Where is the happiest city in Canada?
A recent report just revealed that answer, and according to a lot of number crunching and happiness indexes, one of the happiest cities is in Metro Vancouver.
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The Happiest Cities in Canada
A report from market researcher Leger took a look into how happiness is perceived by Canadian citizens. Their research was based on a large representative sample, and highlights the numerous factors that play into a person’s happiness. This includes the regional, generational, and social dynamics that are shaping our perspectives on well-being in 2026.
On average, Canadians rate their happiness 70.5 out of 100, which is 1.8 points higher than 2025’s score.
Here’s a look at the finer numbers:
- 52% said their happiness remained the same since 2025
- 25% reported an improvement in the past year
- 23% reported a deterioration in the past year.
Leger notes that nearly 6 in 10 Canadians say that the cost of living affects their happiness. Notably, it’s also the factor that is placing the most pressure on happiness, even ahead of physical and mental health.
Where is Canada’s Happiest City?
At the top of Leger’s happiest large cities list is Montreal with an index of 72.7. With a gap of +3.3 points compared to 2025’s numbers, there’s been a noticeable jump between then and 2026.
A few places below is Vancouver in 4th place with a happiness index of 69.0, leaping up a total of four spots when compared to the city’s 8th placement in 2025. Vancouver gained a total of 2.7 points in the past year.
While Vancouver isn’t at the top of the list, being in the top-5 definitely counts for something. The report notes that the results “rest… deeply on human dimensions: caring for one’s health, maintaining close relationships and living in a safe environment.”
Aside from that, shared challenges, such as financial pressures and uncertainty about the future, weigh on our well-being.
“As individuals, communities and a society, we can collectively turn this progress into lasting well-being.”
