom $1,830/month
Average House Price: $1,001,518
CITATIONS:
** Prices as of April 2024, subject to slight changes monthly
SOURCES:
Rentals for Newcomers, CREA, Rentals.ca, Zoocasa, Zumper, WOWA; Zolo
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
*Prepare for Canada did not use AI-generated content in writing this story, and all sources are cited and credited where possible.
© Prepare for Canada 2024
