Ranked: The World’s 25 Best Cities To Live, According To Expats

Looking for the best cities to live in the world? You’re not alone: In the wake of the U.S. presidential election, droves of Americans are thinking of moving abroad. So the timing couldn’t be better for InterNations’ annual Expat City Ranking, a report on the best places to live in the world. InterNations is the largest global community for people who live and work abroad.

This year, the winner is Valencia, Spain, which reclaimed its spot as the number one city in the newly released 2024 list. And Spain dominates the list, taking all three top spots—and with five in the top 25. On the 2023 list, Valencia came in third and Malaga, Spain won.

This year’s report is based on data from over 12,500 expats living in 53 cities across 35 countries. The report evaluates cities on five key indices: quality of life, ease of settling in, personal finance and more. The ranking provides invaluable insight into life abroad, from cost of living to job satisfaction to how easy it is to make friends in a new city.

Here’s what you need to know about the top cities to live in 2024, according to expats.

Best Cities To Live In The World: The Winner

After a brief dip to third place in 2023, Valencia—which was named the best city to live in the world in 2022—has reclaimed the top spot in the 2024 list. Valencia, which is known for its gorgeous beaches, rich culture and affordable lifestyle, earned high marks in the quality of life index, ranking first overall. Expats raved about the city’s affordable public transportation (96 percent positive) and opportunities for recreational activities (95 percent positive). The city’s safety also stood out, with zero respondents reporting dissatisfaction with their personal safety.

“Valencia has a pretty relaxed lifestyle. I like the friendly people, good food, vibrant culture, and pleasant climate,” said a Dutch expat.

But Valencia isn’t perfect. Expats reported challenges in the working abroad index, where Valencia ranked 31st. Complaints centered around limited career prospects and a challenging local job market. Despite these drawbacks, most expats were drawn to Valencia for its lifestyle: 27% moved for a better quality of life.

Best Cities To Live In The World: Spain Dominates

Valencia isn’t the only Spanish city to make headlines. Spain was a big winner this year, with a total of five cities in the top 25. Malaga and Alicante took second and third place, respectively, solidifying Spain’s reputation as an expat haven.

Malaga ranked second overall and first in the ease of settling in index. It has the happiest expats in the world. However, the city slipped in the working abroad index, dropping to 44th, with expats citing challenges in career prospects and job security. Still, for the 43% of respondents who are retired, Malaga remains an idyllic choice, with 99% of expats praising its sunny weather.

Alicante is another Spanish success story, ranking third overall. The city stood out in the expat essentials index, where it ranked seventh, thanks to affordable housing and accessible digital infrastructure. Nearly 70% of respondents described housing in Alicante as affordable, double the global average.

Madrid also made the top 10, landing in seventh place, while Barcelona slipped to 21st, a significant drop from previous years. Despite its lower ranking, Barcelona still impressed with its cultural and culinary offerings, which ranked among the best globally.

Best Cities To Live In The World: Other Global Standouts

Beyond Spain, the top 10 cities reflect diverse geographies and lifestyles. Panama City and Mexico City round out the top five, excelling in personal finance and ease of settling in. Panama City stands out for its affordability, while Mexico City offers a dynamic cultural scene and a strong social scene.

Bangkok, Thailand secured sixth place, with expats appreciating its low cost of living and welcoming atmosphere. Other high performers include two UAE cities—Abu Dhabi (8th) and Dubai (9th)—which shine in expat essentials, thanks to affordable housing, efficient administration and robust digital infrastructure.

Best Cities To Live In The World: How The U.S. And Canada Fared

For the second year in a row, no U.S. city made it into the top 25. New York City—the highest-ranked American city in 2023–fell to 45th after ranking 39th last year. The issue: ongoing struggles with affordability and work-life balance. While expats appreciated the city’s cultural and dining options, many reported difficulties with housing and high living costs. “The cost of living here is outrageous, and it feels impossible to save,” said one respondent.

Canadian cities fared even worse. Vancouver dropped to last place at 53rd, while Toronto ranked 51st. Housing costs were a major issue in both cities, with Vancouver earning the unfortunate distinction of being the least affordable city for housing globally. Vancouver also suffered from limited career prospects. Nearly 30 percent of expats reported actively looking for work—three times the global average. The city also received poor marks for its social scene, with 63 percent saying it was hard to make local friends.

Read on for the lists of the 25 best cities to live in the world and the 10 lowest ranked cities to live. You can also view the complete list here, along with comments from survey respondents.

Ranked: The 25 Best Cities To Live In The World

1. Valencia, Spain
2. Málaga, Spain
3. Alicante, Spain
4. Panama City, Panama
5. Mexico City, Mexico
6. Bangkok, Thailand
7. Madrid, Spain
8. Abu Dhabi, UAE
9. Dubai, UAE
10. Vienna, Austria
11. Lisbon, Portugal
12. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
13. Basel, Switzerland
14. Muscat, Oman
15. Athens, Greece
16. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
17. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
18. Amsterdam, Netherlands
19. Copenhagen, Denmark
20. Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
21. Barcelona, Spain
22. Zurich, Switzerland
23. Stockholm, Sweden
24. Taipei, Taiwan
25. Nairobi, Kenya

The World’s 10 Lowest Ranked Cities To Live

1. Vancouver, Canada (ranked 53 out of 53 countries overall)
2. Hamburg, Germany (ranked 52 out of 53 countries overall)
3. Toronto, Canada (ranked 51 out of 53 countries overall)
4. Munich, Germany (ranked 50 out of 53 countries overall)
5. Istanbul, Turkey (ranked 49 out of 53 countries overall)
6. Cologne, Germany (ranked 48 out of 53 countries overall)
7. Milan, Italy (ranked 47 out of 53 countries overall)
8. Berlin, Germany (ranked 46 out of 53 countries overall)
9. Frankfurt, Germany (ranked 45 out of 53 countries overall)
10. Rome, Italy (ranked 53 out of 53 countries overall)

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