100 best places to live in the world

London, England

Highlighted rankings: Nightlife (1), Museums (1)

Despite a year when England’s longest-reigning monarch passed away … despite three prime ministers in mere months …“Despite much-warranted hand-wringing about the flight of talent and capital due to the pall of Brexit (and the follow-up specter of an airborne pandemic), London is hanging in just fine,” says Resonance, “relying on a dipping currency to attract investment and, of course, previously priced-out tourists. And new residents. New wealthy residents who can now afford to check off a big item on the multimillionaire bucket list: property in the best city on the planet. … According to fDi Markets, the Financial Times’ foreign investment tracker, London has pulled in the most foreign direct investments into tech from international companies since 2018, ahead of New York, Singapore, and Dubai.”

Why we love it: London’s main sights might date back millennia, but the capital’s shops, bars, hotels, and restaurants continue to evolve on an almost weekly basis. Whether you’re outdoorsy, hungry, or bringing a family in tow, there’s a distinct London neighborhood to investigate—and it will likely look different from your last visit. For new hotel options, there’s everything from the much-hyped NoMad London to hip One Hundred Shoreditch to revitalized historic classics such as the Dilly.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to London.

Photo by Catarina Belova/Shutterstock

The Population Breakdown

Similar to other big countries, the gap between India’s largest and smallest states is quite wide.

Uttar Pradesh is the most populous country subdivision in the world at 232 million people, while Sikkim, in the northeast of the country, is the least populated state in India (0.7 million).

Here are India’s 28 states and 8 union territories compared to other countries and territories with comparable sizes:

State	Population (2022)	Country	Population (2022)
Uttar Pradesh	232M	Brazil + Ecuador	234M
Bihar	129M	Mexico	132M
Maharashtra	125M	Japan	126M
West Bengal	101M	Egypt	107M
Madhya Pradesh	85M	Turkey	87M
Tamil Nadu	84M	Germany	84M
Rajasthan	80M	Ukraine + Poland	81M
Gujarat	70M	Thailand	70M
Karnataka	70M	UK	69M
Andhra Pradesh	54M	Myanmar	55M
Odisha	47M	Spain	47M
Jharkhand	40M	Iraq	42M
Telangana	38M	Malaysia + Singapore	39M
Assam	36M	Canada	39M
Kerala	35M	Saudi Arabia	36M
Chhattisgarh	32M	Peru	34M
Punjab	31M	Australia + New Zealand	31M
Haryana	29M	Venezuela	28M
Delhi	19M	Romania	19M
Jammu and Kashmir	15M	Zimbabwe	15M
Uttarakhand	12M	Bolivia	12M
Himachal Pradesh	7.5M	Hong Kong	7.6M
Tripura	4.2M	Croatia	4.0M
Meghalaya	3.8M	Eritrea	3.7M
Manipur	3.4M	Uruguay	3.5M
Nagaland	2.1M	Slovenia	2.1M
Puducherry	1.6M	Bahrain	1.8M
Arunachal Pradesh	1.7M	Latvia	1.8M
Goa	1.5M	Equatorial Guinea	1.5M
Mizoram	1.3M	Estonia	1.3M
Chandigarh	1.2M	Cyprus	1.3M
Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu	0.8M	Guyana	0.8M
Sikkim	0.7M	Macao	0.7M
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	0.4M	Bahamas	0.4M
Lakshadweep	0.07M	Cayman Islands	0.07M

Hypothetically, if India’s states were to all became countries today, they would take up half the spots in a ranking of the world’s top 20 most populous countries.

A number of Indian states match up evenly against some very large countries, including Maharashtra (Japan), West Bengal (Egypt), and Tamil Nadu (Germany). Of course, the largest is Uttar Pradesh (Brazil+Chile), which also happens to measure up to neighboring Pakistan.

For people living in countries such as Canada or Australia, it may be humbling to know that these countries are equal to a smallish Indian state.

World’s 100 best performing cities with their investment climate score for 2020

Rank	City	Country	CEOWORLD Investment Climate Score
1	London	United Kingdom	78.2
2	New York	United States	72
3	Paris	France	70.5
4	Tokyo	Japan	70.3
5	Moscow	Russia	70.1
6	Dubai	United Arab Emirates	69.9
7	Singapore	Singapore	69.8
8	Barcelona	Spain	69.8
9	Los Angeles	United States	69.5
10	Rome	Italy	68.3
11	San Francisco	United States	68.2
12	Madrid	Spain	66.9
13	Chicago	United States	66.8
14	Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates	66.6
15	Amsterdam	Netherlands	66
16	Beijing	China	65.8
17	Toronto	Canada	65.2
18	Doha	Qatar	65
19	Hong Kong	China	64.2
20	San Diego	United States	64
21	Boston	United States	63.9
22	Sydney	Australia	63.4
23	Las Vegas	United States	62.6
24	Miami	United States	62.4
25	San Jose	United States	62.2
26	Washington	United States	62.1
27	Zürich	Switzerland	62.1
28	Berlin	Germany	61.3
29	Prague	Czech Republic	60.7
30	Seoul	South Korea	60.4
31	Milan	Italy	60
32	Houston	United States	60
33	Melbourne	Australia	59.1
34	Seattle	United States	59.1
35	St. Petersburg	Russia	59
36	Vienna	Austria	58.7
37	Munich	Germany	58.4
38	Dallas	United States	58.4
39	Istanbul	Turkey	57.9
40	Austin	United States	57.3
41	Vancouver	Canada	57
42	Dublin	Ireland	56.9
43	Orlando	United States	56.9
44	Osaka	Japan	56.7
45	Montreal	Canada	56.1
46	Stuttgart	Germany	56
47	Frankfurt	Germany	55.8
48	Calgary	Canada	55.5
49	Phoenix	United States	55.4
50	Lisbon	Portugal	55.2
51	Budapest	Hungary	54.1
52	Denver	United States	53.8
53	Philadelphia	United States	53.4
54	Tel Aviv	Israel	52.7
55	Atlanta	United States	52.6
56	Minneapolis	United States	52.1
57	Portland	United States	52
58	Bangkok	Thailand	51.6
59	Sao Paulo	Brazil	51.4
60	Lyon	France	51.3
61	Riyadh	Saudi Arabia	51.2
62	Brisbane	Australia	51
63	Perth	Australia	51
64	Hamburg	Germany	50.6
65	Copenhagen	Denmark	50.3
66	Valencia	Spain	49.1
67	Athens	Greece	47.3
68	Stockholm	Sweden	47.3
69	Marseille	France	47
70	Adelaide	Australia	46.4
71	New Orleans	United States	45.2
72	Buenos Aires	Argentina	44.7
73	Oslo	Norway	43.4
74	Warsaw	Poland	42
75	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	41.9
76	Brussels	Belgium	39.4
77	Ottawa	Canada	39.3
78	Seville	Spain	39.2
79	Nashville	United States	36.5
80	Baltimore	United States	36
81	Delhi	India	35.8
82	Sacramento	United States	35.3
83	Edmonton	Canada	34.7
84	Helsinki	Finland	33.8
85	Salt Lake City	United States	32.8
86	Charlotte	United States	31.9
87	Shanghai	China	28.5
88	anover	Germany	28.2
89	Cologne	Germany	27.9
90	St. Louis	United States	27.6
91	Tucson	United States	27.3
92	Raleigh	United States	27.2
93	San Antonio	United States	27
94	Columbus	United States	26.3
95	Santiago	Chile	25.8
96	Mexico City	Mexico	25.7
97	Tampa	United States	25.6
98	Auckland	New Zealand	25.6
99	Pittsburgh	United States	25.2
100	Nuremberg	Germany	22.7

Have you read?

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CEOWORLD magazine — Top Stories — Stats Gate — Report: Ranking Of The Globe’s 100 Best-Performing Cities For 2020

Not-So-Lonely At the Top

Although the top of this list has remained fairly stable in terms of rank in recent years, two cities have seen an impressive influx of travelers.

Paris and Istanbul both made significant gains between 2017 and 2019 with 20.6% and 37.2% growth in visitors respectively:

Note that only one North American city, New York City, is found in this top 10. As well, Asian cities account for half of the leading group, with two of the top 10 cities are located in China. Although Hong Kong leads the top 100 list, political turmoil led to a marked decline of international visitors of 4.2% from 2017 to 2019.

The largest rank changes in the top 10 were made by Macau and Istanbul, but the rise was subtle. Both cities gained two spots each between 2013 and 2018, though each had sizable traveler growth rates, with Macau growing by 19.0%.

Rank	City	Country	Arrivals (Millions)	5yr Rank Change	Growth (’17-19)
1	Hong Kong	China (SAR)	29.26	—	-4.2%
2	Bangkok	Thailand	24.17	—	15.1%
3	London	United Kingdom	19.23	—	-1.4%
4	Macau	China (SAR)	18.93	2	19.0%
5	Singapore	Singapore	18.55	-1	12.2%
6	Paris	France	17.56	-1	20.6%
7	Dubai	UAE	15.92	—	3.4%
8	New York City	US	13.60	1	7.0%
9	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	13.43	1	9.6%
10	Istanbul	Turkey	13.43	2	37.2%
11	Delhi	India	12.65	30	49.6%
12	Antalya	Turkey	12.44	-1	40.6%
13	Shenzhen	China	12.20	-5	2.0%
14	Mumbai	India	10.59	28	38.5%
15	Phuket	Thailand	10.55	—	8.4%
16	Rome	Italy	10.07	-3	8.3%
17	Tokyo	Japan	9.99	15	9.3%
18	Pattaya	Thailand	9.61	-1	8.9%
19	Taipei	Taiwan, China	9.60	-1	7.7%
20	Mecca	Saudi Arabia	9.57	1	0.3%
21	Guangzhou	China	9.00	-5	0.1%
22	Prague	Czechia	8.95	-3	3.9%
23	Medina	Saudi Arabia	8.55	1	0.7%
24	Seoul	South Korea	8.43	-10	19.1%
25	Amsterdam	Netherlands	8.35	3	12.6%
26	Agra	India	8.14	38	52.6%
27	Miami	US	8.12	-7	6.9%
28	Osaka	Japan	7.86	69	36.2%
29	Los Angeles	US	7.50	-7	7.8%
30	Shanghai	China	7.48	-7	7.8%
31	Ho Chi Minh City	Vietnam	7.20	6	31.6%
32	Denpasar	Indonesia	7.19	13	37.5%
33	Barcelona	Spain	6.71	-6	11.6%
34	Las Vegas	US	6.59	-9	-0.8%
35	Milan	Italy	6.48	-9	3.9%
36	Chennai	India	6.42	7	55.8%
37	Vienna	Austria	6.41	-8	7.1%
38	Johor Bahru	Malaysia	6.40	8	29.8%
39	Jaipur	India	6.38	29	42.9%
40	Cancun	Mexico	6.04	17	1.8%
41	Berlin	Germany	5.96	-10	10.1%
42	Cairo	Egypt	5.75	18	55.1%
43	Athens	Greece	5.73	18	31.3%
44	Orlando	US	5.55	-10	8.7%
45	Moscow	Russia	5.51	-10	24.4%
46	Venice	Italy	5.50	-16	5.3%
47	Madrid	Spain	5.44	-8	6.3%
48	Ha Long	Vietnam	5.29	14	44.0%
49	Riyadh	Saudi Arabia	5.27	-9	0.9%
50	Dublin	Ireland	5.21	-12	9.4%
51	Florence	Italy	5.06	-15	3.9%
52	Ha Noi	Vietnam	4.69	21	19.3%
53	Toronto	Canada	4.51	—	10.5%
54	Johannesburg	South Africa	4.12	-10	3.4%
55	Sydney	Australia	4.09	1	12.1%
56	Munich	Germany	4.06	-7	11.0%
57	Jakarta	Indonesia	4.03	17	30.9%
58	Beijing	China	4.00	-25	3.8%
59	St. Petersburg	Russia	4.00	-11	23.9%
60	Brussels	Belgium	3.94	-13	24.8%
61	Jerusalem	Israel	3.93	-9	27.0%
62	Budapest	Hungary	3.82	-7	10.4%
63	Lisbon	Portugal	3.54	9	3.4%
64	Dammam	Saudi Arabia	3.50	-14	0.3%
65	Penang Island	Malaysia	3.44	-2	16.3%
66	Heraklion	Greece	3.40	-1	-3.8%
67	Kyoto	Japan	3.29	58	4.4%
68	Zhuhai	China	3.26	-9	4.4%
69	Vancouver	Canada	3.21	13	13.3%
70	Chiang Mai	Thailand	3.20	6	4.2%
71	Copenhagen	Denmark	3.07	8	7.8%
72	San Francisco	US	2.90	-14	3.1%
73	Melbourne	Australia	2.89	12	20.9%
74	Krakow	Poland	2.85	-8	3.9%
75	Marrakech	Morocco	2.84	2	13.1%
76	Kolkatta	India	2.83	14	22.3%
77	Cebu	Philippines	2.81	51	-4.2%
78	Auckland	New Zealand	2.80	6	9.7%
79	Tel Aviv	Israel	2.78	-8	16.0%
80	Guilin	China	2.75	29	19.7%
81	Honolulu	US	2.74	-11	6.0%
82	Hurgada	Egypt	2.74	45	108.1%
83	Warsaw	Poland	2.73	-16	7.2%
84	Mugla	Turkey	2.72	-33	47.5%
85	Buenos Aires City	Argentina	2.69	-31	8.6%
86	Chiba	Japan	2.68	106	14.4%
87	Frankfurt	Germany	2.64	-7	9.2%
88	Stockholm	Sweden	2.60	—	10.1%
89	Lima	Peru	2.54	-11	17.5%
90	Da Nang	Vietnam	2.51	72	44.0%
91	Batam	Indonesia	2.49	20	27.8%
92	Nice	France	2.47	-17	10.7%
93	Fukuoka	Japan	2.44	104	24.6%
94	Abu Dhabi	UAE	2.40	12	14.7%
95	Jeju	South Korea	2.35	-8	-6.2%
96	Porto	Portugal	2.34	22	11.7%
97	Rhodes	Greece	2.34	-11	10.6%
98	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	2.28	-7	3.6%
99	Krabi	Thailand	2.26	-5	12.7%
100	Bangalore	India	2.24	83	50.6%

It’s also worth noting that based on the data collected into 2019, London was projected to continue its downward trend, bringing it to 5th spot—mostly due to complications brought on by Brexit and associated visa restrictions.

Paris, France

Highlighted rankings: Sights and Landmarks (1), Shopping (2)

“What returning visitors find is a city that has codified pedestrianism and alfresco living,” says Resonance. “To ensure cars didn’t take back control of Paris streets as pandemic urban pilot projects waned—as was the case in many other cities—Mayor Hidalgo legislated that the 60,000 parking spots loaned to restaurants for outdoor seating simply remained. … Nowhere is the transformation more dramatic than along the River Seine in the heart of Paris’s tourist district, near Notre Dame Cathedral and city hall itself. With the reduced car traffic, this is now Paris’s town square (in a city with dozens of historic spots worthy of the honor). The riverside promenade hosted thousands night after night, even after Paris’s Right Bank summer event wrapped up. The Paris-Plages urban beach initiative welcomes picnicking and other low-cost access to a city long criticized as pricey and exclusive.”

Why we love it: As Paris gears up for the 2024 Olympics, it’s only getting better. Improved infrastructure, a commitment to pedestrianism, and a handful of new hotels in the past year alone add to a city we love for its world-class art, shopping, and global cuisine.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Paris.

Photo by Colton Duke/Unsplash

Barcelona, Spain

Highlighted rankings: Nightlife (3), TripAdvisor Reviews (5)

Why we love it: Barcelona is an almost ideal European city, one with near-perfect weather year round, miles and miles of beaches, iconic parks, Gaudí’s iconic architectural landmarks, and “colorful neighborhoods that march to their own beat—artistic, sophisticated, bohemian,” says Resonance. Now it can add “bike-friendly” to the list. “What visitors will find is more non-vehicular access to the city. Mayor Colau has delivered on her promise to reach 125 miles of bike lanes, with another 20 to be completed by 2023.” As part of the mayor’s “superblock” initiative, parking and roads have been replaced with playgrounds and public seating.

Just look to Passeig de Sant Joan, recently named one of the world’s best streets by Time Out. “Sant Joan is one of Spain’s first green corridors, designed for self-propelled mobility and exploration with its bicycle lanes, expansive sidewalks, greenery and sprawling outdoor seating,” says Resonance. “Extra bonus: it’s also home to the city’s beloved food market, Mercat de l’Abaceria (at least until it moves into more permanent digs later this decade).”

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Barcelona.

Photo by Christopher Czermak/Unsplash

The Big Get Bigger

According to United Nations projections, India is on track to become the most populous country in the world in 2023.

The population of India’s growth is fueled by several factors, including declining mortality rates, increased life expectancy, and high birth rates. While India’s population growth has slowed in recent years due to factors such as urbanization and increasing access to contraception, the country’s population is still expected to continue growing at a significant rate for the foreseeable future.

Where does this data come from?

Source: Population projections for India are from indiacensus.net. Population figures for comparison countries are from the UN’s World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision (medium-fertility variant), accessed via Worldometers‘ live tracker. All population figures shown are 2022 projections.

Data note: Because there are only so many countries, the populations of comparison countries may not perfectly match that of the various Indian states and union territories. Numbers are rounded.

Map note: A number of borders and regions in India are disputed with other countries. Our depiction of borders is a good faith, apolitical attempt at reflecting the “de facto” situation in each region.

Madrid, Spain

Highlighted rankings: Nightlife (6), Trip Advisor Reviews (7)

Up from the 10th spot, Madrid has “bounced back on its feet deftly, continuing a much-needed investment in its bounteous (but long-dormant) infrastructure and public assets that is fueling the Spanish capital’s city-building legacy like few eras before,” says Resonance. “Perhaps the biggest news is Madrid’s beautiful measures to combat climate change and pollution, by way of a 47-mile urban forest network with nearly half-a-million new trees that will connect the city’s existing forest masses and reuse derelict sites between roads and buildings. Upon completion, this ‘green wall’ is projected to help absorb 175,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, and mitigate heat generated by urban human activity.”

Why we love it: Spain’s capital is best explored on foot—strolling its wide boulevards or wandering down the halls of the Reina Sofia or Prado museums. But be sure to indulge in an afternoon siesta, since Madrid’s nightlife scene is not to be missed. In fact, when AFAR sent novelist Mira T. Lee on a last-minute trip to Spain in 2019, she rediscovered her love of late nights watching flamenco shows and dancing at clubs in the city’s Cheuca neighborhood. COVID has curtailed some of the nocturnal fun, but investments in outdoor dining and walking infrastructure should see the city bounce back when the virus eventually recedes.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Madrid.

Photo by Shutterstock

Tokyo, Japan

Highlighted rankings: Restaurants (1), Shopping (1)

“Despite the pandemic and subsequent derailment of Japan’s plans—or perhaps because of them—the Japanese government remains steadfast, keeping its target of 60 million visitors and $136 billion in tourism revenue by 2030. It’s not as delusional as it sounds: the country enjoyed record tourism for seven straight years and can now accommodate even more visitors to Tokyo, with the expansion of the international terminal at Haneda, the city’s main airport,” says Resonance. There’s much ado around Japan’s recent reopening to international travelers—and as the world’s best city for shopping, wallets will likely open on their return.

Why we love it: Ranked no. 1 for its restaurants, Tokyo is home to some life-changing ramen, making it a destination worth planning an entire trip around food. And if most of your travel budget goes to eating, don’t worry. There are plenty of affordable hotels in Tokyo to book.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Tokyo.

Photo by Shutterstock

Trending: Indian and Japanese Cities Take Flight

Most of the dramatic shifts in city travel patterns are happening below the top 10. Asian hot spots are gaining steam and swiftly making their way up the top 100 rankings, signaling a shift in global preferences before lockdowns began.

Take Japan for instance. The five Japanese cities in the top 100 rose by 352 places collectively since 2013. The country’s top city destinations have had an average traveler growth rate of 17.8% from 2017 to 2019. In light of Japan’s impeccable containment of COVID-19, that trend may be compounded in coming years.

Japan’s dramatic rise in the ranks is echoed by India. India’s seven cities in the top 100 have risen 229 places — with a huge average growth rate of 44.6% from 2017 to 2019. Some of that growth is the result of lifestyle tourism, particularly in the case of Delhi, which saw its traveler rate grow by 49.6% since 2017.

Prior to the pandemic, Delhi was expected to continue that steady growth and experience a leap in rank, which currently sits at 11.

— Euromonitor International

What is the world’s best city?

London has been named the best city in the world for the sixth year in a row. The ‘capital of capitals’ has taken the top spot despite concerns surrounding the city’s post-Brexit future. However, the report’s authors believe the city continues to draw talent and visitors to the en masse and will eventually weather the storm and even emerge stronger.

JAKUB BARZYCKI/SHUTTERSTOCK London is ranked as the world’s best city

The UK capital scored highly in the programming, promotion, product and prosperity categories but was some way behind in the place category. Unemployment and a waning economy have meant the city’s number one position is under serious threat.

London is closely followed by the usual suspects of Paris and New York. Paris has moved up a place from last year, overtaking New York, thanks to its ambitious sustainability policies which have included expanding cycle routes, reducing city speed limits and tree planting.

Even though New York was the initial epicentre of America’s coronavirus outbreak, the report remains optimistic about the city’s future. It points to the high number of Global 500 companies located in the Big Apple as well as the city’s endless nightlife, shopping and attractions that sustain its ‘enduring allure’.

Thorsten Weinert/Shutterstock New York remains one of the world’s great cities

Moscow, the world’s fourth-best city, wins praise for its international events such as the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final hosted at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium in the city’s 360-acre Olympic complex as well as its plethora of cultural showcases.

Moscow has also benefitted from the first so-called ‘post-Soviet generation”’ of Muscovites who have travelled the world and are now returning with suitcases full of ideas that they’re unpacking to huge effect in their proud city.

Dubai has sneaked into the top five of the best cities in the world for the first time thanks to its ‘alluring blend of over-the-top experiences, Arab heritage and luxury shopping’. The city continues to attract the highest proportion of foreign-born residents of any city in the world, and they tend to be well-educated – ranking 23rd for Educational Attainment globally.

Baturina Yuliya/Shutterstock Moscow is the world’s fourth-best city

Tokyo is Asia’s highest-ranked city in sixth place and the safest metropolis on the planet. The city is poised to benefit from the range of new infrastructure constructed for the Olympics which will no doubt come in handy in the future.

The report also highlights Tokyo’s popularity with shoppers continually expanding food scene. The metropolis offers as many restaurants as the top five cities combined – more than 100,000 in total!

Richie Chan/Shutterstock Tokyo is the world’s sixth-best city

Wherever you decide to live, work or visit, make sure you have travel insurance. We’ve used several providers over the years and are now covered by an annual multi-trip policy from Heymondo. The policy covers us for theft, medical expenses up to $10m USD, cancellation and Covid-19 coverage.

Heymondo offers several policies including single trip and annual multi-trip as well as a long-stay option which is ideal for digital nomads and remote workers. All policies come with the Heymondo App which features 24-hour medical chat, free assistance calls and easy claims management. 

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The best city to buy real estate

Barcelona was ranked 8th in the top 100 cities in the world. It is popular with tourists as the sunny city has many beaches, parks and attractions. The sky is not overcast for about 260 days a year.

Barcelona regularly ranks among the top 10 most beautiful places to live. In 2019, the travel website Flight Network ranked the city 6th out of 50.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the Spanish property market hard. Housing discounts scale up to 30% and copious ads with urgent sale stamps appear. At the end of 2020, the average cost per square meter in the country was €1,391. In the summer of the same year, prices were €1,730 per square meter.

Property prices will recover when borders open and tourist flows return. Investors will be able to make money on the rental and sale of objects or choose a profitable offer for themselves.

To move to Barcelona, ​​you can take part in the Spanish residence by investment program. Cosmopolitans invest from €500,000. One of the options is buying real estate.

Barcelona, ​​Spain

A city with high potential

Athens is ranked 29th in the ranking of the best cities for life and business. The rating compilers praised the city’s attractions, museums and nightlife.

Athens has a low cost of living compared to other European countries. According to the site Numbeo, daily expenses there are 46% lower than in Moscow. The similar figure for Barcelona is 60%, and for Vienna — 71%.

It is pleasant to live in Athens due to the warm climate and proximity to the Aegean Sea. The hottest month is July; the average daytime temperature is +32.5 ℃. In August, the sea water warms up to +26.7 ℃. It is also a very sunny city as there are around 250 clear days a year.

It is pleasant to live in Athens due to the warm climate and proximity to the Aegean Sea. The hottest month is July; the average daytime temperature is +32.5 ℃. In August, the sea water warms up to +26.7 ℃. It is also a very sunny city as there are around 250 clear days a year.

250
An average amount of clear days in Athens

The Greek government is implementing economic reforms aimed at sustainable development and fighting corruption. The efforts were assessed by Moody’s: at the end of 2020, the country’s credit rating was raised to Ba3. And the European Commission predicts Greece’s GDP growth of 5% in 2021. The recovery of the country’s economy leads to an increase in the potential of the capital.

Greece issues a residence permit for investment. The minimum investment amount is €250,000. Applicants buy real estate, rent hotels or apartments in tourist complexes.

Athens, Greece

The best cities for business

In 2020, Startup Genome presented the Global Startup Ecosystem 2020 report, which ranks the best cities in the world for startups. The first three positions are occupied by San Francisco, New York and London.

San Francisco tops the rankings thanks to the famous Silicon Valley, an arearnhome to many high-tech companies.

In the ranking of the best cities in the world, San Francisco is 14th. Experts praised the city’s economy and educational opportunities. Additionally, many migrants, creatives and intellectual people live here, so the city has a rather high cultural level making it easy for newcomers to integrate into society.

Tram on one of the streets of San Francisco

New York is ranked second in the ranking of the best cities to live in. It was recognized as the first in terms of cultural life and the second in terms of promotion and popularity among tourists. There are also many opportunities for work and business: the city was ranked fourth in terms of the number of offices in the Global Fortune 500.

The US offers investors two types of visas. EB-5 is a passive investor visa: you need to invest from $900,000 in an American company and it is not necessary to take part in its maintenance. The E-2 visa involves opening your own business in the country. The investment amount has not been determined, but usually, it ranges from $100,000.

Immigrant visas to the US

Most investors can only get an EB-5 visa. This option is not suitable for everyone because of the high amount of investment and a long wait — it will only be possible to move in one and a half to two years.

To obtain an E-2 visa, one needs to be a citizen of a country that has signed an agreement to do so with the United States. For example, Grenada is a state in the Caribbean. There you can get a passport for investments in the economy from $150,000.

To obtain citizenship of Grenada and an E-2 visa in the United States, an investor needs to invest from $250,000. Applicants receive a second passport in four to six months. It takes two to five months to get a visa. It turns out faster and cheaper than the EB-5 visa.

The practical guide on obtaining Grenada citizenship
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London is ranked first in the ranking of the best cities to live in. It was ranked first in terms of popularity with tourists and second for cultural life.

London is renowned for its high standard of living and business opportunities. It is one of the business capitals of the world: the city ranks fifth in terms of the number of offices of companies from the Global Fortune 500.

Also, London became second in terms of infrastructure development: famous museums, parks and universities are located here. This makes it one of the most livable cities.

The UK issues a special Investor Visa to wealthy foreigners who invest from £2 million in the country’s business. The visa is issued for three years. It allows you to live, do business and study in the country.

In 2020, 216 investors and 375 members of their families received an investor visa. The result was 40% lower than in 2019. At the same time, the percentage of refusals according to the statements of investors has doubled.

City of London

The best city for leisure

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, was ranked 53rd. It is a warm, safe and sunny resort town. Portugal has a low crime rate and the locals are tourist-friendly.

In 2020, Portugal was voted the best holiday destination in Europe collecting awards in the 26 World Travel Awards nominations. The experts noted not only Lisbon, but also other resorts such as Porto, the Algarve, Madeira and the Azores. Moving to Portugal is suitable for those who are laid back and prefer a life by the sea.

To settle in Portugal, cosmopolitans receive a residence permit by investment. The most popular option is the purchase of new real estate in the amount of €500,000 or more: you can immediately buy a house or an apartment for yourself and your family in order to move. But there are other options as well. The minimum investment for the program is €250,000.

Commerce Square, Lisbon

The practical guide on obtaining residence permit in Portugal
Download the guide

The best cities with a tolerant attitude towards immigrants

Moving to the best cities to live in can be tricky due to countries’ migration policies. To obtain a residence permit, in most cases, you need to have a good reason: for example, to receive an invitation to work in the country or to marry a citizen.

Some countries offer visas, residence permits or citizenship to investors. To take part in the investment program, applicants invest a certain amount in the development of the economy of the selected state: they make a subsidy, open a business or buy real estate.

Investment programs operate in Portugal, Greece, Spain and Malta. In the United States, you can get a visa by investment. In Austria and Switzerland, cosmopolitans receive a residence permit for being financially independent: you can live with it in the country, but you cannot work and do business.

Of the top 10 cities for living, only four are available for relocation under the investment program: New York, Los Angeles, Madrid and Barcelona. We have selected a few more cities in countries where cosmopolitans can obtain a residence permit or a visa for investment. We will tell you where it is comfortable to live, relax, do business and where it is profitable to buy real estate.

The cleanest and most comfortable city

Vienna, the capital of Austria, was ranked 32nd in the ranking of the best cities. It has largely retained its historical appearance: the townspeople cherish the old buildings. Vienna is also famous for coffee shops, cultural events, museums and universities.

Vienna took first place in the ranking of cities with the best environment. There are many parks here and locals prefer public transport to private cars.

How to obtain residence permit in Austria

Vienna consistently ranks first in the chart of the best cities to live in. In 2018 and 2019, it was named the best by The Economist’s ‘The Global Liveability Index’ and from 2010 to 2019, Vienna ranked first place in the rating system regarding the best quality of life in cities, made by Mercer.

Austria allows wealthy people to obtain a residence permit for the financially independent. No investment is required, but it must be confirmed that the applicant and his family have enough money to live in the country. This program was created specifically for those who want to move: according to its terms, you need to spend at least 183 days a year in Austria.

Stephansplatz, Vienna

best cities in the world – complete ranking

View the complete report from Resonance Consultancy.

1. London, UK 2. Paris, France 3. New York, USA 4. Moscow, Russia 5. Dubai, UAE 6. Tokyo, Japan 7. Singapore, Singapore 8. Los Angeles, USA 9. Barcelona, Spain 10. Madrid, Spain 11. Rome, Italy 12. Doha, Qatar13. Chicago, USA 14. Abu Dhabi, UAE 15. San Francisco, USA 16. Amsterdam, Netherlands 17. St. Petersburg, Russia 18. Toronto, Canada 19. Sydney, Australia 20. Berlin, Germany 21. Las Vegas, USA 22. Washington DC, USA 23. Istanbul, Turkey 24. Vienna, Austria 25. Beijing, China

26. Prague, Czech Republic 27. Milan, Italy 28. San Diego, USA 29. Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 30. Melbourne, Australia 31. Boston, USA 32. Houston, USA 33. Dublin, Ireland 34. Miami, USA 35. Zurich, Switzerland 36. Seattle, USA 37. Budapest, Hungary 38. Sao Paulo, Brazil 39. Munich, Germany 40. Bangkok, Thailand 41. Orlando, USA 42. Seoul, South Korea 43. Atlanta, USA 44. Dallas, USA 45. Frankfurt, Germany 46. Vancouver, Canada 47. Austin, USA 48. Montréal, Canada 49. Calgary, Canada 50. Delhi, India

51. Lisbon, Portugal 52. Naples, Italy 53. Osaka, Japan 54. San Jose, USA 55. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 56. Denver, USA 57. Philadelphia, USA 58. Tel Aviv, Israel 59. Copenhagen, Denmark 60. Brussels, Belgium 61. Brisbane, Australia 62. Valencia, Spain 63. Buenos Aires, Argentina 64. Taipei, Taiwan 65. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 66. Portland, USA 67. Hamburg, Germany 68. Kuwait, Kuwait 69. Warsaw, Poland 70. Athens, Greece 71. Perth, Australia 72. Helsinki, Finland 73. Minneapolis, USA 74. Oslo, Norway 75. Shanghai, China

76. Phoenix, USA 77. Auckland, New Zealand 78. New Orleans, USA 79. Jerusalem, Israel 80. Muscat, Oman 81. Nashville, USA 82. Stockholm, Sweden 83. Santiago, Chile 84. Ottawa, Canada 85. Baltimore, USA 86. Edmonton, Canada 87. Lyon, France 88. Marseille, France 89. Adelaide, Australia 90. Goteborg, Sweden 91. Bilbao, Spain 92. Mexico City, Mexico 93. Salt Lake City, USA 94. Mumbai, India 95. Sacramento, USA 96. San Antonio, USA 97. Tucson, USA 98. Seville, Spain 99. Charlotte, USA 100. Nanjing, China

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