Top 50 Most Liveable Cities of 2023: Western Europe, Canada and Australia
The world has rebounded from the challenging times brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, and living conditions in cities across the globe have made a remarkable recovery. According to the latest liveability index, cities in the Asia-Pacific region have experienced the most significant bounce back. The index evaluates living conditions in 173 cities based on stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Surprisingly, the results indicate that life in cities is now better than it has been in the past 15 years. So, which cities emerged as the frontrunners? Let’s dive into the rankings below.
- Ranked 1: Vienna, Austria
- Ranked 2: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Ranked 3: Zurich, Switzerland
- Ranked 3: Calgary, Canada
- Ranked 4: Wellington, New Zealand
- Ranked 5: Vancouver, Canada
- Ranked 6: Geneva, Switzerland
- Ranked 7: Frankfurt, Germany
- Ranked 8: Toronto, Canada
- Ranked 9: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Ranked 10: Osaka, Japan and Melbourne, Australia
- Ranked 12: Helsinki, Finland
- Ranked 13: Berlin, Germany and Sydney, Australia
- Ranked 15: Tokyo, Japan
- Ranked 16: Hamburg, Germany
- Ranked 17: Luxembourg, Luxembourg
- Ranked 18: Munich, Germany
- Ranked 19: Paris, France
- Ranked 20: Oslo, Norway
- Ranked 21: Stockholm, Sweden
- Ranked 22: Dusseldorf, Germany
- Ranked 23: Montreal, Canada
- Ranked 24: Brussels, Belgium
- Ranked 25: Lyon, France
- Ranked 26: Atlanta, US
- Ranked 27: Brisbane, Australia
- Ranked 28: Manchester, UK and Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Ranked 30: Washington, DC, US
- Ranked 31: Adelaide, Australia and Honolulu, US
- Ranked 33: Perth, Australia
- Ranked 34: London, UK and Pittsburgh, United States
- Ranked 35: Auckland, New Zealand, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, and Budapest, Hungary
- Ranked 36: Seattle, United States
- Ranked 37: Barcelona, Spain, Dublin, Ireland, and Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Ranked 39: Singapore, Singapore and Detroit, United States
- Ranked 40: Cleveland, United States and Los Angeles, United States
- Ranked 41: Chicago, United States and Miami, United States
- Ranked 43: Madrid, Spain
- Ranked 44: Boston, United States and Houston, United States
- Ranked 45: San Francisco, United States
- Ranked 46: Minneapolis, United States
- Ranked 47: Reykjavik, Iceland
- Ranked 49: Milan, Italy
Originally designed to assist companies in calculating hardship allowances for employees relocating to potentially less desirable cities, the liveability survey also provides a snapshot of the most and least desirable cities for expats. Vienna, renowned for its stability, rich culture and entertainment scene, and reliable infrastructure, has claimed the top spot for the fourth time in five years. Following closely is Copenhagen, a city of similar size and possessing comparable characteristics. Melbourne, a consistent contender at the summit of the rankings, secures a respectable third place. Interestingly, nine out of the top ten cities are small to mid-sized, and all ten, along with the majority of the top 50, are located in affluent nations. Conversely, large cities grappling with high crime rates, congestion, and density tend to fare less favorably. London, having slipped 12 places since last year, now finds itself in the 46th position, while New York has fallen ten spots to 69th.
Several cities have made significant strides to improve their liveability, with Wellington and Auckland leaping 35 and 25 places respectively compared to the previous year. Similarly, Hanoi has surged 20 spots, and Kuala Lumpur has jumped an impressive 19 positions. The post-pandemic period witnessed notable enhancements in education and healthcare scores across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, which accounts for the rise in living standards this year.
On the other end of the spectrum, some cities continue to struggle with abysmal living conditions. Damascus has consistently claimed the unenviable title of the least liveable city in the index for over a decade. However, it is worth noting that Tripoli, ranked just above Damascus, has a significantly higher score, indicating a relatively better situation despite the ravages of war in Syria. Kyiv, despite its efforts to shield itself from the ongoing conflict, also finds itself in the bottom ten. Excluded from the index in 2022 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during data collection, Kyiv has the lowest infrastructure score at a mere 23.2 out of 100, a result of the destructive impact of Russian bombs.
Among the five categories evaluated by eiu’s survey, only the stability score showed a decline on average in 2023. While stability scores in several eastern European cities, which had plummeted in 2022 due to their proximity to Ukraine, experienced a recovery this year, other regions faced deteriorating stability. Strikes in Greece, pension protests in France, and violent clashes in Israel and Peru all contributed to reduced scores in these countries. Inflationary pressures may further erode stability scores in various parts of the world, potentially impacting overall liveability scores in the coming year.
The eiu’s liveability index provides valuable insights into the quality of life in cities worldwide, serving as a crucial resource for businesses and expats alike. As we witness the recovery and revitalization of cities following the challenges of the pandemic, it is heartening to see improvements across multiple regions, while also recognizing the ongoing struggles faced by certain cities. Ultimately, the pursuit of better living conditions remains an ongoing endeavor, and these rankings shed light on the cities that have succeeded and those that still have room to grow.
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