The Best Student Cities In The World Were Ranked & A Bunch Of Canadian Spots Made The Cut

Rent, cost of living and the places where you can get food were all factors.

Senior Writer

There are lots of places across the country with post-secondary schools and some are far better than others, according to a new ranking of the best student cities in the world.

Studee, a company that helps students find their perfect post-secondary school, released its Student Cities Index for 2021, which ranks cities based on rent, cost of living, price of a MacBook, internet speed, percentage of young people, number of high-ranking universities, places for food, safety and free speech.

Quebec City was the highest-ranking spot in Canada, taking fourth place because it scored well in almost all the categories, including the cheap cost of a MacBook, rent and safety. It also has two high-ranking universities.

In sixth place was Montreal, and Studee said the city's affordable rent, below-average cost of living and three high-ranking post-secondary schools make it a great place to be a student.

Vancouver took the 20th spot in this 100-city ranking, with an average rent of over $2,000, cost of living at $1,150 and two top universities. Just one spot below Vancouver was Toronto in 21st place, with average rent at almost $2,000, cost of living at more than $1,200 and three high-ranking universities.

The last Canadian city in the ranking was Ottawa in 22nd place. It has an average rent of just over $1,600, a cost of living at almost $1,200 and two high-ranking universities.

All of the Canadian cities that made the cut in the Student Cities Index for 2021 also scored highly in the free speech category.

  • Senior Writer

    Lisa Belmonte (she/her) is a Senior Writer with Narcity Media. After graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), she joined the Narcity team. Lisa covers news and notices from across the country from a Canada-wide perspective. Her early coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic earned Narcity its first-ever national journalism award nomination.

Toronto and Vancouver attract the most newcomers despite high living costs

Rent takes 68 per cent of Toronto renters’ costs and 71 per cent in Vancouver.

University of Toronto isn't the top school in Canada's best universities ranking for 2027

You might not expect some of the universities that are on this list.

Two dead in suspected grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, B.C.

Two dead in suspected grizzly attack in B.C.

Ontario's white Christmas forecast reveals which places have the chance for a snowy holiday

It doesn't have to be snowing on December 25 to be a white Christmas!

Government of Canada jobs with the CRA that pay close to $100,000 are open in Ontario

You need a degree or an accounting designation for these positions.