This cosmopolitan city is the best place to live in Canada right now for high quality of life
If you're thinking of moving, you're probably basing the decision on factors like safety, cost of living, public transportation, cleanliness, job opportunities, education and the availability of recreational facilities and parks.
While a number of Canadian cities offer advantages in those areas, a new study puts one spot in Alberta at the top of the list. (Don't worry — Quebec did crack the top five.)
Montreal-based company Moving Waldo ranked the seven best places to live in Canada as of September 2024 using three criteria: quality of life, level of crime and affordability.
Quality of life was gleaned using feedback from actual residents while crime was evaluated using Statistics Canada's most recent Crime Severity Index. Affordability was measured w housing prices and rental costs, according to the Moving Waldo website
Based on all of the above, Moving Waldo found that the best place to live in Canada right now is — drumroll, please — Calgary Alberta.
"Calgary is safer than many other large cities in the country. Housing is also reasonably priced, with homes averaging around $588,600, and condos offering an even more affordable option," Moving Waldo says, noting ample job opportunities in the oil sector as well as high demand for nurses, retail managers and administrative officers.
The report notes that the average one-bedroom rental in Calgary costs $1,841 per month.
"Calgary has plenty to offer, from cheering on the Calgary Flames (the city’s popular hockey team) to exploring its numerous nature trails. While air quality can be a concern at times due to ongoing wildfires in Alberta, the city’s many advantages make it a top choice, securing this spot on our list," says the report.
Here's the full ranking of the best Canadian cities to live in right now, starting with the best:
- Calgary, Alberta
- Wellington County, Ontario
- LaSalle, Ontario
- Lévis, Quebec
- Oak Bay, B.C.
- Fredericton, New Brunswick
- Durham Region, Ontario (Oshawa/Whitby/Ajax)
For those who would prefer to stay closer to home than Calgary, Lévis (ranked fourth) is about a three-hour drive away.
Located just across the river from Quebec City, Moving Waldo describes Lévis as being right "in the heart of three national parks with camping sites, wildlife, and hiking." Lévis also has an extremely low crime rate.
Renting a one-bedroom in Lévis will cost you an average of $1,388 while the average property buying cost is $533,100.
You can find Moving Waldo's full report here.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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An aerial view of Powell River located in Sunshine Coast, British Columbia.
A street in Brandon, the second-largest city in Manitoba.
Traditional houses on rue de Casernes in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
Boats on water and a windmill on hillside in Grand Etang on the famous Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. 
Toronto skyline.
Vancouver skyline.
Montreal skyline.
Ottawa skyline.
Calgary skyline.