If you could live anywhere in the world…

…where would it be?

If you could live and work in any location around the world, which factors would you consider when making your choice? How would you balance a location’s financial opportunities against its quality of life? AIRINC’s 2025 Global 150 Cities Index highlights the cities that have the ideal combination of high salaries, low taxes, costs, and quality of life. Browse the map and lists below to see how the locations in your region fall in the global rankings.

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Where does your city rank?

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Use the filters to: see locations ranked by Lifestyle, Finance, or an Overall ranking that combines the two; view the whole list or just the top or bottom 20 locations for each list; search the whole globe or focus on a region.

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REGION

City, Country	Region	SubRegion	Overall Rank	Financial Rank	Lifestyle Rank
Zurich, Switzerland	Europe	Western Europe	1	3	2
Geneva, Switzerland	Europe	Western Europe	2	4	9
Luxembourg	Europe	Western Europe	3	16	15
Munich, Germany	Europe	Western Europe	4	29	5
Houston TX, U.S.A.	North America	USA	5	8	38
San Francisco CA, U.S.A.	North America	USA	6	15	26
Chicago IL, U.S.A.	North America	USA	7	14	31
New York NY, U.S.A.	North America	USA	8	28	20
Singapore	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Maritime SE Asia	9	42	5
Berlin, Germany	Europe	Western Europe	10	36	9
Vienna, Austria	Europe	Western Europe	11	32	15
Dubai, U.A.E.	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	12	18	31
Los Angeles CA, U.S.A.	North America	USA	13	20	31
Seattle WA, U.S.A.	North America	USA	14	11	47
Boston MA, U.S.A.	North America	USA	15	17	38
Denver CO, U.S.A.	North America	USA	16	13	44
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	17	12	47
Calgary AB, Canada	North America	Canada	18	40	15
Macau	Far East	East Asia	19	5	55
Copenhagen, Denmark	Europe	Western Europe	20	50	5
George Town, Cayman Islands	Latin America	Caribbean	21	2	65
Prague, Czechia	Europe	Eastern Europe	22	79	1
Toronto ON, Canada	North America	Canada	23	61	9
Montreal QC, Canada	North America	Canada	24	70	5
Hong Kong	Far East	East Asia	25	39	38
Hamilton, Bermuda	Latin America	Caribbean	26	30	47
Amsterdam, Netherlands	Europe	Western Europe	27	69	9
Auckland, N.Z.	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Asia Pacific	28	57	20
Paris, France	Europe	Western Europe	29	74	9
Doha, Qatar	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	30	19	57
Melbourne, Australia	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Asia Pacific	31	53	26
Vancouver BC, Canada	North America	Canada	32	62	24
Madrid, Spain	Europe	Western Europe	33	78	20
Brussels, Belgium	Europe	Western Europe	34	56	31
Brisbane, Australia	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Asia Pacific	35	58	31
Curacao	Latin America	Caribbean	36	22	65
Oslo, Norway	Europe	Western Europe	37	92	15
Agana, Guam	Far East	Asia Pacific	38	27	65
Dublin, Ireland	Europe	Western Europe	39	97	15
Aruba	Latin America	Caribbean	40	26	70
Warsaw, Poland	Europe	Eastern Europe	41	75	31
Manama, Bahrain	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	42	1	99
Helsinki, Finland	Europe	Western Europe	43	113	2
Amman, Jordan	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	44	9	87
Nassau, Bahamas	Latin America	Caribbean	45	24	73
Sydney, Australia	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Asia Pacific	46	71	38
Barcelona, Spain	Europe	Western Europe	47	67	44
Ljubljana, Slovenia	Europe	Eastern Europe	48	98	24
Muscat, Oman	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	49	21	79
Panama City, Panama	Latin America	Central America	50	41	65
London, U.K.	Europe	Western Europe	51	96	26
Seoul, Korea	Far East	East Asia	52	114	9
Lima, Peru	Latin America	South America	53	43	61
Tallinn, Estonia	Europe	Eastern Europe	54	99	26
Lisbon, Portugal	Europe	Western Europe	55	102	26
Santiago, Chile	Latin America	South America	56	55	57
Kuwait City, Kuwait	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	57	7	102
St. Denis, Reunion	Middle East/Africa	East Africa	58	35	79
Noumea, New Caledonia	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Asia Pacific	59	25	90
Edinburgh, U.K.	Europe	Western Europe	60	89	50
Bridgetown, Barbados	Latin America	Caribbean	61	44	73
Tbilisi, Georgia	Europe	Eastern Europe	62	82	52
Zagreb, Croatia	Europe	Eastern Europe	63	90	50
Bratislava, Slovakia	Europe	Eastern Europe	64	110	38
Bangkok, Thailand	Far East	Mainland SE Asia	65	52	73
Guatemala City, Guatemala	Latin America	Central America	66	6	112
Montevideo, Uruguay	Latin America	South America	67	84	57
Athens, Greece	Europe	Western Europe	68	116	31
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	69	10	109
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Maritime SE Asia	70	81	61
La Paz, Bolivia	Latin America	South America	71	33	93
Shanghai, China	Far East	East Asia	72	77	65
Stockholm, Sweden	Europe	Western Europe	73	118	38
Casablanca, Morocco	Middle East/Africa	North Africa	74	38	93
yerevan, armenia	Europe	Eastern Europe	75	23	104
Taipei, Taiwan	Far East	East Asia	76	49	85
Osaka, Japan	Far East	East Asia	77	128	20
Belgrade, Serbia	Europe	Eastern Europe	78	94	61
Guangzhou, China	Far East	East Asia	79	64	79
Beijing, China	Far East	East Asia	80	72	77
Rome, Italy	Europe	Western Europe	81	122	44
San Jose, Costa Rica	Latin America	Central America	82	85	73
Tokyo, Japan	Far East	East Asia	83	137	2
St. John's, Antigua	Latin America	Caribbean	84	45	97
Quito, Ecuador	Latin America	South America	85	59	90
Sofia, Bulgaria	Europe	Eastern Europe	86	115	55
Mexico City, Mexico	Latin America	Central America	87	88	79
Baku, Azerbaijan	Europe	Eastern Europe	88	63	93
San Juan, Puerto Rico	Latin America	Caribbean	89	48	102
Tel Aviv, Israel	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	90	108	70
Sao Paulo, Brazil	Latin America	South America	91	111	70
Moscow, Russia	Europe	Eastern Europe	92	119	61
Skopje, Macedonia	Europe	Eastern Europe	93	107	77
Port of Spain, Trinidad	Latin America	Caribbean	94	34	121
Budapest, Hungary	Europe	Eastern Europe	95	129	52
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Latin America	South America	96	109	79
St. Petersburg, Russia	Europe	Eastern Europe	97	103	87
Asuncion, Paraguay	Latin America	South America	98	83	99
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam	Far East	Mainland SE Asia	99	86	99
Libreville, Gabon	Middle East/Africa	West Africa	100	54	112
Ulan Bator, Mongolia	Far East	East Asia	101	76	104
Bogota, Colombia	Latin America	South America	102	104	93
Dominica	Latin America	Caribbean	103	65	112
Bucharest, Romania	Europe	Eastern Europe	104	134	57
Johannesburg, S.A.	Middle East/Africa	South Africa	105	121	85
Suva, Fiji	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Asia Pacific	106	66	116
Shenzhen, China	Far East	East Asia	107	73	112
Cape Town, S.A.	Middle East/Africa	South Africa	108	117	90
Gaborone, Botswana	Middle East/Africa	South Africa	109	95	107
Victoria, Seychelles	Middle East/Africa	East Africa	110	124	87
Windhoek, Namibia	Middle East/Africa	South Africa	111	120	97
Nairobi, Kenya	Middle East/Africa	East Africa	112	47	134
Almaty, Kazakhstan	Europe	Eastern Europe	113	112	107
San Salvador, El Salvador	Latin America	Central America	114	68	128
Manila, Philippines	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Maritime SE Asia	115	101	116
Conakry, Guinea	Middle East/Africa	West Africa	116	31	139
Tegucigalpa, Honduras	Latin America	Central America	117	60	135
Banjul, Gambia	Middle East/Africa	West Africa	118	46	138
Dakar, Senegal	Middle East/Africa	West Africa	119	105	123
Kampala, Uganda	Middle East/Africa	East Africa	120	93	128
Beirut, Lebanon	Middle East/Africa	Middle East	121	106	123
Lagos, Nigeria	Middle East/Africa	West Africa	122	51	139
Santo Domingo, D.R.	Latin America	Caribbean	123	126	109
Jakarta, Indonesia	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Maritime SE Asia	124	123	116
Douala, Cameroon	Middle East/Africa	West Africa	125	91	135
Cairo, Egypt	Middle East/Africa	North Africa	126	136	104
Tunis, Tunisia	Middle East/Africa	North Africa	127	132	109
Abidjan, Ivory Coast	Middle East/Africa	West Africa	128	80	139
Mumbai, India	Far East	South Asia	129	127	116
Brazzaville, Congo	Middle East/Africa	Central Africa	130	87	139
Istanbul, Turkey	Europe	Eastern Europe	131	139	79
New Delhi, India	Far East	South Asia	132	125	126
Managua, Nicaragua	Latin America	Central America	133	135	121
Lusaka, Zambia	Middle East/Africa	South Africa	134	133	125
Kingston, Jamaica	Latin America	Caribbean	135	130	128
Buenos Aires, Argentina	Latin America	South America	136	147	52
Accra, Ghana	Middle East/Africa	West Africa	137	138	116
Luanda, Angola	Middle East/Africa	Central Africa	138	100	145
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso	Middle East/Africa	West Africa	139	37	150
Karachi, Pakistan	Far East	South Asia	140	131	145
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania	Middle East/Africa	East Africa	141	142	126
Dhaka, Bangladesh	Far East	South Asia	142	140	132
Antananarivo, Madagascar	Middle East/Africa	East Africa	143	141	135
Colombo, Sri Lanka	Far East	South Asia	144	145	131
Maputo, Mozambique	Middle East/Africa	South Africa	145	146	132
Kiev, Ukraine	Europe	Eastern Europe	146	143	147
Port au Prince, Haiti	Latin America	Caribbean	147	144	148
Khartoum, Sudan	Middle East/Africa	East Africa	148	148	148
Blantyre, Malawi	Middle East/Africa	South Africa	149	149	139
Port Moresby, P.N.G.	Maritime SE Asia/Pacific	Asia Pacific	150	150	144

Top 20 Global Ranking

1

Zurich

Switzerland

Lifestyle rank

2

Financial rank

3

2

Geneva

Switzerland

Lifestyle rank

9

Financial rank

4

3

Luxembourg

Lifestyle rank

15

Financial rank

16

4

Munich

Germany

Lifestyle rank

5

Financial rank

29

5

Houston TX

U.S.A.

Lifestyle rank

38

Financial rank

8

6

San Francisco CA

U.S.A.

Lifestyle rank

26

Financial rank

15

7

Chicago IL

U.S.A.

Lifestyle rank

31

Financial rank

14

8

New York NY

U.S.A.

Lifestyle rank

20

Financial rank

28

9

Singapore

Lifestyle rank

5

Financial rank

42

10

Berlin

Germany

Lifestyle rank

9

Financial rank

36

11

Vienna

Austria

Lifestyle rank

15

Financial rank

32

12

Dubai

U.A.E.

Lifestyle rank

31

Financial rank

18

13

Los Angeles CA

U.S.A.

Lifestyle rank

31

Financial rank

20

14

Seattle WA

U.S.A.

Lifestyle rank

47

Financial rank

11

15

Boston MA

U.S.A.

Lifestyle rank

38

Financial rank

17

16

Denver CO

U.S.A.

Lifestyle rank

44

Financial rank

13

17

Abu Dhabi

U.A.E.

Lifestyle rank

47

Financial rank

12

18

Calgary AB

Canada

Lifestyle rank

15

Financial rank

40

19

Macau

Lifestyle rank

55

Financial rank

5

20

Copenhagen

Denmark

Lifestyle rank

5

Financial rank

50

Top 20 Lifestyle Ranking

1

Prague

Czechia

Overall rank

22

Financial rank

79

2

Zurich

Switzerland

Overall rank

1

Financial rank

3

2

Helsinki

Finland

Overall rank

43

Financial rank

113

2

Tokyo

Japan

Overall rank

83

Financial rank

137

5

Munich

Germany

Overall rank

4

Financial rank

29

5

Singapore

Overall rank

9

Financial rank

42

5

Copenhagen

Denmark

Overall rank

20

Financial rank

50

5

Montreal QC

Canada

Overall rank

24

Financial rank

70

9

Geneva

Switzerland

Overall rank

2

Financial rank

4

9

Berlin

Germany

Overall rank

10

Financial rank

36

9

Toronto ON

Canada

Overall rank

23

Financial rank

61

9

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Overall rank

27

Financial rank

69

9

Paris

France

Overall rank

29

Financial rank

74

9

Seoul

Korea

Overall rank

52

Financial rank

114

15

Luxembourg

Overall rank

3

Financial rank

16

15

Vienna

Austria

Overall rank

11

Financial rank

32

15

Calgary AB

Canada

Overall rank

18

Financial rank

40

15

Oslo

Norway

Overall rank

37

Financial rank

92

15

Dublin

Ireland

Overall rank

39

Financial rank

97

20

New York NY

U.S.A.

Overall rank

8

Financial rank

28

Top 20 Financial Ranking

1

Manama

Bahrain

Overall rank

42

Lifestyle rank

99

2

George Town

Cayman Islands

Overall rank

21

Lifestyle rank

65

3

Zurich

Switzerland

Overall rank

1

Lifestyle rank

2

4

Geneva

Switzerland

Overall rank

2

Lifestyle rank

9

5

Macau

Overall rank

19

Lifestyle rank

55

6

Guatemala City

Guatemala

Overall rank

66

Lifestyle rank

112

7

Kuwait City

Kuwait

Overall rank

57

Lifestyle rank

102

8

Houston TX

U.S.A.

Overall rank

5

Lifestyle rank

38

9

Amman

Jordan

Overall rank

44

Lifestyle rank

87

10

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

Overall rank

69

Lifestyle rank

109

11

Seattle WA

U.S.A.

Overall rank

14

Lifestyle rank

47

12

Abu Dhabi

U.A.E.

Overall rank

17

Lifestyle rank

47

13

Denver CO

U.S.A.

Overall rank

16

Lifestyle rank

44

14

Chicago IL

U.S.A.

Overall rank

7

Lifestyle rank

31

15

San Francisco CA

U.S.A.

Overall rank

6

Lifestyle rank

26

16

Luxembourg

Overall rank

3

Lifestyle rank

15

17

Boston MA

U.S.A.

Overall rank

15

Lifestyle rank

38

18

Dubai

U.A.E.

Overall rank

12

Lifestyle rank

31

19

Doha

Qatar

Overall rank

30

Lifestyle rank

57

20

Los Angeles CA

U.S.A.

Overall rank

13

Lifestyle rank

31

AIRINC Global 150 Cities Index

Ranking Methodology

AIRINC’s Global 150 Cities Index is a ranking of 150 of the top global locations according to the financial and lifestyle benefits they offer. It combines local salary levels, tax rates, living costs, and living conditions to assess how appealing each location is to live in. The data is collected by AIRINC’s own in-house survey team, who continuously research the costs and living conditions of many cities around the world to evaluate international mobility.

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Financial Metrics

Salary Levels

We have developed and maintain our own international salary data base that captures location-specific salary levels for professional talent.

Costs

We price a basket of more than 350 goods and services to accurately represent the cost of living in each location.

Taxes

Our internal tax team researches the applicable national and local taxes, social security payments, and family allowances to develop representative tax models.

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Lifestyle Metrics

Hardship/Quality of Living

We research and evaluate each location for over 60 hardship components, classified into 11 categories that represent Physical Threat and Safety, Discomfort, and Inconvenience

Social Benefits

We adjust for the different levels of social and lifestyle benefits inherent in each country.

The Ranking

The Financial components are aggregated to calculate the net purchasing power of a typical salary in each city, and then converted to a common currency to allow comparison between locations. The Lifestyle metrics are weighted and grouped by category to result in a score out of 100 that allows objective assessment of the living conditions between cities. Both metrics are combined to reflect the importance of each, resulting in an overall score that allows easy city-to-city comparisons and rankings.

Have any questions or want to talk?

Critical skills are in short supply in many locations around the world. For many organizations, transferring talent across borders to fill knowledge and skills gaps has become an essential prerequisite to meeting business objectives.

Get in touch! We can help by providing the data, technology, and advice to make your mobility program a success.

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