Best places to retire in Canada: Victoria and Saanich lead MoneySense ranking, with key “must-check” factors
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتسابA MoneySense ranking of Canadian retirement-friendly cities places several communities in British Columbia and Ontario at the top, using a methodology that incorporates factors such as weather, indicators tied to health services availability, property tax, average home prices and selected mobility metrics.
The table lists Victoria first, followed by Saanich, then Kingston, Burlington and Ottawa. Toronto, Joliette, Saskatoon, Stratford and Winnipeg also appear in the top ten.
The “best city” depends on your retirement style
A) If you want a milder climate and nature
Victoria, Saanich and Nanaimo regularly show up near the top, alongside weather-related indicators included in the ranking’s data table.
- B) If you want lower housing costs and more financial room
Cities such as Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton appear in the list with lower average home prices than some higher-cost B.C. and Ontario markets, though the trade-off can include harsher winters.
- C) If you don’t drive or want easier day-to-day mobility
Ottawa and Victoria stand out on the table’s walking and transit shares, which may help retirees looking to reduce car dependency.
Three must-check factors before choosing a city
- Primary care access
CIHI reported growing challenges for timely primary care access among older adults: in 2024, about one in four seniors (65+) said they could get a same- or next-day appointment when needed. - Rental market conditions
CMHC said the national vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments rose to 3.1% in 2025 from 2.2% in 2024, pointing to somewhat eased pressure in some major centres, with significant variation across markets. - Safety indicators
Statistics Canada reported the national Crime Severity Index fell 4% in 2024, marking the first decline in four years.
