Resonance Consultancy's Annual World's Best Cities Report – one of the most recognized worldwide in terms of evaluating urban centers – was published again this year, highlighting the cities that ideally combine quality of life, attractiveness and economic dynamics.
On the list that answers the question "in which city would I happily live, work and travel?" is Athens, with the Greek capital in 74th place.
How did the ranking come out?
The ranking, which includes more than 270 cities with a population of over one million, is based on hundreds of indicators: airports, infrastructure, culture, nightlife, corporate presence, economic growth, environment, and even social media trends.
At the same time, 21.000 survey responses from 30 countries were incorporated, while this year data from Chinese platforms such as Weibo and Xiaohongshu was added to capture "authentic local views."
Cities are rated through the Place Power Score, which examines three axes:
Livability: clean air, walking, health, standard of living.
Lovability: popularity on Google Trends and TikTok, museums, entertainment, culture.
Prosperity: economy, large companies, unemployment, business ecosystem.
London: Top city in the world for 11th year
The British capital remains at the top. It ranks 1st in the world for airports and large companies, while overall it receives high scores for prosperity, attractiveness and quality of life.
London is rebounding strongly from the pandemic: in 2024 alone, international visitor spending reached $22 billion, surpassing New York and Dubai. At the same time, it remains a technology and gastronomic hub with a record number of Michelin restaurants, while attracting American buyers for residential and commercial properties.
New York: The best American city
In 2nd place worldwide we find New York, which overtakes Paris this year.
The city is thriving economically, and ranks among the top for theaters, concerts, and museums. Infrastructure projects – from airport upgrades to new green spaces – are reshaping the metropolis for the next decade.
The top five
The cities that complete the Top-5 are:
Paris – with extensive investment due to the Olympic Games and a strong tourism industry expected to reach $50 billion by 2032.
Tokyo – safety, gastronomy and impeccable urban design, with record numbers of international visitors.
Madrid – a big rise from last year's 13th place thanks to the city's sustainable regeneration and the use of spaces and parks.
The image for the USA
Aside from New York, only Los Angeles makes the Top-20 (12th place).
Following are:
Miami (26)
San Francisco (28)
Chicago (35)
Denver, Austin and Baltimore in the top 100
Although American cities still have momentum, the survey shows a decline in international desire to visit, which is linked – as Ipsos reports – to reduced trust in American brands.
The rise of Asia
Asia is quickly closing the gap with Europe, with many cities "shooting up" due to the strong return of tourism: Tokyo (4), Singapore (6), Sydney (11), Seoul (13), Beijing (15), Shanghai (16), Hong Kong (19), while Istanbul closes the top 20.
The detailed list of the 100 best cities in the world
London, United Kingdom
New York, USA
Paris, France
Tokyo, Japan
Madrid, Spain
Singapore
Rome, Italy
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Berlin, Germany
Barcelona, Spain
Σίδνεϊ, Αυστραλία
Los Angeles, USA
Seoul, South Korea
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Beijing, China
Shanghai, China
Toronto, Canada
Sao 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
Μπουένος Άιρες, Αργεντινή
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
Bogota, Colombia
Guangzhou, China
Jakarta, Indonesia
Delhi, India
Las Vegas, USA
Boston, USA
Washington, 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
Krakow, Poland
Valencia, Spain
Ottawa, Canada
Athens, Greece
Santiago, Chile
Medellin, Colombia
Cologne, Germany
Dallas, USA
Brisbane, Australia
Hangzhou, China
San Diego, USA
Hyderabad, India
Chengdu, China
Denver, USA
Calgary, Canada
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Austin, USA
Philadelphia, USA
Baltimore, USA
Stuttgart, Germany
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Lyon, France
Ruhr, Germany
Busan, South Korea
Dusseldorf, Germany
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Porto, Portugal
Bucharest, Romania
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Doha, Qatar
Source: protothema.gr
