Best places to retire in Canada
Top retirement cities in Canada
- Victoria — retire score 63/100 (cost 33, climate 97, safety 69)
- Vancouver — retire score 59/100 (cost 22, climate 94, safety 72)
- Toronto — retire score 55/100 (cost 19, climate 81, safety 78)
- Burnaby — retire score 53/100 (cost 6, climate 93, safety 77)
- Chilliwack — retire score 53/100 (cost 10, climate 89, safety 73)
- Surrey — retire score 52/100 (cost 3, climate 93, safety 76)
- London — retire score 52/100 (cost 17, climate 73, safety 79)
- St. John's — retire score 52/100 (cost 10, climate 78, safety 81)
- Oakville — retire score 52/100 (cost 7, climate 82, safety 81)
- Milton — retire score 51/100 (cost 9, climate 76, safety 81)
- Etobicoke — retire score 50/100 (cost 5, climate 79, safety 80)
- Mississauga — retire score 49/100 (cost 2, climate 82, safety 79)
Why these cities rank for retirement in Canada
The retire score weights affordability at 40%, climate comfort at 30% and safety at 30%, because fixed-income retirees feel cost most, then weather, then security. In Canada, Victoria leads at 63/100 — cost 33, climate 97, safety 69 — while Victoria is the most affordable base (cost 33/100). Cost is anchored to Canada's World Bank price level, climate to WorldClim normals (so you can judge whether winters and summers suit you), and safety blends natural-disaster exposure with crime. Two things our score deliberately omits — healthcare quality and retirement-visa eligibility — are decisive for retirees, so treat this as the affordability-climate-safety shortlist and verify health cover and residency rules for Canada separately before you commit.
The shortlist, by the numbers
Victoria scores 63/100 (cost 33, climate 97, safety 69; warmest-month highs ~17.2°C, coldest-month lows ~4.7°C). Vancouver scores 59/100 (cost 22, climate 94, safety 72; warmest-month highs ~18.5°C, coldest-month lows ~3.4°C). Toronto scores 55/100 (cost 19, climate 81, safety 78; warmest-month highs ~20.5°C, coldest-month lows ~-2.7°C). Burnaby scores 53/100 (cost 6, climate 93, safety 77; warmest-month highs ~18.2°C, coldest-month lows ~2.9°C). Each balances the three retirement levers differently — Victoria leads overall, while a city like Victoria wins purely on budget — so rank them by what your pension stretches to and the climate your health prefers.
FAQ
Where is the best place to retire in Canada?
Victoria ranks highest in our retirement score (63/100), balancing affordability, mild climate and safety.
Is Canada a good place to retire?
Canada's best retirement city scores 63/100; the most affordable is Victoria (cost 33/100). We weigh cost, climate and natural-disaster + crime safety — not healthcare or visas, which you should check separately.
What's the cheapest place to retire in Canada?
Victoria has the lowest cost of living in Canada in our data.