Resonance, a data and research firm, released its annual ranking of the world’s best cities.
The company compared more than 400 cities worldwide with populations exceeding 1 million.
The top cities include popular hotspots, but you’ll be surprised at some that didn’t make the cut.
There’s a big world out there to explore. If you haven’t made your 2026 travel plans yet, we’ll help you narrow down where to head next.
Resonance, a data and research firm, has released its Best Cities report, an annual ranking that spotlights the globe’s most influential and economically thriving cities.
To identify the best places to live and visit, the company compared over 400 cities with populations exceeding 1 million. It scored each city on three factors: livability, lovability, and prosperity — using measures such as the number of family-friendly attractions, walkability, public transit quality, nightlife, overall economic health, and more.
Resonance also analyzed user-generated data from platforms such as Google, Instagram, and TikTok to gauge appeal.
The top cities of 2026 are familiar names across Europe, the US, and Asia, with one in the Middle East. Surprisingly, a few popular tourist hubs, such as Mexico City and Miami, didn’t even crack the top 20. Read below to find out which cities did.
Business Insider included population data from Resonance, alongside housing and dining data from Numbeo, a crowdsourced comparison website that provides detailed cost-of-living information for major cities worldwide.
20. Istanbul
Istanbul.
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Population: 14,206,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $714.60
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $964.04
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $47.20
Cost of a cappuccino: $3.81
19. Hong Kong
Hong Kong.
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Population: 7,617,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,081
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,318.18
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $70.64
Cost of a cappuccino: $5.14
18. São Paulo
São Paulo.
StockLapse/Getty Images
Population: 22,421,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $636.60
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $668.09
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $38.36
Cost of a cappuccino: $2.14
17. Toronto
Toronto
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Population: 7,605,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,088.50
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,685.81
Cost of a three-course meal for two at amid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $85.40
Cost of a cappuccino: $3.91
16. Shanghai
Shanghai.
Yaorusheng/Getty Images
Population: 28,482,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $588.30
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $908.02
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $32.33
Cost of a cappuccino: $3.14
15. Beijing
Beijing.
Ping Shu/Getty Images
Population: 21,312,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $578.20
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $984.62
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $28.11
Cost of a cappuccino: $2.86
14. Amsterdam
Amsterdam
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Population: 2,989,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,330.10
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,459.87
Cost of a three-course meal for two at amid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $115.28
Cost of a cappuccino: $4.92
13. Seoul
Seoul.
Mongkol Chuewong/Getty Images
Population: 24,160,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,034.80
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $868.77
Cost of a three-course meal for two at amid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $54.47
Cost of a cappuccino: $3.61
12. Los Angeles
Los Angeles.
Cavan Images / Toby Harriman/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF
Population: 12,928,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,348.80
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,555.26
Cost of a three-course meal for two at amid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $100.00
Cost of a cappuccino: $5.74
11. Sydney
andresr/Getty Images
Population: 5,450,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,134.50
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,197.54
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $81.61
Cost of a cappuccino: $3.52
10. Barcelona
Barcelona.
Pol Albarrán/Getty Images
Population: 5,094,000
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,549.23
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $911.3
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.17
Cost of a cappuccino: $2.96
9. Berlin
Berlin.
Nikada/Getty Images
Population: 5,106,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,140.7
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,420.68
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $72.05
Cost of a cappuccino: $4.44
8. Dubai
Dubai has one of the world’s biggest expat populations.
Umar Shariff Photography/Getty Images
Population: 6,000,000
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,458.65
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,128.6
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $81.69
Cost of a cappuccino: $5.85
7. Rome
Rome.
LeonU/Getty Images
Population: 4,306,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,022.6
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,447.95
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.69
Cost of a cappuccino: $2.09
6. Singapore
Singapore.
Eric Yang/Getty Images
Population: 6,038,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,126.1
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center:$2,967.40
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $68.86
Cost of a cappuccino: $4.67
5. Madrid
Madrid.
alxpin/Getty Images
Population: 6,983,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $929.20
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,512.80
Cost of a three-course meal for two at amid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.17
Cost of a cappuccino: $3.24
4. Tokyo
Tokyo.
tawatchaiprakobkit/Getty Images
Population: 36,635,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $930.3
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $996.97
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $41.95
Cost of a cappuccino: $3.26
3. Paris
Paris.
querbeet/Getty Images
Population: 13,171,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,206.80
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,609.17
Cost of a three-course meal for two at amid-range restaurant: $74.93
Cost of a cappuccino: $5.01
2. New York
New York City.
Tim Robberts/Getty Images
Population: 19,940,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,668.60
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $4,142.86
Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $145
Cost of a cappuccino: $5.72
1. London
London.
Gary Yeowell/Getty Images
Population: 12,451,000
Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,393.7
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $3,112.03
Cost of a three-course meal for two at amid-range restaurant: $104.58
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