The world's most liveable cities for 2025 – and what it's really like to live there

BBC News

2 days ago

While Vienna has topped the Global Liveability Index for years, 2025 crowned a new number one. From Copenhagen to Melbourne, we asked locals what it's actually like to reside in these famously liveable cities.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has long ranked cities around the globe, offering a data-backed snapshot of where life is most comfortable and secure. The world's top-ranked cities have been remarkably consistent over the past few years. But in 2025, one major shift jolted the rankings: for the first time in three years, Vienna was dethroned. Copenhagen rose to the top thanks to perfect scores in stability, education and infrastructure – a tough trifecta to beat.
However, the biggest shake-ups in 2025 weren't just about rising or falling scores – they were about safety, with geopolitical tensions rising worldwide. Vienna, in particular, suffered from a bomb threat that cancelled the 2024 Taylor Swift concert as well as a recently planned attack on a train station.
Still, cities in Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada continue to fare well in the rankings, with Osaka the only Asian city cracking the top 10. So, what's it really like to call one of these places home? We asked locals from five of this year's top-ranked cities to find out.
Copenhagen
Taking the top spot in the liveability index, the Danish capital also recently ranked as the world's happiest city. The two go hand in hand, as Copenhagen's high stability, infrastructure and environment scores directly translate into daily happiness for residents.
"Trains show up at 12:16 when they are scheduled for 12:16. No one blinks if you turn up in sneakers at a fancy restaurant, and a swim in a clean harbour is possible even in January if you are feeling brave," said Copenhagen resident Thomas Franklin, CEO of fintech company Swapped.com. "Copenhagen wins me over every time with its calmness. Streets are wide, bikes outnumber cars and the city runs on common sense."
Franklin also appreciates the city's community spirit and a lack of pressure that means you can meet a friend by the water with no planning and have coffee for two hours. While the skies might often be grey, he says the city is brightened by open-air markets, public saunas and the sound of kids running in the park. "It is a city that never tries too hard but always delivers," he said.
American journalist Olivia Liveng moved here eight years ago and says that raising a child here has been "an unexpectedly wonderful experience" due to the city's family-friendly nature. "Our 2.5-year-old son attends a highly subsidised daycare that costs us about US$600 per month, covering everything," she said. "You can truly see where your tax money goes."
A good work-life balance also benefits families, with many companies encouraging employees to take three weeks off in July. In addition, Liveng finds the infrastructure to be thoughtfully designed. "There are elevators in all metro stations, clean and reliable public transport and stroller-friendly buses," she said, contrasting it to a recent visit to New York, where a lack of lifts meant navigating the subway with a pushchair was a challenge.
For a dose of local hygge, Liveng recommends a swim at Sandkaj Harbour Bath in the Nordhavn district. "It's a favourite spot to dip and lay in the Sun, especially during the warmer months," she said. For a winter visit, Franklin suggests the Islands Brygge harbour baths. "Grab a hot chocolate, sit at the water's edge and just watch Copenhagen drift by," he said. "The small rituals here are what stick with you."
Vienna
The Austrian capital may have slipped from first to second place in the index, but its perfect healthcare score still outranks every other city. It also maintains perfect scores in both education and infrastructure. The result is a place that residents rave about.
"I'm a native New Yorker who moved to Vienna for the lifestyle about four years ago and have no plans on returning," said Nataleigh O'Connell, a communications consultant at UNIDO. "I've found a quality of life that I didn't think was possible in a major capital city."
She points to affordability as a major draw, noting that rent is extremely reasonable, with a city-centre one-bedroom flat costing less than €850 per month. Vienna's extensive public transportation network is also clean and affordable, priced at just €1 a day for city residents.
"It's a city that offers enough of everything, whether it be new restaurants, world-class performances or art exhibitions, without ever feeling overwhelming," said O'Connell. To experience Vienna like a local, she recommends visiting heurigen, local vineyards within the city limits. "The hiking trails that connect them offer spectacular views of the city," she said.
Geneva
Switzerland consistently ranks high for quality of life, thanks to policy and infrastructure that support well-being. Both Zurich and Geneva made the top five this year, but Geneva residents say their city has a different feel – more compact, more relaxed but with all the benefits of a global hub.
"Geneva is a well-run city in a well-run country," said resident James F Royal, who moved here from Florida several years ago and is the author of the book Options Trading 101. "It offers many of the benefits of the big city – music, arts, business – in a cosier environment, meaning you get many advantages of urban life without the usual disadvantages."
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With perfect healthcare and infrastructure scores, the city is also clean, safe and easy to navigate. "Whether you want to walk to your destination or use the dense public transportation system, you can get around easily with no car required," Royal said. In addition, Switzerland's reliable train network and central location make it easy to travel almost anywhere in Europe in just a few hours.
Geneva is also one of Switzerland's most diverse cities, with more than 40% of residents born abroad. "Inhabitants get the benefits of that diversity, such as a wide range of cuisines and people with interesting backgrounds," Royal said.
The city's natural beauty – especially the crescent-shaped Lake Geneva and its mountain backdrop – also add to the appeal of daily life. The lake has plenty of spots to picnic and sunbathe, with La Grange Park offering unique lake views and expansive rose gardens. Royal recommends visitors enjoy the restaurants and pop-up bars that appear during the summer months, and the Christmas markets in the winter.
Melbourne
Ranked fourth in the index, Melbourne received perfect marks in healthcare and education. But its high scores in culture and environment are what inched it above other Australian cities – including Sydney and Adelaide, which also cracked the top 10.
Melbourne also scored well on infrastructure – and lawyer Oliver Morrisey says he chose to base his practice here due to an overall efficiency he rarely finds in other major cities.
"I can walk from the Supreme Court to a client meeting near Collins Street in under 15 minutes; and I can work intensely during the day then take my daughter for a walk through Fitzroy Gardens after school," he said. "That is what liveability means to me. It is not just about lifestyle. It is about ease of movement between the parts of life that matter."
Even for those outside the city centre, Melbourne's transportation network makes getting around simple. "The transport system connects the inner and outer suburbs for an easy commute within 50 minutes without segregating suburbs," said Melbourne resident Katherine Tuominen, founder of Catalyst Brand Strategy, who has lived in 10 cities around the world but finds Melbourne the most liveable.
She also loves Melbourne's multicultural energy, which brings together people from all walks of life and fuels a vibrant mix of activities, events and cuisines. "It's never boring, and there are always new ways to broaden your perspective and try something different," she said.
She recommends visitors wander the city's graffiti-lined laneways or explore speakeasy-style bars like Beneath Driver Lane and Miss Gunn's Basement Bar. Morrisey suggests lunch on Lygon Street, widely considered the birthplace of the city's cafe culture. "Eat slow, talk loud and take your time," he said. "That is the real Melbourne."
Osaka
The only Asian city to make the top 10 (ranked seventh overall), Osaka scored perfect marks in stability, healthcare and education. And while it's often overshadowed by flashier Tokyo, Osaka's under-the-radar vibe is exactly what residents love about living here.
"Osaka is a very well-developed, very cool city," said long-time resident Graham Hill who runs the review website Osaka City. "It is to Japan what San Francisco might be to the United States: a smaller city, but with a unique flavour of its own."
The city's reliable infrastructure – including a clean, punctual and wide-reaching transit system – make Osaka easy to live in, without the crowds of Tokyo. Hill says it's simpler to get reservations at top-tier places, and the prices are much better as well.
Dominic Dijkstra, director of mixology at the newly opened Waldorf Astoria Osaka, agrees: "Whether it's a quick bowl of ramen after work or a beautifully crafted kaiseki dinner, you're never far from an amazing meal."
Dijkstra learned his craft in Manchester, England, and says that Osaka has a similar kind and unpretentious vibe. "People are proud of their culture and are always ready to share it with you," he said. "Osaka has a warmth and humour in everyday life that makes it feel liveable beyond convenience. People chat to you in shops, joke with you at the bar and make the city feel like home."
While Osaka has major tourist attractions like the historic Osaka Castle, Hill recommends visitors seek out everyday Osaka pleasures. "Hanging out at Streamer Coffee Company in Shinsaibashi is a first-class 'cool' urban experience to rival any city," he said. "Grabbing something to eat from Utsubo Bakery Panena and sitting down in Utsubo Park delivers some of the simple pleasures available to an Osaka local."
Dijkstra recommends heading to Kyobashi train hub to find the city's true soul, noting that the string of tiny bars just outside the station is always full of friendly Osakans at any time of day. "Grab a beer or a highball and squeeze in next to the locals," he said. "You'll get an authentic glimpse into why this city is so special."
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