Edmonton, Canada

Capital City

Edmonton punches above its weight for a northern city of its size, with urban amenities that belie its remote location. The oil industry keeps the economy humming, but winters here are long and dark—you’ll need serious cold-weather gear and Vitamin D supplements. Downtown feels hollowed out after business hours, while Whyte Avenue offers better street life for expats craving nightlife.

Living in Edmonton means embracing the festival culture to survive the climate, from winter ice sculptures to summer folk music. The North Saskatchewan River provides a surprising greenbelt for hiking and biking. Bureaucracy runs smoother than in smaller Canadian towns, but healthcare wait times still plague the system like much of Canada.