The ten best cities in the world to live in (and the ten worst too)

For the third year running, Vienna has emerged as one of the world's best cities to live in. But what are the others? And which destinations are the least liveable?

Filipa Santos Sousa - Redatora • July 5, 2024

Vienna, the Austrian capital tops the list of the world's best cities to live in — Photo: @dylu / Unsplash | @Vienna, Austria

Recently, we shared with you the europe’s best secret beaches. But what are the best cities to live in the world? The magazine “The Economist gives us the answers.

Based on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) latest annual liveability index, the Austrian capital, Vienna, comes first in a list whose podium is occupied entirely by European cities.

The habitability index categories

In all, the study analyzed 173 cities around the world, considering five main categories:

1. Stability
2. Health care
3. Culture and environment
4. Education
5. Infrastructure

Top 10 best cities to live in

According to the final results, these are the top ten cities:

1. Vienna, Austria
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Melbourne, Australia
5. Calgary, Canada
6. Geneva, Switzerland
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Vancouver, Canada
9. Osaka, Japan
10. Auckland, New Zealand

Caracas is one of the worst cities to live in — Photo: @arq_blee / Unsplash | Caracas, Venezuela

Top 10 worst cities to live in

Conversely, the following cities are at the bottom of the ranking :

164.º Caracas, Venezuela

165.º Kiev, Ukraine

166.º Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

167.º Harare, Zimbabwe

168.º Dhaka, Bangladesh

169.º Karachi, Pakistan

170.º Lagos, Nigeria

171.º Algiers, Algeria

172.º Tripoli, Libya

173.º Damascus, Syria

If you want to find out which are the best cities in the world for walking, then take a look at this list.