Looking for the best cities to live in the world, as well as the best places to live in the U.S.? Every year, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranks the best places to live in the Global Liveability Index 2023.
This year, the Index covers 172 cities, with rankings based on a number of categories, including stability, healthcare, culture, education and infrastructure.
Ranked: The 20 Best Cities to Live in the World
- Vienna, Austria
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Melbourne, Australia
- Sydney, Australia
- Vancouver, Canada
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Calgary, Canada
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Toronto, Canada
- Osaka, Japan
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Adelaide, Australia
- Perth, Australia
- Helsinki, Finland
- Tokyo, Japan
- Brisbane, Australia
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Berlin, Germany
- Luxembourg
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
3 prominent Canadian cities were in the top 10, including Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto
1. Vancouver
Long appreciated by outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy everything from kayaking to skiing, Vancouver’s indoor attractions are finally getting the recognition they deserve. The northwestern city received its first Michelin Guide last year (Toronto is the only other Canadian city with this claim), highlighting a diverse dining landscape, including Published on Main (also voted Canada’s best restaurant) and Burdock & Co, both of which were awarded stars and are celebrated for their use of local products. Not included in the guide but no less worthy of a drawn out meal is Salmon n’Bannock, an intimate restaurant with an adherence to First Nations traditions by providing a warm, welcoming, gathering place with incredible Indigenous cuisine.
Beyond the city’s eclectic food scene, there’s plenty to keep visitors occupied. Check out the brand new Rainbow Park, which pays homage to the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish nations who named the park sθәqәlxenәm ts’exwts’áxwi7 (rainbow), and then take a tour with Talaysay Tours of the popular Stanley Park, where a First Nations guide explains the essential role of trees and plants in Coast Salish people’s lives. Canada’s first Chinese Canadian Museum is moving to a permanent site in the city’s historic Chinatown this summer, which is also the time to see the Vancouver Mural Festival; the annual August display covers buildings with massive sociocultural art pieces.
And there’s no shortage of accommodations to choose from. Versante, a luxury high-rise in Richmond, opened in 2021, and last year welcomed Paradox, a chic boutique in the heart of downtown. Skwachàys Lodge, Canada’s first Indigenous boutique art hotel (there’s an art gallery too), isn’t new, but if you haven’t experienced a purifying sweat lodge or detoxifying smudging ceremony, it’ll feel singular in spirit.
2. Calgary
Calgary has lost its spot in the top three most livable cities in the world dropping from three to seven.
Calgary Economic Development (CED), however, said Calgary’s still one of the best places in the world to live and highlights that more than ever the city is competing on a global stage.
3. Toronto
According to the ranking, Toronto is “poised for big things”, and cracked the top 10 list due to its diversity and education.
The city is considered one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the continent, with a University of Toronto study cited by the consultancy firm predicting in less than 50 years its population will trail New York and Mexico City.
“That’s where Toronto shines through, and it’s not something you see at the surface. What you see is the product of that, you see it in the food, you see it in the art and culture, you see it in the festivals, and you see it around meeting room tables.”
