Canadian spot ranks among top 10 best cities in the world for Gen Z to move to
Only one Canadian destination made it among the top 10 best cities in the world for Gen Z to move to.
Remitly, an online remittance service, analyzed over 250 cities across nine key factors important to Gen Z who are contemplating moving to find destinations that “genuinely deliver for this generation.” These considerations include rent, job prospects, safety, nightlife costs, and internet speeds.
“Not everywhere that looks good on social media is easy to afford, safe to live in, or welcoming to young people looking to build a new life from scratch,” reads the report. “Moving abroad also comes with important practical considerations, such as organizing your finances, sending money internationally, and finding employment, among many other things.”
Remitly scored cities out of 100 across nine categories, which it says are important for young people moving somewhere new: Rent affordability, youth unemployment rate, safety index, LGBTQ+ equality, broadband speed, affordability of a night out, quality of life index, average monthly net salary, and share of population aged 20 to 29.
The only Canadian city that made it on the list is the country’s capital, Ottawa. It received a 68.77 out of 100.
“Toronto usually gets all the attention, but Ottawa is a Canadian city worth considering for youngsters looking to relocate to North America,” reads the report.
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The city, home to the Rideau Canal, scored an impressive 68.4 for safety, which the report says is the highest out of any Canadian city analyzed. It also scored 79 out of 100 for LGBTQ+ equality, one of the highest in the study, and beat out Canadian cities like Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver for nightlife affordability.
“Average monthly salaries of around C$5,500 (US$4,008) and a youth unemployment rate of 13.8 per cent reflect a city with a stable economy that offers predictability even if it lacks the startup energy of Vancouver or Toronto,” explains the report.
Ottawa is in good company. The top spot goes to Copenhagen, Denmark, followed by Bern, Switzerland, and Groningen, Netherlands.
Several other Canadian cities made it in the top 50. Calgary placed 21st with a score of 66.18, with Halifax following closely behind at 65.97.
Montreal took 29th place with a score of 65.66, and Edmonton and Toronto trailed behind at 35th and 39th place, respectively.
Vancouver and Victoria are the lowest-ranking Canadian cities on the list at 43rd and 49th place.
Are you Gen Z and thinking about moving? Check out the full report to gauge your options.