Thread: Vancouver voted best city to live for third year running.

After walking away with the title in 2008 & 2009, Vancouver, Canada has done it again.

According to the latest annual rankings compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit,

Vancouver has again been ranked as 'the most liveable city in the world'

Vancouver scored 98 out of a maximum 100 - as it has done for the past two years.

The ranking scores 140 cities from 0-100 on 30 factors spread across 5 key areas: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

These numbers are then weighted and combined to produce an overall figure.

With the exception of Melbourne and Vienna, (which have swapped places), the top 10 cities occupy the same positions as last year.

Cities that score best tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with a relatively low population density. This often fosters a broad range of recreational availability without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure. Seven of the top ten scoring cities are in Australia and Canada, where population densities of 2.88 and 3.40 people per sq km respectively compare with a global (land) average of 45.65 and a US average of 32.

Vancouver has one of the most temperate climates in Canada with the city more likely to bask in summer sunshine and disappear under winter rain than be buried beneath months of impenetrable snow.

Despite being an exceptionally densely populated city, Vancouver manages to maintain high standards of healthcare, transportation, education, cleanliness and law enforcement.


What’s more, it is a very diverse city in terms of its population’s ethnicity, and this blend makes it a comfortable relocation destination for many… it’s true that you’re not unusual if you’re an expat in Vancouver!

Two other Canadian cities made the top 10. Toronto came in at number 4 and Calgary came in at number 5.

There' a strong rivalry between Vancouver and Toronto and the fact that Toronto falls a few places behind Vancouver will no doubt contribute to the on going rivalry.

Toronto is the largest city in Canada, but for British Expats it doesn’t feel quite as isolated as Vancouver. It’s nearer the UK for a start in terms of geographical distance and therefore flying time because it’s on the ‘right side’ of Canada!

Toronto is Canada’s economic centre and has a very affluent feel to it in many areas.

In terms of a broader economic overview, as provided by the city’s official website, Toronto’s leading sectors are in finance, business services, telecommunications, aerospace, transportation, media, arts, film, television production, publishing, software production, medical research, education, tourism, engineering/construction, and sports industries - giving expats a lot of choice in terms of potential employment.

Almost a half of all residents of Toronto were born outside Canada - meaning that there is a really strong immigrant and expat vibe locally.


Calgary’s local economy has gone from strength to absolute strength in recent years, and at the same time the city has not developed any of the less appealing aspects of a rapidly advancing destination such as increasing crime levels. It’s a relatively safe and attractive city, and yet it does have a few notable downsides as a potential expat destination.


Calgary’s cultural offerings are slightly provincial and ‘small-town’ compared to Vienna or Vancouver for example - and it doesn’t really compete on a level playing field with Melbourne when it comes to the weather either!

Yes Calgary has done well to expand and diversify it’s economic base, yes it has invested well to see the appeal of the city advance, but it is still something of a back-water compared to the other two Canadian cities that rank in the top five.

But, despite being a large city, if you think of Calgary as being more like a big town you may understand and appreciate it more. It can be a much easier place to make a new home than Vancouver or Toronto, and the local people seem more friendly and approachable. Communities seem to work together, and there really is a strong British expatriate base in the city.