Canada + USA · 29 places

Best places to live for live music in Canada and the USA

Music cities with venues and festivals most nights of the week.

Order: Lowest cost of living first. Figures are approximate and meant for comparing places, not official statistics.

Best for live music in Canada

  1. #1 · Alberta, Canada

    Edmonton

    River valley capital with big festivals and cheap homes.

    January / July
    -10°C / 17°C
    Sunny days a year
    325
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    20 min / 1h / 35 min
    Typical home price
    C$430,000
    Cost of living
    90 (100 = national average)
    Big cityLower costGolfLive music
  2. #2 · Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

    St. John's

    Colourful, foggy port city with pubs and coastal trails.

    January / July
    -5°C / 16°C
    Sunny days a year
    200
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    2h / 15 min / 15 min
    Typical home price
    C$360,000
    Cost of living
    92 (100 = national average)
    HikingLive musicFood sceneLower cost
  3. #3 · Québec, Canada

    Montréal

    Festivals, food and French culture at big-city value.

    January / July
    -9°C / 21°C
    Sunny days a year
    200
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    1h / 30 min / 25 min
    Typical home price
    C$600,000
    Cost of living
    95 (100 = national average)
    French-speakingBig cityNightlifeFood sceneLive musicLower cost
  4. #4 · Ontario, Canada

    Kingston

    Limestone university city at the Thousand Islands.

    January / July
    -8°C / 21°C
    Sunny days a year
    290
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    1h 10m / 5 min / 2h
    Typical home price
    C$600,000
    Cost of living
    95 (100 = national average)
    Lake lifeGolfFood sceneLive music
  5. #5 · Ontario, Canada

    Toronto

    Canada's biggest city, with neighbourhoods for every taste.

    January / July
    -5°C / 22°C
    Sunny days a year
    200
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    2h / 15 min / 30 min
    Typical home price
    C$1,050,000
    Cost of living
    125 (100 = national average)
    Big cityNightlifeFood sceneLive music

Best for live music in the USA

  1. #1 · Tennessee, USA

    Memphis

    Blues, barbecue and some of the cheapest big-city homes.

    January / July
    5°C / 28°C
    Sunny days a year
    220
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    3h+ / 1h / 15 min
    Typical home price
    US$220,000
    Cost of living
    84 (100 = national average)
    Big cityLive musicFood sceneLower cost
  2. #2 · Ohio, USA

    Cleveland

    Affordable Lake Erie city with great museums and orchestra.

    January / July
    -3°C / 23°C
    Sunny days a year
    166
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    40 min / 10 min / 20 min
    Typical home price
    US$120,000
    Cost of living
    87 (100 = national average)
    Big cityLake lifeLive musicLower cost
  3. #3 · Michigan, USA

    Detroit

    Rebounding Motor City with cheap homes and a riverfront.

    January / July
    -4°C / 23°C
    Sunny days a year
    183
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    45 min / 30 min / 25 min
    Typical home price
    US$95,000
    Cost of living
    88 (100 = national average)
    Big cityLive musicLower costFood scene
  4. #4 · Missouri, USA

    St. Louis

    Gateway Arch city with cheap historic homes and free museums.

    January / July
    0°C / 27°C
    Sunny days a year
    205
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    45 min / 1h / 20 min
    Typical home price
    US$200,000
    Cost of living
    89 (100 = national average)
    Big cityLive musicFood sceneLower cost
  5. #5 · Missouri, USA

    Kansas City

    Barbecue and jazz capital with low costs and big skies.

    January / July
    -1°C / 26°C
    Sunny days a year
    215
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    40 min / 45 min / 25 min
    Typical home price
    US$250,000
    Cost of living
    92 (100 = national average)
    Big cityLive musicFood sceneLower cost
  6. #6 · Wisconsin, USA

    Milwaukee

    Lake Michigan city of festivals, beer and affordable homes.

    January / July
    -5°C / 22°C
    Sunny days a year
    189
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    50 min / 5 min / 15 min
    Typical home price
    US$220,000
    Cost of living
    93 (100 = national average)
    Big cityLake lifeLive musicLower cost
  7. #7 · North Carolina, USA

    Asheville

    A creative mountain town in the Blue Ridge.

    January / July
    3°C / 24°C
    Sunny days a year
    210
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    1h / 30 min / 25 min
    Typical home price
    US$450,000
    Cost of living
    95 (100 = national average)
    HikingLive musicFood sceneLower costSmall townRemote-work hub
  8. #8 · Louisiana, USA

    New Orleans

    Jazz, Creole cooking and French Quarter festivals all year.

    January / July
    12°C / 28°C
    Sunny days a year
    215
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    3h+ / 15 min / 25 min
    Typical home price
    US$280,000
    Cost of living
    98 (100 = national average)
    Warm wintersBig cityLive musicFood sceneNightlifeFrench-speaking
  9. #9 · Tennessee, USA

    Nashville

    Music City, with fast-growing neighbourhoods.

    January / July
    3°C / 26°C
    Sunny days a year
    205
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    3h+ / 30 min / 20 min
    Typical home price
    US$450,000
    Cost of living
    100 (100 = national average)
    Live musicNightlifeFood sceneBig city
  10. #10 · Maryland, USA

    Baltimore

    Harbor city with rowhouses, crabs and low home prices.

    January / July
    1°C / 26°C
    Sunny days a year
    213
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    1h 15m / 1h / 20 min
    Typical home price
    US$190,000
    Cost of living
    100 (100 = national average)
    Big cityFood sceneLive musicLower cost
  11. #11 · Georgia, USA

    Atlanta

    Leafy neighbourhoods, huge airport and a booming job market.

    January / July
    7°C / 27°C
    Sunny days a year
    217
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    3h+ / 50 min / 20 min
    Typical home price
    US$420,000
    Cost of living
    104 (100 = national average)
    Big cityFood sceneLive musicNightlifeGolf
  12. #12 · Minnesota, USA

    Minneapolis

    City of lakes and bike trails with long, snowy winters.

    January / July
    -9°C / 23°C
    Sunny days a year
    198
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    25 min / 5 min / 20 min
    Typical home price
    US$330,000
    Cost of living
    104 (100 = national average)
    Big cityLake lifeLive musicFood scene
  13. #13 · Wisconsin, USA

    Madison

    Lake-ringed college capital with bike paths and farmers markets.

    January / July
    -7°C / 22°C
    Sunny days a year
    190
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    30 min / In town / 15 min
    Typical home price
    US$400,000
    Cost of living
    104 (100 = national average)
    Lake lifeFood sceneLive musicHiking
  14. #14 · Texas, USA

    Austin

    Live music, tech jobs and warm winters.

    January / July
    11°C / 30°C
    Sunny days a year
    230
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    3h+ / 15 min / 20 min
    Typical home price
    US$550,000
    Cost of living
    105 (100 = national average)
    Warm wintersLive musicNightlifeRemote-work hubFood sceneBig city
  15. #15 · Pennsylvania, USA

    Philadelphia

    Historic, walkable big city with a lively food scene.

    January / July
    1°C / 26°C
    Sunny days a year
    207
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    1h 15m / 1h 15m / 20 min
    Typical home price
    US$230,000
    Cost of living
    106 (100 = national average)
    Big cityFood sceneNightlifeLive music
  16. #16 · Illinois, USA

    Chicago

    Lakefront city with world-class food and architecture.

    January / July
    -4°C / 24°C
    Sunny days a year
    189
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    1h 30m / 10 min / 30 min
    Typical home price
    US$340,000
    Cost of living
    107 (100 = national average)
    Big cityLake lifeNightlifeLive musicFood scene
  17. #17 · Montana, USA

    Missoula

    River town with a college vibe and big wild nearby.

    January / July
    -4°C / 20°C
    Sunny days a year
    170
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    25 min / 1h 30m / 10 min
    Typical home price
    US$520,000
    Cost of living
    110 (100 = national average)
    Small townSkiingHikingLive music
  18. #18 · Michigan, USA

    Ann Arbor

    Leafy university town with top schools and a lively downtown.

    January / July
    -4°C / 22°C
    Sunny days a year
    180
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    30 min / 30 min / 25 min
    Typical home price
    US$500,000
    Cost of living
    112 (100 = national average)
    Food sceneLive musicLake life
  19. #19 · New York, USA

    Saratoga Springs

    Charming spa town with horse racing and summer concerts.

    January / July
    -7°C / 21°C
    Sunny days a year
    175
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    20 min / 15 min / 30 min
    Typical home price
    US$500,000
    Cost of living
    112 (100 = national average)
    Small townFood sceneLive musicLake life
  20. #20 · Oregon, USA

    Portland

    Food carts, bridges and Mount Hood an hour away.

    January / July
    5°C / 21°C
    Sunny days a year
    144
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    1h 15m / 1h 30m / 20 min
    Typical home price
    US$540,000
    Cost of living
    125 (100 = national average)
    Big cityFood sceneHikingSkiingLive music
  21. #21 · Rhode Island, USA

    Newport

    Historic sailing town with mansions and ocean cliffs.

    January / July
    -1°C / 22°C
    Sunny days a year
    205
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    40 min / 5 min / 35 min
    Typical home price
    US$900,000
    Cost of living
    135 (100 = national average)
    Small townBeachFood sceneLive music
  22. #22 · District of Columbia, USA

    Washington DC

    Capital city with free museums and leafy neighborhoods.

    January / July
    2°C / 27°C
    Sunny days a year
    203
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    1h 30m / 1h / 15 min
    Typical home price
    US$600,000
    Cost of living
    140 (100 = national average)
    Big cityNightlifeFood sceneLive music
  23. #23 · Colorado, USA

    Boulder

    Flatirons trails and a lively university town.

    January / July
    1°C / 23°C
    Sunny days a year
    245
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    35 min / 10 min / 45 min
    Typical home price
    US$1,100,000
    Cost of living
    150 (100 = national average)
    HikingSkiingFood sceneRemote-work hubLive music
  24. #24 · New York, USA

    New York City

    The ultimate big city for culture, food and career.

    January / July
    1°C / 25°C
    Sunny days a year
    234
    Drive to ski hill / water / airport
    1h 15m / 40 min / 35 min
    Typical home price
    US$780,000
    Cost of living
    165 (100 = national average)
    Big cityNightlifeLive musicFood sceneBeach
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Best places to live for live music in Canada and the USA · Pinned