These Cities Are Redefining Liveability In 2025 : Find Out Why

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

The 2025 liveability rankings of nan world person immoderate absorbing changes. For galore years, Vienna topped nan list, but it’s been dethroned: Copenhagen now sits astatine number 1, acknowledgment to its infrastructure, stability, and situation overall. But arsenic we move done nan world’s astir liveable cities, we can’t thief but admit that this ranking is astir much than conscionable numbers—it’s astir nan tangible, lived experiences of those group who telephone these cities home.

Copenhagen, for example, is simply a destination galore of its residents committedness by for its work-life-and-play equation. Thomas Franklin, a section CEO, describes nan calm and bid that specify nan municipality. “Train comes correct connected time, group are relaxed, nan metropolis runs connected practicality,” he says. An Example of Quality of Life: Copenhagen With its wide streets, cycling culture, and consciousness of community, Copenhagen is simply a bully illustration of really a metropolis tin prioritize value of life. That Copenhagen besides precocious secured nan world’s happiest metropolis arsenic its method number is nary surprise.

The city’s charm, according to Franklin, is successful its silent rituals of love. From casual coffees by nan h2o to impromptu swims successful cleanable harbors, Copenhagen is arsenic overmuch a manner arsenic it is simply a vibey municipality successful which to play. And for families, nan costs of surviving successful Copenhagen, and nan high-functioning nationalist services — including subsidized daycare — make it an moreover much charismatic spot to raise children. American expat Olivia Liveng, who moved to Copenhagen 8 years ago, describes what it’s been for illustration to raise her boy location — an “unexpectedly awesome experience.” “You tin spot wherever your taxation dollars are going,” she says, pointing to nan city’s fantabulous nationalist infrastructure.

Vienna: The Charm of a City that Never Fades

Copenhagen is now nan astir liveable city, according to nan Global Liveability Index, yet Vienna is still very overmuch breathing down its cervix and comes successful second. Among nan Austrian capital’s draws: A highly touted healthcare strategy and affordable costs of living; it besides vanished among nan apical successful stability, infrastructure, and education. Its extended nationalist proscription web and affordable rent person created an situation successful which it’s not only easy, but besides pleasant to live.

Nataleigh O’Connell, a New York expat, says life successful Vienna has been rewarding successful ways she didn’t anticipate. “For me, it is simply a value of life that I didn’t deliberation was imaginable successful a large superior city,” she says. With Vienna, you get some a big of lively taste happenings and immoderate peaceful, charming nooks, including some world-class performances and tranquil vino taverns conscionable extracurricular nan metropolis halfway that residents use. And this city-village cocktail is simply a large logic why Vienna continues to beryllium a celebrated destination for those thirsty for equilibrium, and, well, ease.

Geneva: The Tiny Cosmopolitan Metropolis

The Swiss metropolis of Geneva besides consistently places precocious connected nan liveability spectrum. Scoring maximum points for healthcare and infrastructure, this compact metropolis is nan champion of both—an organized and businesslike municipality situation pinch nan perks of world connectivity. “It has nan vibe of a large metropolis and nan benignant of coziness of a mini city,” said James F. Royal, an American writer who has been surviving location for a fewer years.

The truth that Geneva has a estimation for safety, tidiness, and easy getting astir only adds to its allure. It has a bully nationalist carrier web and easy entree to nan starring cities of Europe. With picturesque earthy surroundings, specified arsenic nan crescent-shaped Lake Geneva, nan metropolis gives residents nan champion of some worlds for remainder and leisure. Royal says nan assortment successful Geneva enhances her life daily, and it is elemental to beryllium exposed to various cultures and foods.

Melbourne: Australia’s Cultural Capital

Melbourne, nan metropolis classed 4th successful nan liveability scale successful 2025, is commonly seen arsenic Australia’s taste capital. Top sporting and acquisition scores. With cleanable scores for healthcare and education, it’s easy to spot why Melbourne is often placed astatine nan apical of lists of nan world’s astir liveable cities successful nan world. But its peculiarly precocious results successful civilization and situation azygous it retired from different Australian cities.

Melbourne is simply a typical spot for lawyer Oliver Morrisey because of its expertise to blend activity and play truthful seamlessly. “I tin locomotion from nan Supreme Court to a customer gathering successful little than 15 minutes,” he says. Whether it’s going for an after-work stroll successful Fitzroy Gardens aliases a wound to eat successful 1 of nan city’s renowned laneways, Melbourne provides a operation of work-life equilibrium that very fewer cities tin rival. Katherine Tuominen, a resident who’s lived successful 10 cities astir nan world, says Melbourne’s multicultural beat is important to its livability. “It’s ne'er a bore and there’s ever caller things to do successful position of enriching your experience,” she says.

Its diverseness is what keeps residents coming backmost and gives Melbourne thing caller to connection each time — from vibrant café civilization connected Lygon Street to concealed speakeasy bars. What is your favourite point to do successful Melbourne, thing that is simply a must effort for immoderate Melbournian (or visitor)? For a section aliases tourist, Melbourne’s laneways and each nan events and festivals – really tin you not beryllium inspired by this astonishing city?

Osaka: Japan’s Hidden Gem

The country’s second-largest city, Osaka, 2 hours westbound by Hikari train, mightiness unrecorded successful nan protector of Tokyo, but it is straight successful nan spotlight for 1 of nan apical 10 places for liveability successful 2025. The only Asian metropolis to make nan apical ranks, Osaka is recognized for its superb healthcare, stability, and precocious value of education. Osaka is besides known for its laid-back ambiance and user-friendly carrier infrastructure.

Resident Graham Hill, nan head of Osaka’s GrubAddict website, points to nan city’s down-at-heel but lively atmosphere. “It’s a spot of a smaller city, but pinch a small thing special,” he says. With a awesome proscription web and many, galore delicious things, Osaka is simply a ace liveable spot to telephone home! A laid-back vibe makes it easy to linger complete meals astatine ramen shops, return strolls done Utsubo Park, and soak successful nan characteristic that defines nan city’s mundane life.