Why Canadians Are Rethinking What “A Good Life” Looks Like

For younger Canadians especially, success is starting to look less like a checklist of traditional milestones and more like a balance between money, experiences, relationships and personal freedom.

1. Money Still Matters—But It Isn’t the Whole Goal

Ipsos found 79% of Gen Z and 74% of Millennials prioritize career satisfaction and personal growth over income level. That doesn’t mean younger Canadians don’t care about money; it suggests they’re increasingly asking what the money is supposed to provide.

2. Experiences Are Beating Early Retirement

Nearly 7 in 10 Gen Z Canadians and 60% of Millennials told Ipsos they would favor experiences over early retirement. For a generation facing higher housing and living costs, the traditional idea of working relentlessly now to enjoy life much later is losing some appeal.

3. “Stability” Has Become More Important

Abacus Data found 36% of Canadians say their biggest focus right now is keeping themselves and their families safe, healthy and financially stable. Another 28% are focused on meeting basic needs such as food, housing and daily essentials.

4. Homeownership Isn’t the Automatic Finish Line

Housing affordability is forcing Canadians to reconsider what financial success looks like. Statistics Canada reports that only 46.1% of Canadians rated their life satisfaction at 8 or higher in Q2 2025, down from 51.4% three years earlier.

5. Family Still Ranks High

Ipsos’ 2026 global happiness research found that feeling appreciated and loved, along with family relationships, are among the strongest drivers of happiness. That helps explain why “a good life” can increasingly mean having time for people rather than simply accumulating things.

6. Even Retirement Is Being Rewritten

Among Canadians under 35, 65% believe retirement will look different for their generation, while 49% think they’ll need to work longer and retire later than their parents. The old finish line is moving—and Canadians are having to decide what they actually want on the other side.