Resonance Consultancy, a global city ranking organization, has released its 2023 rankings of 100 World’s Best Cities.
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The consultancy uses a combination of statistical performance and qualitative evaluations to rank global cities in various categories. The categories include Place, Product, Programming, People, Prosperity, and Promotion.
In the Place category, factors such as weather, safety, sights & landmarks, and outdoor activities are evaluated. The Product category focuses on a city’s infrastructure, attractions, museums, universities, and convention centers. Programming assesses cultural experiences, nightlife, restaurants, and shopping. People category considers labour force participation and educational attainment. Prosperity examines the presence of Fortune 500 headquarters, GDP per capita, employment rate, and income equality. Promotion evaluates a city’s online presence, including Facebook check-ins, Google search results, TripAdvisor reviews, Instagram hashtags, and popularity on Google Trends.
Moscow and St. Petersburg were disqualified this year due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The top 10 cities are London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Dubai, Barcelona, Rome, Madrid, Singapore, and Amsterdam. These cities are recognized for their outstanding characteristics and attractions, making them highly desirable destinations.
The historic capital city Ukraine, Kyiv, was recognised as Honorary World’s Best City.
Canadian cities of Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa feature in the top 100.
24. Toronto
Resonance Consultancy says Canada’s largest city is experiencing economic growth fueled by immigration and global investment. With nearly half of its population being foreign-born, Toronto benefits from diversity and education. The University of Toronto ranks 9th globally, and the residents are considered the 20th most educated.
The city’s economy, already home to the seventh-highest number of Global 500 head offices, and the report says the city is expected to thrive further with an increase in skilled immigrants. Toronto is also the fastest-growing metropolitan area in North America and projected to have the third-highest population in North America in less than 50 years. Additionally, the city offers cultural attractions like the recently reopened Massey Hall and “new hotels like the W are opening, as are elevated High Line-esque parks and Paris-ish swimming spots.”
57. Montreal
100 World’s Best Cities says Montreal faced challenges during the pandemic but is now rebounding. Despite early impacts, the city adapted by transforming streets into outdoor spaces with art and music, and expanding bike lanes.
Montreal’s rich culture is evident, with a thriving indie music scene and creative atmosphere. The city’s commitment to innovation is showcased by McGill University’s global ranking and the Université de Montréal’s focus on artificial intelligence. Montreal’s growing tech expertise has attracted significant foreign investment, including in its real estate sector.
65. Calgary
Calgary, Canada’s energy capital, is focused on building a sustainable future and moving away from its struggling oil industry.
Resonance Consultancy finds that despite Toronto being the country’s business center, Calgary has always been a challenger with a young population and a strong entrepreneurial spirit forged by the oil industry. The city has the highest GDP per capita in Canada, but it has recently faced economic hardships, exacerbated by the pandemic and fluctuating oil prices. However, Calgary is slowly recovering, with increased home construction and affordable real estate attracting new residents. The city’s quality of life, highlighted by “Central Library in the burgeoning cultural hub of East Village, reinforces the city’s long-lauded quality of life that awaits arrivals.” Additionally, several new hotels cater to returning business travellers.
69. Vancouver
World’s Best Cities report ranks Vancouver, the most Asian city outside of Asia, combines intelligence and beauty 69th globally but finds that the high cost of living is a drawback. The city’s population growth is driven by its pan-Asian sensibility, attracting people from diverse backgrounds.
The report says Vancouver is renowned for its safety, intelligence (the University of British Columbia ranking 18th globally), and social consciousness (Income Equality ranking 20th). The city’s stunning urban landscape offers easy access to outdoor activities. Vancouver’s housing market is influenced by global factors, detached from local wages, due to foreign investment. Fortunately, tech firms from Silicon Valley and Seattle are drawn to Vancouver’s openness to global tech talent.
96. Ottawa
Ottawa, the cosmopolitan capital of Canada, is gaining recognition for its brainpower and attracting people from around the world. The city’s high level of educational attainment, ranking 15th globally, contributes to its intellectual prowess. This intelligence drives the success of approximately 1,800 knowledge-based businesses across various sectors, creating tens of thousands of new jobs and ranking 27 in Income Equality.
According to the report, Ottawa also offers a relatively affordable cost of living, although housing prices are rising. The city offers numerous attractions and is focused on Indigenous reconciliation, exemplified by initiatives like Mādahòkì Farm.