Mercer’s 20th Quality of Living Survey is out! We explain why Canadian cities continue making it to the top in 2018.

Each year, the HR consulting firm, Mercer, publishes an index ranking of the quality of life in major cities around the world, in order to assist their multinational clients choose where to relocate their employees, on both temporary and permanent assignments.

In its 2018 Quality of Life Index, and like in previous years, Canadian cities dominate the ranking in North America, and are very well placed among the cities of the world. Vancouver currently occupies first place in North American cities and fifth place out of a grand total of 450 cities ranked in the index, but other Canadian metropolis are not left out; Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal feature in the overall top 25, coming in at 16th, 19th and 21st place respectively.

Why do Canadian cities continue to lead the rankings?

There are 39 criteria taken into account (detailed below), and the dominating features for Canadian cities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • A desirable place to work for residents and expatriates, especially when several provinces are pursuing a $15/hour minimum wage
  • Canada’s stable political and social environment
  • Good quality city sanitation (based on factors including: air pollution; water availability and quality; waste removal; and others) is an influencing factor in many Canadian cities, with Ottawa coming in at second place in this criterion
  • Other positive factors such as Canada’s health systems and low crime rates also influence the rankings
  • Mercer explains Vancouver’s position compared to its fellow Canadian cities by its milder winter climate

If your company offers you a job in Canada, there is definitely good reason to smile about it…imagine yourself living in one of the best cities in the world!

The 39 criteria taken into account for this ranking are regrouped in these 10 categories:

  • Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc.).
  • Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services).
  • Socio-cultural environment (media availability and censorship, limitations on personal freedom).
  • Medical and health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc.).
  • Schools and education (standards and availability of international schools).
  • Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transportation, traffic congestion, etc.).
  • Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc.).
  • Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc.).
  • Housing (rental housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services).
  • Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters).

To view the ranking in its entirety, please visit the Mercer website.

Learn more

For more information about living in Canada, check out these helpful articles and links:

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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