Toronto – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Toronto, the provincial capital of Ontario, is Canada’s most populous city. It is known for one of the biggest freestanding buildings on the planet (the CN tower), supposed to be one of the safest cities in North America and characterized by the diversity of its inhabitants. But how do international rankings and indices assess Toronto’s economic performance, its brand strength, and reputation?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Toronto’s competitiveness and financial performance
• Its city brand strength and global attractiveness
• Livability: how appealing for talent, visitors, and locals?

Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Toronto 30^th, jumping eight positions from the previous ranking—currently between Guangzhou (29^th) and Copenhagen (31^st). It holds the tenth place (out of 14 cities) in the North American region.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Toronto ranks 15^th, a jump of 28 positions from the previous ranking. The city now sits between Dubai (14^th) and Munich (16^th).

City Brand Strength and Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Toronto ranks 12^th globally, sitting between Miami (11^th) and Barcelona (13^th).

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Toronto 23^rd, scoring 10^th in Universities and 11^th in Global 500 Companies. It currently sits between Milan (22^nd) and Boston (24^th).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Toronto 15^th, jumping three positions compared to last year’s publication. Moreover, it ranks 33^rd, a jump of one position, in the same firm’s Global Cities Outlook.

The Global Power City Index ranks Toronto 23^rd. In terms of function-specific rankings, the city fares 18^th in Economy, 20^th in R&D, 29^th in Cultural Interaction, 18^th in Livability, 18^th in Environment, and 24^th in Accessibility. Toronto’s appeal is strong overall: 11^th among Highly-skilled Workers, 13^th among Corporate Executives, 20^th among Residents, and 26^th among Visitors (tourism).

Livability: How Attractive to Live, Work, and Study?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Toronto 17^th, ahead of Berlin and Ottawa (tied in 18^th), but below Luxembourg (16^th). The same company’s Cost of Living Ranking puts Toronto 90^th.

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Toronto ranks a strong 16^th out of 56 global cities—right next to its Canadian sister city of Vancouver (15^th) and the Dutch capital, Amsterdam (17^th).

Lastly, it is home to one of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education Ranking and The QS World University Ranking, the University of Toronto ranks a formidable 21^st.

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Toronto 41^st overall: Planet 57^th, People 29^th, and Profit 26^th.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city profiles in our City Observatory.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Toronto’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.