Los Angeles – Looking for your next place to call home? The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has just announced it Global Liveability Index 2024Showcasing the top cities around the world to live in.
Whether you’re looking for excellent healthcare, a vibrant cultural scene or a safe and welcoming community, these cities can offer what you’re looking for.
EIU, a division of The Economist Group, assesses cities globally, focusing on various factors that make a city livable.
How are cities ranked?
EIU’s report examines 173 cities using 30 indicators divided into different categories, including sustainability, healthcare, culture, environment, education and infrastructure. Cities are then ranked on a 100-point scale for how comfortable they are to live.
Vienna tops the list again
For the third consecutive year, Vienna, Austria, celebrated for its cultural richness and public services, claimed the title of the world’s best city to live in. Western Europe is the world’s most liveable region, with eight cities in the top 20. Copenhagen, Denmark was second and Zurich, Switzerland third, dethroning Melbourne, Australia, which took the spot last year.
Global trends in living
This year’s report highlights positive trends in developing nations due to improvements in healthcare and education. However, these gains are somewhat offset by declining scores in some top-tier cities due to geopolitical risks and other factors.
Notably, cities in developing regions have made significant progress in improving their living standards.
Best Cities to Live in the US
The US Not quite cracking the top 20 globally, Honolulu took the top spot as the best US city to live in, ranking 23rd overall.
Smaller cities such as Pittsburgh, Boston and Minneapolis outperformed larger metropolises such as New York and Los Angeles, which had poorer ratings for stability and infrastructure.
People enjoy a sunny spring day in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral on April 4, 2024 in Vienna, Austria.
Biggest changes in rankings
Europe, although dominating the top 20, faces challenges with a drop in sustainability scores due to a surge in protests. Hong Kong has seen significant improvement, climbing the ranks thanks to better stability and healthcare. In contrast, the ongoing conflict in Gaza led to sharp declines in Tel Aviv, while Gulf cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi saw major improvements.
Ranking of the best cities to live in around the world
- Vienna, Austria
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Melbourne, Australia
- Calgary, Canada (bound with Geneva)
- Geneva, Switzerland (tie)
- Sydney, Australia (tied to Vancouver)
- Vancouver, Canada (tie)
- Osaka, Japan (tied with Auckland)
- Auckland, New Zealand (tie)
Ranking the best cities to live in the US
- Honolulu, Hawaii (Overall Ranking: 23)
- Atlanta, Georgia (Overall Ranking: 29)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Overall Ranking: 30)
- Seattle, Washington (overall ranking: 34)
- Washington DC (overall ranking: 38)
- Chicago, Illinois (overall ranking: 39)
- Boston, Massachusetts (overall ranking: 45)
- Miami, Florida (overall ranking: 47)
- San Francisco, California (overall ranking: 49)
- Minneapolis, Minnesota (overall ranking: 50)