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The 20 Best Cities in the World to Live in or Visit

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2025-11-21T20:39:26.455Z

Resonance, a data and research firm, released its annual ranking of the world’s best cities.
The company compared more than 400 cities worldwide with populations exceeding 1 million.
The top cities include popular hotspots, but you’ll be surprised at some that didn’t make the cut.

There’s a big world out there to explore. If you haven’t made your 2026 travel plans yet, we’ll help you narrow down where to head next.

Resonance, a data and research firm, has released its Best Cities report, an annual ranking that spotlights the globe’s most influential and economically thriving cities.

To identify the best places to live and visit, the company compared over 400 cities with populations exceeding 1 million. It scored each city on three factors: livability, lovability, and prosperity — using measures such as the number of family-friendly attractions, walkability, public transit quality, nightlife, overall economic health, and more.

Resonance also analyzed user-generated data from platforms such as Google, Instagram, and TikTok to gauge appeal.

The top cities of 2026 are familiar names across Europe, the US, and Asia, with one in the Middle East. Surprisingly, a few popular tourist hubs, such as Mexico City and Miami, didn’t even crack the top 20. Read below to find out which cities did.

Business Insider included population data from Resonance, alongside housing and dining data from Numbeo, a crowdsourced comparison website that provides detailed cost-of-living information for major cities worldwide.

20. Istanbul

An aerial view of Istanbul.

Istanbul, Turkey.

prmustafa/Getty Images
Population: 14,206,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $714.60Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $964.04Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $47.20Cost of a cappuccino: $3.81

19. Hong Kong

The city of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, China.

kan wang/Getty Images
Population: 7,617,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,081Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,318.18Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $70.64Cost of a cappuccino: $5.14

18. São Paulo

A skyline view of São Paulo

São Paulo, Brazil.

StockLapse/Getty Images
Population: 22,421,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $636.60Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $668.09Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $38.36Cost of a cappuccino: $2.14

17. Toronto

A skyline view of Toronto.

Toronto, Canada.

Deejpilot/Getty Images
Population: 7,605,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,088.50Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,685.81Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $85.40Cost of a cappuccino: $3.91

16. Shanghai

Skyline view of Shanghai

Shanghai, China.

Yaorusheng/Getty Images
Population: 28,482,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $588.30Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $908.02Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $32.33Cost of a cappuccino: $3.14

15. Beijing

Skyline picure of Beijing.

Beijing, China.

Ping Shu/Getty Images
Population: 21,312,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $578.20Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $984.62Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $28.11Cost of a cappuccino: $2.86

14. Amsterdam

An overview of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

CreativeNature_nl/Getty Images
Population: 2,989,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,330.10Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,459.87Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $115.28Cost of a cappuccino: $4.92

13. Seoul

The skyline of Seoul, Korea.

Seoul, Korea.

Mongkol Chuewong/Getty Images
Population: 24,160,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,034.80Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $868.77Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $54.47Cost of a cappuccino: $3.61

12. Los Angeles

Skyline of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, California.

Cavan Images / Toby Harriman/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF
Population: 12,928,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,348.80Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,555.26Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $100.00Cost of a cappuccino: $5.74

11. Sydney

Sydney, Australia skyline and harbor

Sydney, Australia.

andresr/Getty Images
Population: 5,450,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,134.50Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,197.54Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $81.61Cost of a cappuccino: $3.52

10. Barcelona

An aerial view of Barcelona.

Barcelona, Spain.

Pol Albarrán/Getty Images
Population: 5,094,000Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,549.23Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $911.3Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.17Cost of a cappuccino: $2.96

9. Berlin

Downtown Berlin.

Berlin, Germany.

Nikada/Getty Images
Population: 5,106,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,140.7Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,420.68Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $72.05Cost of a cappuccino: $4.44

8. Dubai

Dubai skyline

Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Umar Shariff Photography/Getty Images
Population: 6,000,000Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,458.65Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,128.6Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $81.69Cost of a cappuccino: $5.85

7. Rome

The skyline in Rome, Italy.

Rome, Italy.

LeonU/Getty Images
Population: 4,306,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,022.6Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,447.95Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.69Cost of a cappuccino: $2.09

6. Singapore

The Singapore skyline.

Singapore City, Singapore.

Eric Yang/Getty Images
Population: 6,038,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,126.1Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,967.40Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $68.86Cost of a cappuccino: $4.67

5. Madrid

The Cibeles Fountain and Gran Vía Street in Madrid.

Madrid, Spain

alxpin/Getty Images
Population: 6,983,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $929.20Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,512.80Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.17Cost of a cappuccino: $3.24

4. Tokyo

An aerial view of Tokyo.

Tokyo, Japan.

tawatchaiprakobkit/Getty Images
Population: 36,635,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $930.3Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $996.97Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $41.95Cost of a cappuccino: $3.26

3. Paris

An aerial view of Paris.

Paris, France.

querbeet/Getty Images
Population: 13,171,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,206.80Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,609.17Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $74.93Cost of a cappuccino: $5.01

2. New York

Aerial view of New York City.

New York City, New York.

Tim Robberts/Getty Images
Population: 19,940,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,668.60Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $4,142.86Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $145Cost of a cappuccino: $5.72

1. London

An aerial view of London.

London, England.

Gary Yeowell/Getty Images
Population: 12,451,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,393.7Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $3,112.03Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $104.58Cost of a cappuccino: $5.27



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