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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Cheapest Places to Live in EuropeBest Places to Live in EuropeSafest Places to Live in EuropeBest European Cities for ExpatsCost of Living Index by CityQuality of Life Index by CitySafest Countries in the WorldCheapest Countries to Live InBest Countries for English SpeakersBest Cities for FamiliesSafest Countries for FamiliesCheapest Places to Live in AsiaSafest Places to Live in AsiaCheapest Places to Live in South AmericaCheapest Places to Live in North AmericaSafest Places to Live in South AmericaSafest Places to Live in North AmericaBest Places to Live in AsiaBest Places to Live in South AmericaBest Cities for Families in EuropeBest Cities for Families in AsiaBest Asian Cities for ExpatsCheapest Cities With Fast InternetBest Cities to Retire InBest Countries to Live In 2026Best Countries to Move to From the USEasiest Countries to Immigrate to in 2026Full City Rankings
1.
🇨🇦

Montreal

Canada

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

$1309/mo rent$3088/mo total25°C summers112 Mbps
78score
2.
🇨🇦

Vancouver

Canada

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

$1925/mo rent$4047/mo total21°C summers183 MbpsCoastalMountains
75score
3.
🇨🇦

Toronto

Canada

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

$1659/mo rent$3697/mo total24°C summers125 Mbps
74score
4.
🇨🇷

Tamarindo

Costa Rica

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

$950/mo rent$1552/mo total30°C summers187 MbpsCoastal
65score
5.
🇨🇷

Atenas

Costa Rica

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

$650/mo rent$1169/mo total27°C summersMountains
61score
6.
🇨🇷

San Jose

Costa Rica

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

$998/mo rent$2417/mo total25°C summers82 MbpsMountains
60score
7.
🇺🇸

Seattle

United States

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

$2442/mo rent$5095/mo total24°C summers185 MbpsCoastal
60score
8.
🇺🇸

Tucson

United States

$1322/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1322/mo rent$3037/mo total37°C summers
57score
9.
🇺🇸

Los Angeles

United States

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

$2839/mo rent$5568/mo total28°C summers176 MbpsCoastal
56score
10.
🇺🇸

New York

United States

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

$4281/mo rent$7597/mo total28°C summers162 MbpsCoastal
56score
11.
🇺🇸

San Francisco

United States

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

$3413/mo rent$6373/mo total21°C summers181 MbpsCoastal
56score
12.
🇵🇦

Boquete

Panama

North America is expensive. This city is less expensive than the others.

24°C summersMountains
55score
13.
🇺🇸

Honolulu

United States

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

$2703/mo rent$5635/mo total30°C summersCoastal
54score
14.
🇺🇸

Kansas City

United States

$1395/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1395/mo rent$3488/mo total31°C summers
54score
15.
🇺🇸

Chicago

United States

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

$2388/mo rent$4782/mo total27°C summers180 Mbps
53score
16.
🇺🇸

Las Vegas

United States

$1587/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1587/mo rent$3629/mo total39°C summers
53score
17.
🇲🇽

Cancun

Mexico

$737/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$737/mo rent$2184/mo total32°C summers142 MbpsCoastal
52score
18.
🇺🇸

Phoenix

United States

$1787/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1787/mo rent$4080/mo total40°C summers
52score
19.
🇵🇦

Panama City

Panama

North America is expensive. This city is less expensive than the others.

29°C summers31 MbpsCoastal
51score
20.
🇲🇽

Ajijic

Mexico

$879/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$879/mo rent$1943/mo total26°C summers
49score
21.
🇲🇽

Merida

Mexico

$601/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$601/mo rent$1859/mo total34°C summers
48score
22.
🇲🇽

San Miguel de Allende

Mexico

$1106/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1106/mo rent$2433/mo total26°C summers
48score
23.
🇺🇸

Miami

United States

$3010/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$3010/mo rent$5616/mo total32°C summersCoastal
48score
24.
🇲🇽

Playa del Carmen

Mexico

$1068/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1068/mo rent$2479/mo total32°C summersCoastal
46score
25.
🇲🇽

Tulum

Mexico

$1045/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1045/mo rent$2193/mo total32°C summers41 MbpsCoastal
45score
26.
🇲🇽

Mexico City

Mexico

$1173/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1173/mo rent$2641/mo total24°C summers33 MbpsMountains
44score
27.
🇲🇽

Puerto Vallarta

Mexico

$1435/mo rent. Livable with caveats.

$1435/mo rent$3092/mo total30°C summersCoastal
44score
Cheapest Places to Live in EuropeBest Places to Live in EuropeSafest Places to Live in EuropeBest European Cities for ExpatsCost of Living Index by CityQuality of Life Index by CitySafest Countries in the WorldCheapest Countries to Live InBest Countries for English SpeakersBest Cities for FamiliesSafest Countries for FamiliesCheapest Places to Live in AsiaSafest Places to Live in AsiaCheapest Places to Live in South AmericaCheapest Places to Live in North AmericaSafest Places to Live in South AmericaSafest Places to Live in North AmericaBest Places to Live in AsiaBest Places to Live in South AmericaBest Cities for Families in EuropeBest Cities for Families in AsiaBest Asian Cities for ExpatsCheapest Cities With Fast InternetBest Cities to Retire InBest Countries to Live In 2026Best Countries to Move to From the USEasiest Countries to Immigrate to in 2026Full City Rankings

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 (75/100), #3 Toronto (74/100), #4 Tamarindo (65/100), #5 Atenas (61/100). 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 48/100. Good things can be cheap.

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