Ottawa Outranks the rest of North America for Quality of Life

The annual report ranked Ottawa, in 28th place out of 304 entries, with an overall score of 198.1. It scored high for safety and purchasing power but fell a little short on climate. The new ranking is a massive leap from 80th place in the 2025 Index. 

Top Canadian Cities

Ottawa is the only Canadian city to make the top 50, but it still beat out every US city by a wide margin. The first US city to make the list, Tampa, FL, landed in 45th place. Ottawa is also the highest-ranking non-European city to appear on the list.

The top spot overall went to The Hague in The Netherlands as it has every year since 2023.

Other Canadian cities in the top 100 spots this year include: Nanaimo (66), Victoria (84), Quebec City (86), Vancouver (87) and, Calgary (95). There are 17 Canadian cities on the list in total and among those, six of them are located within Ontario.

What are the top 10 most livable cities in Canada? 

Why Ottawa is North America’s Most Livable City 

Ottawa is gaining momentum as a destination for newcomers due to both its character and job opportunities. Jobbank reports that there has recently (2022-2024) been a shortage of Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants in the Ottawa Region. These are considered a TEER 1 positions on the National Occupational Classification system and fits into IRCCs plan to hire highly skilled newcomers. 

It is also considered more affordable than some of Canada’s other large cities.  Numbeo estimates that the overall monthly cost of living for a family of four is roughly $5,287.  This figure doesn’t include rent, which can vary widely depending on the type of property and location. Still, Numbeo says that on average, rent in Ottawa is 16.7% lower than in Toronto. 

According to the latest census by Statistics Canada (2021), 313,845 people in Ottawa are foreign born (immigrants). This number is likely a lot higher now (a new census should be published later this year). 

Things to do in Ottawa 

On top of the practical considerations, Ottawa is Canada’s capital and has a fair share of attractions. It is the home of the iconic parliament buildings as well as several national museums and galleries. Winter lovers enjoy the Rideau Canal, which becomes the world’s longest ice rink when it freezes in the winter (with lots of hot chocolate stands along the way). 

Finally, Ottawa is officially known as Ottawa-Gatineau, with 66% of the population living on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River and the remaining 34% living in Gatineau Quebec and surrounding communities. This makes it one of the few bilingual Canadian cities outside of New Brunswick.  

Still can’t decide? Join the Moving2Canada community for regular updates and tips on choosing which Canadian city is the best fit for you.