A new global ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has named four Canadian cities, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa, as among the Top 100 Best Student Cities for 2026. These rankings highlight global cities based on factors that matter most to international students, including university quality, affordability, diversity, and overall student experience.
Canadian Cities and Their Rankings:
City QS Best Student Cities 2026 Rank Montreal 18 (tied position), Toronto 22, Vancouver 29 (tied position), Ottawa 80.

🇨🇦 City Highlights:
Montreal
• Remains Canada’s top performer in the QS rankings.
• High scores in Student View (94.4) and Student Mix (91.5).
• Solid performance in Employer Activity (80) and Desirability (74.8).
• Scored low in Affordability (30.5).
• Home to McGill University, Canada’s top university (#27 globally in QS 2026).
• Dropped from 10th in 2025 to =18 in 2026.

Toronto
• Ranked 22nd globally.
• Strong scores in Student View (93.1), Student Mix (91.8), Employer Activity (85.6), and Desirability (82.4).
• Weakest point was Affordability (17.4).
• Hosts University of Toronto (#29 globally) and York University (#333).
• Fell from 11th in 2025 to 22nd in 2026.

Vancouver
• Ranked =29 globally.
• Excelled in Student Mix (91.8) and other areas like Student View and Desirability.
• Very low in Affordability (16.9) — the most expensive Canadian city.
• Cost of living is around $3,793.63/month (2025).
• Home to University of British Columbia (#40) and Simon Fraser University (#308).

Ottawa
• Came in at #80.
• Notable scores in Student View (80.3), Student Mix (82.3), and Desirability (73.6).