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New to Canada? Here are the Best Cities to Live


Last Updated on August 26, 2016

New Canadian immigrants should be beating a path to Ottawa, according to new rankings from MoneySense magazine.

Canada’s capital was named best place to live for new Canadians in a scoring system that gave extra weight to unemployment rate, average rent and cultural diversity when comparing cities across the provinces and territories.

New Canadian immigrants should be beating a path to Ottawa, according to new rankings from MoneySense magazine.

Ottawa also topped the overall poll in a study that incorporated everything from average income to taxes, crime and weather.

You do not have to travel too far for the second place city for newcomers, with Quebec City of Gatineau, just across the river, filling the runner-up spot.

“Those looking to start a new life in Canada should place these 10 cities high on their list,” the magazine said.

“What do they have in common? Well-paying jobs, low unemployment rates and plenty of affordable rental properties. They’re also culturally diverse, increasing the odds that recent immigrants will forge new connections in the community.”

In third place is southern Ontario’s Waterloo, while Brossard in Greater Montreal comes in fourth, boasting a 36 per cent immigrant population.

Fifth spot means a 5,000km journey across the country to British Columbia, where low unemployment (4.9 per cent) and a 27 per cent immigrant population means Delta in Greater Vancouver scores well.

“This category considers the ethnic make up of a city as measured by the percentage of the population who say their first language is other than English or French,” the magazine added.

“We also factor in the most current rental market information, examining things like average cost to rent a 1-bedroom apartment and the vacancy rates for each city.”

Staying in B.C., Saanich makes sixth place, while the Ontario city of Burlington is right behind in seventh.

Regina is Saskatchewan’s only representative in eighth spot, with St Albert flying the flag for Alberta in ninth.

Perennial high-scorer Guelph comes in tenth, boasting the lowest unemployment rate of any of its rivals.

The magazine continues: “We have strong feelings about what makes a city a great place to live.

“Above all else it should be prosperous, but affordable. It should also be safe and easy to get around, with plenty of amenities. And nice weather helps, because who wants to wear a parka eight months of the year.

“Many cities offer a comfortable place to hang your hat if money is no object, but the greatest places are the ones where the entire community thrives.”

The MoneySense list makes an interesting comparison with a recent Bank of Montreal survey, which rated Oshawa as the best Canadian city to find a job.

The Greater Toronto Area city comes in as only the 121st best place to live in the magazine’s list.

Guelph and Regina are the only two cities in the top 10 of both the best places for new Canadians and the best place to find a job studies.

The top 10 best places for new Canadians

10) Guelph, Ontario
Estimated unemployment rate: 4.8%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 17%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $1,027
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 32

9) St. Albert, Alberta
Estimated unemployment rate: 5.1%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 9%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $1,383
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 4

8) Regina, Saskatchewan
Estimated unemployment rate: 5.2%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 12%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $1,097
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 33

7) Burlington, Ontario
Estimated unemployment rate: 4.9%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 18%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $1,267
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 2

6) Saanich, British Columbia
Estimated unemployment rate: 5.2%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 17%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $1,144
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 13

5) Delta, British Columbia
Estimated unemployment rate: 4.9%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 27%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $1,051
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 14

4) Brossard, Quebec
Estimated unemployment rate: 5.3%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 36%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $789
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 21

3) Waterloo, Ontario
Estimated unemployment rate: 5.2%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 25%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $1,081
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 10

2) Gatineau, Quebec
Estimated unemployment rate: 5.5%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 9%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $752
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 17

1) Ottawa, Ontario
Estimated unemployment rate: 6.6%
Immigrants as percentage of population: 20%
Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment: $1,176
Position in overall best places to live ranking: 1

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