Best places to retire in Canada
Top retirement cities in Canada
- Burnaby — retire score 67/100 (cost 48, climate 93, safety 66)
- Surrey — retire score 66/100 (cost 46, climate 93, safety 65)
- Chilliwack — retire score 65/100 (cost 50, climate 89, safety 62)
- Oakville — retire score 65/100 (cost 48, climate 82, safety 70)
- St. John's — retire score 64/100 (cost 50, climate 78, safety 70)
- Mississauga — retire score 64/100 (cost 46, climate 82, safety 69)
- Milton — retire score 63/100 (cost 49, climate 76, safety 70)
- Etobicoke — retire score 63/100 (cost 47, climate 79, safety 69)
- Halifax — retire score 62/100 (cost 46, climate 76, safety 69)
- Hamilton — retire score 62/100 (cost 46, climate 78, safety 68)
- Markham — retire score 62/100 (cost 47, climate 75, safety 69)
- Vaughan — retire score 62/100 (cost 47, climate 74, safety 69)
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, Burnaby leads at 67/100 — cost 48, climate 93, safety 66 — while Chilliwack is the most affordable base (cost 50/100). 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
Burnaby scores 67/100 (cost 48, climate 93, safety 66; warmest-month highs ~18.2°C, coldest-month lows ~2.9°C). Surrey scores 66/100 (cost 46, climate 93, safety 65; warmest-month highs ~18.0°C, coldest-month lows ~2.7°C). Chilliwack scores 65/100 (cost 50, climate 89, safety 62; warmest-month highs ~17.1°C, coldest-month lows ~0.9°C). Oakville scores 65/100 (cost 48, climate 82, safety 70; warmest-month highs ~20.5°C, coldest-month lows ~-2.4°C). Each balances the three retirement levers differently — Burnaby leads overall, while a city like Chilliwack 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?
Burnaby ranks highest in our retirement score (67/100), balancing affordability, mild climate and safety.
Is Canada a good place to retire?
Canada's best retirement city scores 67/100; the most affordable is Chilliwack (cost 50/100). 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?
Chilliwack has the lowest cost of living in Canada in our data.