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The best cities in the world for a good life
22 cities around the world, scored on 14 conditions: the 2026 EIU Liveability Index, the Mercer, Happy City and Monocle rankings, income, public services, safety, housing cost versus income and risks.
Questions the analysis answers
- In which cities of the world is life best?
- Where is life good without Sydney or Vancouver housing prices?
- What risks do the top cities face, from earthquakes to bushfires?
The ranking
22 positions scored on 14 conditions adapted to this topic. The scores are judgement based on the cited sources, with a rationale for each position. Conditions that cannot be assessed yet get 5 (neutral) in the score and do not count as met. The scores are frozen in the snapshot of 3 November 2026 (fingerprint in the .sha256 file).
Extended to 22 entries on 5 November 2026: the first 11 keep the same scores, and 11 new entries were added, with sources. The previous snapshot stays published: social-localitati-lume-2026-11-03.json.
| # | Name | Conditions | Score | Substance / form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vienna | 13/14 | 8.40 | Substance without form |
| 2 | Copenhagen | 12/14 | 8.38 | Substance without form |
| 3 | Geneva | 12/14 | 8.32 | Substance without form |
| 4 | Sydney | 12/14 | 8.10 | Substance confirmed |
| 5 | Melbourne | 12/14 | 8.00 | Substance without form |
| 6 | Luxembourg | 12/14 | 7.96 | Substance without form |
| 7 | Osaka | 12/14 | 7.72 | Substance without form |
| 8 | The Hague | 12/14 | 7.64 | Substance without form |
| 9 | Zurich | 11/14 | 8.34 | Substance confirmed |
| 10 | Oslo | 11/14 | 8.18 | Substance without form |
| 11 | Munich | 11/14 | 8.08 | Substance without form |
| 12 | Helsinki | 11/14 | 7.92 | Substance without form |
| 13 | Stockholm | 11/14 | 7.84 | Substance without form |
| 14 | Adelaide | 11/14 | 7.72 | Substance without form |
| 15 | Vancouver | 11/14 | 7.60 | Substance confirmed |
| 16 | Singapore | 10/14 | 7.96 | Substance confirmed |
| 17 | Tokyo | 10/14 | 7.94 | Substance without form |
| 18 | Amsterdam | 10/14 | 7.54 | Substance confirmed |
| 19 | Toronto | 10/14 | 7.16 | Substance confirmed |
| 20 | Auckland | 10/14 | 7.02 | Substance without form |
| 21 | Wellington | 9/14 | 7.00 | Substance without form |
| 22 | Paris | 8/14 | 7.20 | Substance confirmed |
Each position, condition by condition
Vienna · 13/14 · score 8.40 · Substance without form
Second in the world (97 points), with its best marks in healthcare, education and infrastructure. Social housing makes rents more affordable than in other rich capitals.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 8 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 8 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 10 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 9 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 8 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 9 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 7 | Affordable housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 10 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 7 | Gaining appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 6 | Average crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 9 | Low risks. |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Copenhagen · 12/14 · score 8.38 · Substance without form
The world’s first city in the 2026 EIU index (98 points), for the second year running, with top marks for stability, education and infrastructure; housing is expensive.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 9 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 8 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 10 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 9 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 8 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 9 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 4 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 9 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 8 | Gaining appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 6 | Average crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 9 | Low risks. |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Geneva · 12/14 · score 8.32 · Substance without form
Sixth in the world (96 points). An international city, with high wages and many international organisations, but very expensive housing.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 10 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 7 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 9 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 10 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 9 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 9 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 9 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 2 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 8 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | An uncrowded city. |
| C14 | Risks | 9 | Low risks. |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Sydney · 12/14 · score 8.10 · Substance confirmed
Fourth in the world (97 points), up from 6th. Spectacular nature and many jobs, but one of the world’s most expensive housing markets relative to income.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 9 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 9 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 10 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 10 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 10 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 9 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 9 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 8 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 8 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 1 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 9 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 8 | Gaining appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 4 | Heavy traffic and crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 7 | Low risks. |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Melbourne · 12/14 · score 8.00 · Substance without form
Third in the world (97 points), with 100 in healthcare and education and 96 in culture and environment. Housing is expensive relative to income, and heatwaves and bushfires are a risk.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 8 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 8 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 9 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 10 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 10 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 9 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 8 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 7 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 8 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 3 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 10 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 8 | Gaining appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 6 | Average crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 7 | Low risks. |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Luxembourg · 12/14 · score 7.96 · Substance without form
Seventeenth at Mercer; Europe’s highest wages, free public transport and European institutions. Housing is very expensive and the city is small.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 10 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 9 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 8 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 8 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 8 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 7 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 3 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 7 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | An uncrowded city. |
| C14 | Risks | 10 | Low risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
Osaka · 12/14 · score 7.72 · Substance without form
Seventh in the world (96 points), one of the safest big cities. Housing is much more affordable than in Western Europe or Australia; but the earthquake risk is high.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 7 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 8 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 8 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 10 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 10 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 9 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 7 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 9 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 10 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 7 | Affordable housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 9 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 7 | Gaining appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 5 | Average crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 4 | High risks (for example, seismic). |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
The Hague · 12/14 · score 7.64 · Substance without form
Fourteenth at Mercer and 15th in the Happy City Index 2026; a city of international institutions, by the sea, quieter and cheaper than Amsterdam.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 8 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 8 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 8 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 8 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 8 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 5 | Average-priced housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 7 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | An uncrowded city. |
| C14 | Risks | 8 | Low risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
Zurich · 11/14 · score 8.34 · Substance confirmed
Fifth in the world (96 points), down from joint 2nd, because of lower marks in culture and environment. Very high wages, but extremely expensive housing.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 10 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 8 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 9 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 10 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 10 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 9 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 9 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 9 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 2 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 8 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 5 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 6 | Average crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 9 | Low risks. |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Oslo · 11/14 · score 8.18 · Substance without form
Twenty-second at Mercer and 14th in the Happy City Index 2026; very high wages, nature at the edge of the city and a rich country. The cost of living is among the highest in the world.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 10 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 6 | An average labour market. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 10 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 7 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 4 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 8 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | An uncrowded city. |
| C14 | Risks | 9 | Low risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
Munich · 11/14 · score 8.08 · Substance without form
Eleventh at Mercer and 9th in the Happy City Index 2026; high wages, strong industry and the Alps nearby. Germany’s most expensive city for housing.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 9 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 9 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 9 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 9 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 3 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 9 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 6 | Average crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 9 | Low risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
Helsinki · 11/14 · score 7.92 · Substance without form
Second in the Happy City Index 2026; top education, very good public services and nature close by. Winters are long and dark, and the Finnish economy is growing slowly.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 8 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 6 | An average labour market. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 9 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 8 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 10 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 6 | Average-priced housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 8 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | An uncrowded city. |
| C14 | Risks | 8 | Low risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
Stockholm · 11/14 · score 7.84 · Substance without form
Eighteenth at Mercer; a city on the water with a strong tech ecosystem. Waits for long-term rentals last years, and violent crime has risen.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 9 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 8 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 9 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 8 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 7 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 4 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 9 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 6 | Average crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 8 | Low risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
Adelaide · 11/14 · score 7.72 · Substance without form
Eighth in the world (96 points), the third Australian city in the top 10. Quieter and cheaper than Sydney or Melbourne, but with fewer jobs.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 7 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 6 | An average labour market. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 10 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 10 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 8 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 6 | Partly connected. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 5 | Average-priced housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 8 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 8 | Gaining appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 9 | An uncrowded city. |
| C14 | Risks | 7 | Low risks. |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Vancouver · 11/14 · score 7.60 · Substance confirmed
Ninth in the world (96 points), up one place, the only North American city in the top 10. Exceptional nature, but housing among the most expensive in the world relative to income, and seismic risk.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 8 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 8 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 9 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 10 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 10 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 8 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 8 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 1 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 8 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 7 | Gaining appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 6 | Average crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 5 | A few risks. |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Singapore · 10/14 · score 7.96 · Substance confirmed
Twenty-second in the Happy City Index 2026; Asia’s safest and best-connected city, with high wages and excellent public services. Private housing and cars are very expensive.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 10 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 10 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 10 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 6 | Acceptable nature and air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 10 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 10 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 3 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 8 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 4 | Heavy traffic and crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 8 | Low risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025); CNN: the world’s most livable cities for 2026 (EIU)
Tokyo · 10/14 · score 7.94 · Substance without form
Tenth in the world (96 points), rising. The biggest labour market on the list, very safe and very well connected, but crowded and exposed to earthquakes.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 9 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 10 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 9 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 10 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 10 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 9 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 6 | Acceptable nature and air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 10 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 10 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 5 | Average-priced housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 10 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 7 | Gaining appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 2 | Heavy traffic and crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 4 | High risks (for example, seismic). |
Sources: Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU); SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Amsterdam · 10/14 · score 7.54 · Substance confirmed
Sixth at Mercer; very international, with a large airport and many company headquarters. Its housing crisis is one of the worst in Europe.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 9 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 9 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 6 | Acceptable nature and air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 10 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 8 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 2 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 10 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 4 | Heavy traffic and crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 7 | Low risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
Toronto · 10/14 · score 7.16 · Substance confirmed
Thirteenth at Mercer; Canada’s largest city, very diverse, with finance and technology. Housing is very expensive relative to income.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 8 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 9 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 8 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 7 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 6 | Acceptable nature and air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 9 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 8 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 2 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 9 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 5 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 4 | Heavy traffic and crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 8 | Low risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
Auckland · 10/14 · score 7.02 · Substance without form
Twelfth in the world, after falling five places and dropping out of the top 10, with lower marks in healthcare and infrastructure. Excellent nature, but expensive housing and a remote city.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 7 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 7 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 8 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 8 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 7 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 9 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 6 | Partly connected. |
| C9 | Safety | 8 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 3 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 8 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 4 | Losing appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | An uncrowded city. |
| C14 | Risks | 6 | A few risks. |
Sources: 1News: Auckland drops out of the top 10 in the 2026 EIU ranking; ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
Wellington · 9/14 · score 7.00 · Substance without form
Fourteenth at Mercer; a small, friendly capital with excellent nature. New Zealand’s economy is weak and earthquake risk is high.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 7 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 6 | An average labour market. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 8 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 8 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 9 | Nature nearby and clean air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 6 | Partly connected. |
| C9 | Safety | 9 | A safe city. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 4 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 8 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 4 | Losing appeal. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | An uncrowded city. |
| C14 | Risks | 5 | A few risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
Paris · 8/14 · score 7.20 · Substance confirmed
First in Monocle’s 2025 ranking; the richest cultural offer in the world and the best transport in Europe. Small, expensive homes, crowding and safety are the downsides.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | 9 | High wages. |
| C2 | Jobs | 10 | Many jobs, a diversified economy. |
| C3 | Attractiveness | 7 | Among the most desired cities in the world. |
| C4 | Education | 9 | A large university centre. |
| C5 | Healthcare | 9 | A university medical centre. |
| C6 | Public services | 8 | Excellent public services. |
| C7 | Nature and air | 5 | Acceptable nature and air. |
| C8 | Connectivity | 10 | Airport and motorway. |
| C9 | Safety | 6 | Average safety. |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | 2 | Very expensive housing relative to local income. |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | 10 | A very rich cultural and leisure offer. |
| C12 | Trend | 6 | Stable. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 2 | Heavy traffic and crowding. |
| C14 | Risks | 6 | A few risks. |
Sources: Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
The data behind the scores
The analysis’s sources
- Business Today: the world’s 10 most liveable cities in 2026 (EIU)
- SiViaggia: the 2026 EIU ranking, with the cities’ scores
- ThePrint: what changed in the 2026 EIU ranking
- Wikipedia: city quality-of-life indices (Mercer 2024, Happy City Index 2026, Monocle 2025)
- CNN: the world’s most livable cities for 2026 (EIU)
- 1News: Auckland drops out of the top 10 in the 2026 EIU ranking
What the analysis shows
Vienna meets the most conditions (13 of 14). The ranking rewards substance: real results and real opportunities, weighed against how hard and how expensive they are to reach, not only fame.
The rankings are indicative and rest on public data as of the snapshot date. The right choice depends on each person’s situation.
How we apply the 14 conditions in this domain
The same algorithm as for crypto, companies and commodities: each condition gets a score from 0 to 10 and is met from 7. The weights are identical in every domain; only what we measure in practice changes.
| # | Condition | What we measure | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Income | The level of wages in the city. | 16% |
| C2 | Jobs | Vacancies and the diversity of the economy. | 6% |
| C3 | Attractiveness | Where people would like to live. | 6% |
| C4 | Education | Universities and good high schools. | 8% |
| C5 | Healthcare | Hospitals and university medical centres. | 6% |
| C6 | Public services | The quality of administration, transport and public services. | 8% |
| C7 | Nature and air | Green spaces, mountains, sea, air quality. | 8% |
| C8 | Connectivity | Airport, motorway, rail. | 4% |
| C9 | Safety | Crime and street safety. | 6% |
| C10 | Housing cost versus income | How many years of wages a home costs (fewer = better). | 6% |
| C11 | Culture and leisure | Theatres, concerts, museums, festivals, restaurants, sport. | 6% |
| C12 | Trend | The city is gaining or losing appeal. | 6% |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | Traffic and density. | 6% |
| C14 | Risks | Earthquakes, pollution, floods. | 8% |
Questions about the reasoning
Do you disagree with a score, or want to know why an asset is where it is? Ask. We answer with the weekly update, with sources, by email and, if you agree, here on the page.
Answered questions
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Sources
The sources will be listed here together with the data.