Townleap

Best Places to Live in North America

US, Canada, and Mexico — scored on the same dimensions. Some results may surprise your assumptions.

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1.
🇨🇦

Montreal

Canada

$1309/mo rent, full democracy. The data doesn't lie.

$1309/mo rent$2541/mo total77°F summers112 Mbps
78score
2.
🇨🇦

Vancouver

Canada

$1925/mo rent, 183 Mbps, full democracy. The data doesn't lie.

$1925/mo rent$3329/mo total70°F summers183 MbpsCoastalMountains
76score
3.
🇨🇦

Toronto

Canada

$1659/mo rent, full democracy. The data doesn't lie.

$1659/mo rent$3053/mo total75°F summers125 Mbps
75score
4.
🇨🇷

Tamarindo

Costa Rica

$950/mo rent, 187 Mbps, full democracy. The data doesn't lie.

$950/mo rent$1105/mo total86°F summers187 MbpsCoastal
65score
5.
🇵🇦

Boquete

Panama

$725/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$725/mo rent$1233/mo total75°F summersMountains
64score
6.
🇨🇷

Atenas

Costa Rica

$650/mo rent, full democracy. Livable with caveats.

$650/mo rent$805/mo total81°F summersMountains
61score
7.
🇨🇷

San Jose

Costa Rica

$998/mo rent, full democracy. Livable with caveats.

$998/mo rent$1957/mo total77°F summers82 MbpsMountains
60score
8.
🇺🇸

Seattle

United States

$2442/mo rent, 185 Mbps. Livable with caveats.

$2442/mo rent$4233/mo total75°F summers185 MbpsCoastal
60score
9.
🇵🇦

Panama City

Panama

$1059/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1059/mo rent$1824/mo total84°F summers31 MbpsCoastal
57score
10.
🇺🇸

Tucson

United States

$1322/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1322/mo rent$2486/mo total99°F summers
57score
11.
🇺🇸

Los Angeles

United States

$2839/mo rent, 176 Mbps. Livable with caveats.

$2839/mo rent$4596/mo total82°F summers176 MbpsCoastal
56score
12.
🇺🇸

New York

United States

$4281/mo rent, 162 Mbps. Livable with caveats.

$4281/mo rent$6225/mo total82°F summers162 MbpsCoastal
56score
13.
🇺🇸

San Francisco

United States

$3413/mo rent, 181 Mbps. Livable with caveats.

$3413/mo rent$5242/mo total70°F summers181 MbpsCoastal
56score
14.
🇺🇸

Honolulu

United States

$2703/mo rent, very safe. Livable with caveats.

$2703/mo rent$4701/mo total86°F summersCoastal
55score
15.
🇺🇸

Chicago

United States

$2388/mo rent, 180 Mbps. Livable with caveats.

$2388/mo rent$3935/mo total81°F summers180 Mbps
53score
16.
🇺🇸

Kansas City

United States

$1395/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1395/mo rent$2917/mo total88°F summers
53score
17.
🇺🇸

Las Vegas

United States

$1587/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1587/mo rent$3005/mo total102°F summers
53score
18.
🇲🇽

Cancun

Mexico

$737/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$737/mo rent$1796/mo total90°F summers142 MbpsCoastal
52score
19.
🇺🇸

Phoenix

United States

$1787/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1787/mo rent$3401/mo total104°F summers
52score
20.
🇲🇽

Ajijic

Mexico

$879/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$879/mo rent$1516/mo total79°F summers
51score
21.
🇲🇽

Merida

Mexico

$601/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$601/mo rent$1509/mo total93°F summers
51score
22.
🇲🇽

San Miguel de Allende

Mexico

$1106/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1106/mo rent$1943/mo total79°F summers
48score
23.
🇺🇸

Miami

United States

$3010/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$3010/mo rent$4596/mo total90°F summersCoastal
48score
24.
🇲🇽

Playa del Carmen

Mexico

$1068/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1068/mo rent$1999/mo total90°F summersCoastal
46score
25.
🇲🇽

Puerto Vallarta

Mexico

$1435/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1435/mo rent$2510/mo total86°F summersCoastal
45score
26.
🇲🇽

Tulum

Mexico

$1045/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1045/mo rent$1719/mo total90°F summers41 MbpsCoastal
45score
27.
🇲🇽

Mexico City

Mexico

$1173/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1173/mo rent$2132/mo total75°F summers33 MbpsMountains
44score
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Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · World Bank · EF EPI · Ookla Speedtest

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best city to live in North America in 2026?▾

Montreal (Canada) leads our Livability Rankings for North America with a score of 78/100. That's based on affordability, safety, internet, democracy, English ease, and climate.

Top 5 best cities in North America?▾

#1 Montreal (78/100), #2 Vancouver (76/100), #3 Toronto (75/100), #4 Tamarindo (65/100), #5 Boquete (64/100). Each scored across 7 weighted dimensions. No editorial bias — the spreadsheet decides.

Which top-ranked city is also affordable?▾

Merida (Mexico) — rent starts at $601/mo with a livability score of 51/100. Good things can be cheap.

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