The world of 2023 is quite different from the world just five years back. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic shook up the global way of living and impacted civilization in a manner that we're still dealing with today. The pandemic was particularly brutal to city dwellers, especially those that live in large urban areas in developing countries according to the World Bank. This impact has also shaken up migration patterns, with people now moving back to rural areas as opposed to earlier when urban migration was the talk of the town.
Building on the coronavirus and its disruption, the virus (allegedly) also surfaced in a city as well. This unfortunate location was the city of Wuhan in Hubei, China, and two months passed between the first case being reported and China's data sharing with the World Health Organization (WHO). A study from researchers at the University of New York and California State University, take a look at the similarities and differences in which global cities both encountered the pandemic and dealt with it. By focusing on the world's most global cities, namely London, New York, and Tokyo, they reveal that London and Tokyo were among the first regions in their countries where the virus surfaced and New York took the lead in the fastest rate of transmission in the U.S. Across the three cities, the most affected were the elderly and the spread of the virus also correlated with the degree of urbanization in them. They add that the three cities, which are the premier global locations in their countries, were also the hardest hit by the virus.
However, there were several differences too. For instance, the number of cases per population was significantly higher in the U.S., which stood at 294, with this figure sitting at 171 and 8 per one thousand people in London and Japan, respectively. Another key and perhaps unsurprising difference between the three is the relationship between the virus' spread and income. The strongest correlation between high income and low virus spread was in New York, with a weaker link in London. However, the researchers reveal that this relationship was reversed in Japan, where more people with higher incomes ended up catching the virus.
The largest cities in the world also have gross domestic products (GDP) that are likely to blow your mind. The biggest city on the planet, in terms of GDP, is Tokyo. The city had a stunning $2 trillion GDP in 2021, with New York City following in a close second place with a $1.8 trillion GDP. To understand the true significance of this, consider the fact that the world's second most populous and second largest continent, Africa, had a $3 trillion nominal GDP in 2023. This is despite the fact that the population of Africa is ten times that of Japan, with 1.2 billion people inhabiting the continent as opposed to the 125 million people that live in Japan.
However, are the most prosperous cities in the world also the happiest? Not necessarily so, according to our research. In fact, you'll be shocked to learn that out of the top ten most prosperous cities in terms of GDP, namely Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Seoul, Chicago, Rhine, and San Francisco, none are present in the list of the top ten happiest cities in the world. The top ten happiest cities in the world, according to the World Happiness Report, are Helsinki, Aarhus, Wellington, Zurich, Copenhagen, Bergen, Oslo, Tel Aviv, Stockholm, and Brisbane.
Next up, let's take a look if the most prosperous and happiest cities also have the highest income. After all, if they did, then perhaps we might be able to claim once and for all that yes, money does lead to happiness. Since we've already narrowed down the most prosperous and happiest cities, we've only to list down the cities with the highest income, and these are Zug, Zurich, San Jose, San Francisco, Bern, Basel, New York, Tacoma, Washington, and Seattle. So, (sadly?) it appears that even though some cities have the highest incomes in the world, apart from Zurich, Switzerland, none rank among the list of the world's happiest places.
With these details in mind, let's take a look at the best places to live in the world in 2023.
30 Best Places To Live In the World in 2023
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Our Methodology
Compiling a list of the best places to live in the world is no easy task. Fortunately for us, Insider Monkey has covered hundreds of cities in several different areas. So, for this piece of best cities in the world, we used our rankings of the richest cities in the world, cities with the best education, the best healthcare, and those with the best culture to make an initial list of 139 cities. Each city was awarded a point corresponding to its ranking on the list and if it didn't appear, then it was awarded 30 points. The scores were then averaged and the resulting list of the best places to live in the world is as follows.
30 Best Places To Live In the World in 2023
30. Melbourne, Australia
Insider Monkey's Score: 25.75
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia in terms of population. It has had a human presence for tens of thousands of years, and in the modern day, Melbourne is also one of the major financial centers of the world.
29. Reykjavík, Iceland
Insider Monkey's Score: 25.75
Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland. It is also the largest city in the country in terms of population and houses roughly 140,000 people. It also has one of the largest airports in the country and was chartered in the late eighteenth century.
28. Sao Paulo, Brazil
Insider Monkey's Score: 25.5
Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil. It is also the fourth largest city in the worth according to 2018 estimates that placed its population at 21.6 million residents. A major economic hub, Sao Paulo is also one of the largest economies in Latin America.
27. Copenhagen, Denmark
Insider Monkey's Score: 25.5
Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark and houses more than a million people. It is also one of the older cities on our list since it was first inhabited in the tenth century.
26. Brussels, Belgium
Insider Monkey's Score: 25.25
Brussels is the capital city of Belgium. It has a mixed range of macroeconomic metrics, with a large gross domestic product (GDP) but lower incomes.
25. Lausanne, Switzerland
Insider Monkey's Score: 25
Lausanne is a major city in Switzerland and ranks fourth in terms of population after the major centers of Zurich, Basel, and Geneva. It has a vibrant business district made of important biotechnology, banking, and finance.
24. Prague, Czechia
Insider Monkey's Score: 25
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It has some of the best museums and tourist attractions on the planet.
23. Cleveland, United States
Insider Monkey's Score: 24.75
Cleveland houses close to four hundred thousand people. It is one of twelve American cities that have a branch of the Federal Reserve. At the same time, Cleveland also has several Fortune 500 companies and one of the best hospitals in and the world.
22. Venice, Italy
Insider Monkey's Score: 24.5
Venice is an Italian city and is known for its picturesque canals and waterways. It is also one of the rare cities in the world that is made up of hundreds of islands.
21. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Insider Monkey's Score: 24.5
While Dubai isn't the capital of the UAE, it is still the financial and economic hub of the country. Its most famous attractions are the world's tallest building and the world's deepest swimming pool.
20. Vatican City State
Insider Monkey's Score: 24.25
The Vatican City State is a city and a country. It is best known for being home to the Pope of the Catholic Church - which also lends it a pivotal place in global history.
19. Shanghai, China
Insider Monkey's Score: 24.25
Shanghai is one of the largest cities in China and a major economic hub in both its country as well as Asia.
18. Oslo, Norway
Insider Monkey's Score: 23.75
Oslo is the capital city of Norway as well as the most populous city in the country.
17. Rome, Italy
Insider Monkey's Score: 22.25
Rome is the capital city of Italy. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and is known to have been the seat of the Roman Empire. The city has some of the best restaurants in the world, and its historic and cultural sights really need no mention.
16. Beijing, China
Insider Monkey's Score: 21.25
Beijing is the capital city of China, and one of the largest cities in the world with a population of close to 22 million people. It is also one of the most prosperous cities in the world and has a deeply rooted historic culture as well.
15. Chicago, United States
Insider Monkey's Score: 21
Chicago is another economic hub within the U.S. and it is the home of some of the largest companies in the world.
14. Zurich, Switzerland
Insider Monkey's Score: 20.75
Zurich is one of the biggest financial centers in the world. It has been settled for thousands of years and has some of Switzerland's biggest banks.
13. Sydney, Australia
Insider Monkey's Score: 20.25
Sydney is one of the most developed cities in Australia, and it is one of the top destinations for immigration for both Australians and non Australians.
12. Boston, Massachusetts
Insider Monkey's Score: 19.75
Boston is one of the largest cities in the U.S. in terms of its economy. It is a hub for the health industry, housing numerous biotechnology companies and some of the best hospitals.
11. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Insider Monkey's Score: 19.25
Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, one of the most prosperous countries in the world. The Netherlands is a major tourist destination in Europe due to its coffee shops and other facilities. The city is known for its strong nightlife, a strong startup culture, and art galleries.
