The Top 20 Global Cities for Gen Z

Press Room

2 hours ago

Gen Z is often labeled as cold or less sociable, but that might be an unfair characterization.

In order to determine the best places for Gen Z to live, Time Out surveyed local residents ages 18 to 29 around the world, asking them about everything from affordability to nightlife.

Time Out travel writer Liv Kelly told Business Insider that the survey findings show Gen Z socializes plenty, but does so differently than past generations.

Kelly said her generation finds joy in day-to-day experiences rather than living for the weekend. While nightlife was a factor in Time Out’s rankings, alternatives like outdoor activities and community building opportunities were just as, if not more, important to the under-30 crowd.

“I think how Gen Z socializes and how they go out is still crucial to their day-to-day interactions and their happiness — it’s just changing shapes,” Kelly told Business Insider.

Gen Z yearns for third spaces, and cities that can provide those ranked high on the list.

“In Tokyo, there are spaces which offer game nights where you can engage in sports with friends without having to drink,” Kelly said. “In Shanghai, there are no-phone socials. The cities that are ranked particularly well are ones where people find it easy to socialize. I think that also speaks volumes about there being a shift towards people preferring face-to-face interaction.”

Below, see what cities around the world are best suited for Gen Z.

20. Vienna

Vienna, Austria — Vienna.

Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Population: 1,925,213

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,215.90

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,281.45

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $86.48

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.40

19. Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver, Canada.

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Population: 751,644

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,075.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,831.78

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $85.31

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.26

18. Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro.

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Population: 6,772,868

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $637

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $842.04

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $39.86

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.46

17. Mexico City

Population: 9,020,812

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $815.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,113.41

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $52.12

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.89

16. Athens, Greece

Athens, Greece.

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Population: 3,134,884

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $981.90

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $731.46

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $74.95

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.22

15. Paris

Paris.

Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images

Population: 2,059,821

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,212.6

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,630.82

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.71

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.05

14. Seoul, South Korea

Seoul, South Korea.

Mlenny/Getty Images

Population: 9,217,913

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,057.40

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $830.54

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $64.69

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.03

13. Kraków, Poland

Kraków, Poland.

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Population: 814,595

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $889.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $937.08

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $53.67

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.46

12. Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa.

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Population: 4,974,327

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $729.10

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,045.00

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $48.82

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.49

11. Naples, Italy

Naples, Italy.

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Population: 904,846

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $996.30

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,061.95

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.71

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.29

10. Bangkok

Population: 5,186,582

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $719.50

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $704.74

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $36.09

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.90

9. Valencia, Spain

Valencia, Spain.

Dado Daniela/Getty Images

Population: 850,475

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $834.50

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,470.20

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.18

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.80

8. Berlin

Population: 3,775,697

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,212

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,504.07

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.71

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.64

7. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark.

Mlenny/Getty Images

Population: 671,714

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,397.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,951.86

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $123.40

Cost of a cappuccino: $7.07

6. New York City

Population: 8,546,038

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,681.40

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $4,408.32

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $140

Cost of a cappuccino: $6.20

5. Shanghai

Shanghai.

conceptualmotion/Getty Images

Population: 24,722,254

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $618.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $943.43

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $29.61

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.24

4. Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Edinburgh, Scotland.

Posnov/Getty Images

Population: 540,101

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,234.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,637.28

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $107.60

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.12

3. Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia.

Alistair McLellan/Getty Images

Population: 4,928,443

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,225.10

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,730.30

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $84.54

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.03

2. Porto, Portugal

Population: 264,493

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $825.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,316.24

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $57.65

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.66

1. Tokyo

Tokyo.

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Population: 10,316,210

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $959

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,262.13

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $44.38

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.59