The best cities in the world to live in 2024

The best cities in the world to live in: the updated 2024 ranking based on livability, friendliness, and prosperity.

Resonance Consultancy has drawn up the annual report on the best cities in the world to live in 2024, taking into consideration more than 270 global destinations with at least 1 million inhabitants. The ranking is drawn up following the attribution of a score to each city on the list, taking into account the criteria of livability, friendliness and prosperity.

The research team analyzed various aspects of life in the city, from purely economic considerations such as GDP per capita and the poverty rate to eco-sustainability through the presence of mapped cycle paths, the quality of parks, and walkability. Entertainment and cultural spaces also had their relevance, with restaurants, nightclubs, shops, and museums counted.

Furthermore, Resonance Consultancy also took into account the opinions of tourists and travelers, taking note of the reviews and the number of recommendations made for example on Tripadvisor, Google, and social networks. Thanks to these and numerous other factors, we have arrived at a ranking of the best cities in the world. Italy does not conquer the top 10 positions, with a small gap.

1. London, England

The record for the best city in the world in 2024 goes to London, defined as "the capital of capitals". In particular, it has been praised for its resilience following events that have shaken it recently, demonstrated by the opening of the new Elizabeth Line railway, hotels, major brands, and stunning new buildings.

2. Paris, France

Silver medal to Paris, thanks to the opening of Notre Dame, the next Olympic Games, and the renovation of the Parisian Charles de Gaulle airport. Not only that, the attention to walkability and outdoor living was also particularly appreciated, together with the renovation of the hotels to welcome travelers with comfort and cutting-edge technologies.

3. New York, United States

Third place goes to New York, with a very respectable score both in urban recovery and in terms of greenery in the city. Scheduled shows, new parks, and hotels join museums, theaters, and a gigantic new green space: Little Island, measuring 2.4 hectares.

4. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo takes fourth place in particular thanks to shops, especially luxury boutiques and department stores, and the innovations planned with the expansion of Haneda airport and the new railway connection.

5. Singapore, Singapore

Singapore goes to fifth place for its urban centers, considered among the most modern, organized, and captivating in the whole of Asia, and the vast choice of shops. Also notable is the Marina Bay Sands, a casino resort with 1,000 rooms, numerous services, and breathtaking panoramic views. Singapore is also home to several billionaires, some of the world’s richest people.

6. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai flies to sixth place because it is capable of being "sumptuous, luxurious, and lively at the same time". The city had the highest score in the parks and outdoor areas category (where it placed second) and in the Instagram hashtags category, where it ranked fifth. The attractions, the numerous hotels, and the renewed attention to walking and cycling are also very important.

7. San Francisco, United States

San Francisco has been penalized for the lack of affordable housing and the increase in violence, but it is the first for the presence of start-ups and the third in the world for the level of universities. That’s not all, the high level of wages and the new infrastructure compensate for the crisis that the city is going through, allowing it to remain in the top ten.

8. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is eighth in the ranking, with a bronze medal for nightlife and fifth according to reviews on Tripadvisor. It is also one of the few cities in the world to conquer the top ten positions in two indices, being tenth for liveability and seventh for friendliness. Despite this, it fell in the ranking precisely because of the extreme attention paid to citizens after the pandemic, which tourists did not appreciate.

9. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam goes to ninth place, standing out for its cyclability and activity rate. The efforts to reduce environmental pollution are very welcome, together with more stringent measures on nightlife which meet the requests of residents.

10. Seoul, South Korea

Seoul concludes the top ten, which stands out thanks to numerous and esteemed museums (it is eighth in this category) and restaurants (for which it comes in third place). The city is still suffering from the slowdown in tourism due to the pandemic but is gradually attracting a growing mass of visitors.

Here is the complete ranking.

The 10 best European cities

Considering the world ranking, the top ten European cities is as follows:

London (1st place);
Paris (2nd place);
Barcelona (8th place);
Amsterdam (9th place);
Rome (11th place);
Prague (12th place);
Madrid (13th place);
Berlin (14th place);
Dublin (20th place);
Vienna (21st place).

However, you should know that Resonance Consultancy has drawn up a specific ranking for Europe, using the same indices mentioned but considering cities starting from 500,000 inhabitants. This more extensive criterion has given space for other cities to stand out, here are the top ten: