Montreal ranks high among Canada's happiest cities but this Ontario spot beat it

Folks in Montreal might not always agree on politics, parking rules, or where to get the best bagel, but there's one thing we seem to be getting right: happiness. According to a brand new Léger study, Montreal is officially one of the happiest big cities in Canada

Léger has just released its 2025 Happiness Index and out of Canada's 10 largest cities, Montreal ranks second in overall well-being, with a happiness score of 69.4 out of 100. Only Mississauga scored higher, at 70.3. Both cities sit above the national average, which Léger pegs at 68.7.

Happiness ranking of Canada's 10 largest cities

1. Mississauga, Ontario – 70.3
2. Montreal, Quebec – 69.4
3. Hamilton, Ontario – 67.5
4. Calgary, Alberta – 67.4
5. Brampton, Ontario – 66.7
6. Ottawa, Ontario – 66.4
7. Edmonton, Alberta – 66.3
8. Vancouver, British Columbia – 66.3
9. Winnipeg, Manitoba – 65.9
10. Toronto, Ontario – 65.8

The data comes from a sweeping web survey of 39,841 Canadians aged 18 and up, conducted between March 31 and April 13, 2025, using Léger’s own online panel (LEO). The results were weighted by age, gender, and province to reflect Canada's real population makeup.

So, what does this happiness score actually mean?

Canadians were asked to rate their overall happiness on a scale of 1 to 10. Those numbers were converted to a 100-point scale for reporting purposes. According to Léger, 49% of people said their happiness stayed the same, 28% said it got worse, and 23% said it improved over the past year.

Quebec also stood out in the provincial rankings, scoring 72.4, the highest in the country. That's well above Ontario (67.2) and other provinces like Manitoba (66.7) or PEI (66.5).

While happiness levels are relatively stable across Canada, Léger notes that some age groups are doing better than others. Younger adults aged 18 to 24 were most likely to say their happiness improved, while those in the 35 to 54 range were more likely to report a decline.

As for what's behind Quebec’s strong numbers, the report points to community belonging, cultural identity, and social cohesion as key drivers.

So, if you've been feeling generally upbeat in Montreal lately, it might not just be the nice weather. And statistically speaking, you're living in one of the happiest major cities in the country.

You can read the full report here.