Edmonton’s rent and parks got it onto a global list of the best cities for Gen Z. Its weather did not help.
The city tied for 48th out of 75 cities in a ranking by Fact Magazine, a lifestyle publication based in the United Arab Emirates. Edmonton scored 47.8 out of 100, tied with Singapore, Munich and The Hague, and ahead of Dublin, Ottawa, Seattle and Chicago.
The ranking looked at how well cities on six continents suit people aged roughly 20 to 29. Edmonton was near the top of the world in some categories and dead last in another.
Fifth in the world for green space
Edmonton scored 71.5 for green space, fifth among the 75 cities and the best in Canada.
The River Valley is a big reason. It’s the largest stretch of connected urban parkland in North America, and the City says it has more than 160 kilometres of maintained trails for walking, running and biking.
It’s also free. In a city where a lot of things cost money, the River Valley doesn’t.
12th for rent, but that’s not the whole story
Edmonton scored 87.2 for rent affordability, 12th in the world.
Affordable doesn’t mean easy, though. As we reported this week, Edmonton’s 2026 living wage is $22.65 an hour, the hourly pay needed to cover a modest standard of living. That’s $4.25 less than Calgary’s $26.90, but still $7.65 more than Alberta’s $15 minimum wage.
For someone starting their career, that gap matters more than any ranking.
Dead last for weather
Edmonton’s climate score was 0, the lowest of all 75 cities.
That’s a relative score. Fact Magazine ranked every city against the others, and someone had to come last. It doesn’t mean Edmonton is unlivable. It means that by the study’s measure of year-round comfort, Edmonton’s winters put it at the bottom.
Anyone who’s waited for a bus in January won’t argue.
Cheap to go out, but…
Edmonton scored 59.2 for the cost of a night out, but only 21.7 for nightlife, 63rd of 75. It still beat Ottawa (19.5) and Brampton (15.5).
The nightlife score counted how many bars, cafés and restaurants a city has, and how densely packed they are. It doesn’t measure whether the music scene is any good or whether you can find your people.
Edmonton’s full scorecard
| Category | Score (out of 100) |
|---|---|
| Rent affordability | 87.2 |
| LGBTQ+ openness | 86.9 |
| Green space | 71.5 |
| Night-out affordability | 59.2 |
| Internet speed | 58.0 |
| Social media exposure | 57.1 |
| Foreign-born residents | 37.9 |
| Population aged 20 to 29 | 34.8 |
| Nightlife | 21.7 |
| Climate | 0 |
| Overall | 47.8 (tied 48th) |
These are index scores comparing the 75 cities. They’re not percentages or survey results.
How the rest of Canada did
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | 5th |
| Toronto | 9th |
| Burnaby | 13th |
| Brampton | 21st |
| Victoria | 25th |
| Montreal | 29th |
| Edmonton | 48th (tied) |
| Ottawa | 56th (tied) |
Dubai came first, followed by Abu Dhabi, Seoul, Auckland and Vancouver.
Calgary wasn’t included in Fact Magazine’s 75 cities, so the study doesn’t compare it with Edmonton.
A different ranking, a different answer
Change what you measure and you get a different list.
Earlier this year, the money transfer company Remitly ranked the best cities for Gen Z to move to. It looked at more than 250 cities and used factors like youth unemployment, safety, salaries and quality of life.
On that list, Edmonton came 35th, ahead of Toronto (39th) and Vancouver (43rd). Calgary came 21st, and Ottawa, which was 56th on Fact’s list, came eighth.
Fact Magazine put the most weight on social media and digital culture (16 per cent), and on nightlife and diversity (14 per cent each). Rent and green space, Edmonton’s strongest categories, counted for just 8 and 6 per cent. Some categories, including internet speed, social media and LGBTQ+ openness, used national data for every Canadian city, which is why Canadian cities often tie.
Neither ranking asked young people where they actually like living.
The bottom line
If you’re in your 20s and you want a more affordable apartment and a huge river valley on your doorstep, Edmonton scores well. If you want packed bars and mild winters, it doesn’t.
If you’re weighing a move, put the rankings beside real job offers and real apartment listings. For job hunters, Edmonton’s universities and colleges are hiring for 196 roles, from entry-level to six figures.
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