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

    Press RoomBy No Comments6 Mins Read

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

    19. Hong Kong


    The city of Hong Kong.

    Hong Kong, China.

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

    18. São Paulo


    A skyline view of São Paulo

    São Paulo, Brazil.

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

    17. Toronto


    A skyline view of Toronto.

    Toronto, Canada.

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

    16. Shanghai


    Skyline view of Shanghai

    Shanghai, China.

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

    15. Beijing


    Skyline picure of Beijing.

    Beijing, China.

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

    14. Amsterdam


    An overview of Amsterdam.

    Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

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

    13. Seoul


    The skyline of Seoul, Korea.

    Seoul, Korea.

    Mongkol Chuewong/Getty Images
    • Population: 24,160,000
    • Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,034.80
    • Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $868.77
    • Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $54.47
    • Cost 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: 12,928,000
    • Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,348.80
    • Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,555.26
    • Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $100.00
    • Cost of a cappuccino: $5.74

    11. Sydney


    Sydney, Australia skyline and harbor

    Sydney, Australia.

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

    10. Barcelona


    An aerial view of Barcelona.

    Barcelona, Spain.

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

    9. Berlin


    Downtown Berlin.

    Berlin, Germany.

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

    8. Dubai


    Dubai skyline

    Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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

    7. Rome


    The skyline in Rome, Italy.

    Rome, Italy.

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

    6. Singapore


    The Singapore skyline.

    Singapore City, Singapore.

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

    5. Madrid


    The Cibeles Fountain and Gran Vía Street in Madrid.

    Madrid, Spain

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

    4. Tokyo


    An aerial view of Tokyo.

    Tokyo, Japan.

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

    3. Paris


    An aerial view of Paris.

    Paris, France.

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

    2. New York


    Aerial view of New York City.

    New York City, New York.

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

    1. London


    An aerial view of London.

    London, England.

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

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