Best Cities to Live in North America 2026
9 cities ranked by affordability, safety, internet, democracy, and climate. Real data — no sponsored picks.
Montreal
Canada
Vancouver
Canada
Toronto
Canada
Los Angeles
United States
Seattle
United States
New York
United States
San Francisco
United States
Chicago
United States
Mexico City
Mexico
Frequently Asked Questions — Best Cities in North America
What is the best city to live in North America in 2026?▼
Based on our Livability Score, Montreal (Canada) ranks #1 in North America in 2026 with a score of 76/100, and city-centre rent from around $1230/month.
Which are the top cities to live in North America?▼
Top 5 in North America by Livability Score: #1 Montreal, Canada (76/100); #2 Vancouver, Canada (72/100); #3 Toronto, Canada (70/100); #4 Los Angeles, United States (62/100); #5 Seattle, United States (61/100).
What is the cheapest city to live in North America?▼
Mexico City (Mexico) has the lowest city-centre rent in our North America data at around $1156/month for a 1-bedroom apartment.
What is the safest city to live in North America?▼
By UNODC homicide data, Montreal (Canada) is the safest city in North America in our database with a rate of 2.3 per 100,000 people.
Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · World Bank · EF EPI · Ookla Speedtest