Ottawa, 52nd best city in the world to live in

The 2025 ranking published by Resonance | Ipsos places Ottawa 52nd worldwide among the best cities in the world to live in. Canada’s capital ranks ahead of cities such as Lisbon (57th), Shanghai (61st), and Lyon (80th). On the North American map, Ottawa ranks 22nd, ahead of cities like Dallas (55th), San Jose (62nd), Nashville (64th), and Phoenix (89th). In Canada, only Toronto (15th), Vancouver (22nd), and Montreal (35th) rank ahead of Ottawa.

Multiple criteria for an overall average
The Resonance | Ipsos ranking methodology combines statistics from more than 400 cities around the world. Opinions and ratings from residents and visitors are measured, notably through Google, Instagram, and Tripadvisor. Responses were also gathered to the following three questions: the top three cities where you would like to live; the top three cities you would like to visit in the next 12 to 24 months; and the top three cities where there appear to be the best career opportunities. These opinions and responses were used to weight three overall indices: what makes a city appealing, or “lovability” (including restaurants, culture, and museums); quality of life, or “livability” (including cycling infrastructure, air quality, access to health care, and parks); and the prosperity index (including education level, business environment, and access to an airport).

In this respect, Ottawa stands out in many areas. The city ranks 3rd for tree canopy coverage. It ranks 7th for the education level of its population. Overall, it places 46th for the prosperity index and 55th for quality of life.

Housing in Ottawa
One of the quality-of-life criteria in this ranking measures access to housing. In this regard, statistics published in November 2024 by Rentals.ca and Urbanation show that Ottawa performs well, ranking a favorable 13th compared to other major cities, notably Vancouver and Toronto, which are respectively the first and third most expensive Canadian cities for housing. By comparison, on the Quebec side of the National Capital Region, Gatineau ranks 22nd for housing affordability.

Brigil offers concrete solutions in the National Capital Region
Brigil helps provide housing access solutions in the National Capital Region. Since 1985, the company has built more than 14,000 units. It holds nearly 50,000 land units in inventory and intends to continue building for generations to come. The Dale is one of Brigil’s signature communities. Located north of Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighborhood, The Dale includes a total of 520 units and 16,000 square feet of common spaces. Baseline is located in the heart of the Qualicum neighborhood in west Ottawa. This community is the ideal place for anyone seeking urban comfort and proximity to parks, a beach, and cycling paths. In the Aylmer sector of Gatineau, Château Golf offers homes designed for active people, providing unparalleled views of the Ottawa River, just steps from bike paths and several golf courses. At Ruisseaux Lépine in the Buckingham sector of Gatineau, Brigil facilitates access to homeownership through a variety of options, including the purchase of single-family homes, garden homes, and high-quality rental apartments.

Brigil, Building with Purpose
Sustainable development and environmental protection are also part of Brigil’s mission, along with the enhancement of heritage and historic buildings. In its own way, Brigil contributes to the quality of life and international profile of Ottawa and the entire National Capital Region. Ranking 52nd in this list of the world’s best cities to live in encourages us to continue our mission as citizen builders.

With information from Serge Cazelais

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