Oxford Economics ranks Canada's 10 best cities for 2026, led by Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal

TORONTO — A new report by Oxford Economics has named the 10 best cities in Canada for 2026, based on a set of economic, social and environmental indicators that reflect the strength of cities, their growth prospects and their standard of living.

The results show Toronto keeping first place in Canada, followed by Vancouver and then Montreal, while other cities such as Calgary and Edmonton stood out for their economic and population growth and job opportunities.

The ranking, whose Canadian details were published Tuesday, is based on the 2026 Global Cities Index, which compares the performance of 1,000 cities around the world.

The 10 best cities in Canada

The Canadian cities were ranked as follows in the Oxford Economics ranking (rank in Canada, city, global rank):

1. Toronto, Ontario — 20th globally
2. Vancouver, British Columbia — 24th globally
3. Montreal, Quebec — 62nd globally
4. Calgary, Alberta — 69th globally
5. Ottawa–Gatineau, Ontario and Quebec — 104th globally
6. Edmonton, Alberta — 125th globally
7. Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo, Ontario — 133rd globally
8. Halifax, Nova Scotia — 151st globally
9. Quebec City, Quebec — 161st globally
10. Winnipeg, Manitoba — 168th globally

The list included cities spread across six provinces, while Hamilton came 11th in Canada and 193rd globally.

Why did Toronto top the ranking?

Toronto received an overall score of 84.9 points and ranked 20th globally, thanks to its economic strength and its concentration of companies, financial institutions and universities.

The city scored 77.7 points for the economy and 79 points for human capital, which reflects the strength of its job market and the availability of skilled workers.

However, the report noted that high housing costs are a major challenge, especially for families and newcomers who spend a large share of their income on rent or buying homes.

Vancouver leads on the environment, Montreal stands out for quality of life

Vancouver ranked second in Canada and 24th globally, with a total of 83.3 points.

The city scored 88 points for the environment, benefiting from air quality and policies tied to clean energy and adaptation to climate change.

Montreal came third in Canada and 62nd globally, with an overall score of 75.9 points.

The city excelled in quality of life, scoring 75.4 points, thanks to indicators that include life expectancy, services and cultural opportunities.

The report pointed to the role of Montreal's universities, research centres and artificial intelligence and video game companies in attracting talent.

Calgary and Edmonton: promising economic opportunities

Calgary ranked fourth in Canada and 69th globally, benefiting from higher incomes, population growth and the presence of major company headquarters.

Edmonton, which came sixth in Canada, was selected by the report as one of the promising cities worth watching in the coming years.

The researchers expected its economy to keep expanding, with rising employment and disposable income.

Edmonton also has relatively lower housing prices than Toronto and Vancouver, which may make it an attractive option for some families and workers.

How were the best Canadian cities chosen?

The ranking used five main criteria with different weights: the economy at 30 per cent, human capital and quality of life at 25 per cent each, and the environment and governance at 10 per cent each.

The indicators included gross domestic product, job opportunities, education, housing costs, health, crime, air quality and climate risks.

The researchers also used wider urban areas, including suburbs economically linked to the city, rather than municipal boundaries alone.

What does the ranking mean for those hoping to immigrate to Canada?

The report offers a general picture of opportunities and challenges, but it does not mean that the highest-ranked city is the best for every immigrant.

The choice also depends on professional specialization, language, budget and family situation.

The results confirm that Canada's large cities have strong economic and educational advantages, while housing costs and changes in trade remain among the main challenges they face.