The annual World’s Best Cities report by Resonance Consultancy – one of the most respected global urban rankings – has been released again this year, highlighting cities that perfectly combine quality of life, attractiveness, and economic vitality.
Answering the question: “Which city would I happily live in, work in, and travel to?”, Athens makes the list, with the Greek capital ranking 74th.
How the Ranking Was Determined
Over 270 cities with populations exceeding one million were evaluated, according to Forbes. The methodology relies on hundreds of indicators, including:
- Airports and infrastructure
- Culture and nightlife
- Corporate presence and economic growth
- Environment and green spaces
- Social media trends
Additionally, 21,000 survey responses from 30 countries were incorporated. This year, data from Chinese platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu were added to reflect authentic local perspectives.
Cities are scored using the Place Power Score, based on three core pillars:
| Pillar | Key Factors |
|---|---|
| Livability | Clean air, walkability, healthcare, living standards |
| Lovability | Popularity on Google Trends & TikTok, museums, entertainment, culture |
| Prosperity | Economy, major companies, unemployment, startup ecosystem |
London: World’s Top City for the 11th Consecutive Year
The British capital remains #1. It ranks 1st globally in airports and major corporations, while scoring highly across prosperity, attractiveness, and quality of life.
London is rebounding strongly post-pandemic: in 2024 alone, international visitor spending reached $22 billion, surpassing New York and Dubai. It remains a tech and gastronomy hub with a record number of Michelin-starred restaurants, while attracting American buyers in residential and commercial real estate.
New York: The Top U.S. City
New York takes 2nd place worldwide, overtaking Paris this year.
It excels in economic prosperity and leads globally in theaters, concerts, and museums. Infrastructure projects – from airport upgrades to new green spaces – are reshaping the metropolis for the next decade.
The Top 5
The cities completing the Top 5 are:
- Paris – boosted by Olympic investments and a tourism industry projected to reach $50 billion by 2032.
- Tokyo – unmatched in safety, gastronomy, and urban design, with record international visitors.
- Madrid – surged from last year’s 13th place thanks to sustainable urban regeneration and enhanced parks and public spaces.
U.S. Cities in the Ranking
Beyond New York, only Los Angeles enters the Top 20 (12th).
Others in the Top 100:
- Miami (26)
- San Francisco (28)
- Chicago (35)
- Denver, Austin, and Baltimore
Despite strong fundamentals, U.S. cities show a decline in international visitor interest, linked – per Ipsos – to reduced trust in American brands.
Asia’s Rapid Rise
Asia is quickly closing the gap with Europe, fueled by a tourism rebound:
- Tokyo (4)
- Singapore (6)
- Sydney (11)
- Seoul (13)
- Beijing (15)
- Shanghai (16)
- Hong Kong (19)
- Istanbul rounds out the Top 20.
Full List: The 100 Best Cities in the World
- London, United Kingdom
- New York City, USA
- Paris, France
- Tokyo, Japan
- Madrid, Spain
- Singapore
- Rome, Italy
- Dubai, UAE
- Berlin, Germany
- Barcelona, Spain
- Sydney, Australia
- Los Angeles, USA
- Seoul, South Korea
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Beijing, China
- Shanghai, China
- Toronto, Canada
- São Paulo, Brazil
- Hong Kong, China
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Melbourne, Australia
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Osaka, Japan
- Oslo, Norway
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Miami, USA
- Vienna, Austria
- San Francisco, USA
- Bengaluru, India
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Munich, Germany
- Dublin, Ireland
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Chicago, USA
- Milan, Italy
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Mumbai, India
- Vancouver, Canada
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Warsaw, Poland
- Hamburg, Germany
- Shenzhen, China
- Montreal, Canada
- Budapest, Hungary
- Brussels, Belgium
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Bogotá, Colombia
- Guangzhou, China
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Delhi, India
- Las Vegas, USA
- Boston, USA
- Washington, D.C., USA
- Houston, USA
- Auckland, New Zealand
- San Jose, USA
- Helsinki, Finland
- Orlando, USA
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Lima, Peru
- Atlanta, USA
- Seattle, USA
- Perth, Australia
- Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Kraków, Poland
- Valencia, Spain
- Ottawa, Canada
- Athens, Greece
- Santiago, Chile
- Medellín, Colombia
- Cologne, Germany
- Dallas, USA
- Brisbane, Australia
- Hangzhou, China
- San Diego, USA
- Hyderabad, India
- Chengdu, China
- Denver, USA
- Calgary, Canada
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Austin, USA
- Philadelphia, USA
- Baltimore, USA
- Stuttgart, Germany
- Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Lyon, France
- Ruhr, Germany
- Busan, South Korea
- Düsseldorf, Germany
- Mecca, Saudi Arabia
- Porto, Portugal
- Bucharest, Romania
- Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Doha, Qatar
Published: 13.11.2025, 10:18
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