Even the most difficult people can become comfortable in a place that is new to them. nomadic Travelers and spontaneous jet-setters Consider putting down roots. Depending on daily habits and lifestyle, the best place to live depends on individual taste. So how should potential travelers-turned-residents decide where in the world to settle down?
The Thankfully, the Economic Intelligence Unit The EIU has quantified this process in its annual Global Liveability Index. The study ranks 173 city across 30 indicators, in five categories, including stability, healthcare and culture, education and infrastructure.
According to the most recent iteration, which is based upon a survey conducted by the geopolitical information company in May 2026 the average livability across all cities is 76.1. This number is identical to 2025, despite major shifts in the world over the past year. Conflicts like those in the Iran warThe US military action in VenezuelaThe ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the deterioration of the average stability rating all contributed to this. The overall average remained stable due to gains in healthcare around the globe.
What cities will be most livable by 2026, and why? The top 10 ranking is spread out across many global regions including locales such as AsiaOceania, Europe and North America. No US city made the top 10 worldwide rankings once again.
Western Europe has the highest overall score, 91.7. Australia, however, is the country that has the best showing in this year’s Index, with three cities ranking within the top 10. The average score for Asian cities rose 0.3 points, resulting in an overall rating 73.9. This makes Asia the region that has improved most this year.
According to the EIU Global Liveability Index, we’re counting down to the top 10 places to live around the globe in 2026.
The gallery has been updated to include new information since the original publication date.
