Gen Z Names the Best Cities to Live in 2026: Which Global Cities Top the Ranking

Generation Z has named the cities around the world where young people feel most comfortable living, working, relaxing, and meeting new people. Tokyo topped the new Time Out ranking, and the top ten also includes cities in Europe, Australia, the U.S., and Asia. Learn more about the best cities for Gen Z in 2026 and the criteria that influenced their selection

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Young people don’t judge cities solely by salary levels or rent prices. For Generation Z, convenient public transportation, the ability to get around on foot, access to green spaces, cultural and nightlife, a variety of venues, and how easy it is to meet new people are also important.

These are the factors that were taken into account when compiling the new ranking of the world’s best cities for Generation Z. For the study, the responses of thousands of city residents under the age of 30 were analyzed, and only one city with the highest score from each country was included in the final list.

Tokyo took first place this year, ahead of Porto, Melbourne, Edinburgh, and Shanghai. At the same time, the results show that a city attractive to young people doesn’t necessarily have to be the cheapest: the quality of daily life, social opportunities, and the urban environment play a significant role.

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How were the best cities for Gen Z determined?

The ranking was compiled by Time Out in collaboration with Intrepid Travel based on a global survey of city residents conducted in 2026. For the separate Gen Z ranking, the authors selected responses from participants aged 30 and under, and only the city with the highest score from each country made it onto the final list. Young residents were asked about various aspects of daily life in their cities.

Among the factors that are particularly important to Gen Z, Time Out highlights:

- The city’s walkability and the convenience of public transportation

- Access to parks, nature, and places for outdoor recreation

- The cost of daily life, entertainment, and cultural events

- Restaurants, nightlife, and cultural offerings

- The ability to easily meet people and make friends

- An overall sense of happiness, well-being, and comfort

The results showed that a high cost of living does not necessarily exclude a city from the list of the most attractive for young people. For example, Tokyo topped the ranking, even though only 33% of the surveyed zoomers described it as affordable. Instead, the city received the highest score for everyday joy and high marks for its nightlife.

In our previous article, we discussed the top 5 EU countries for starting an offline business in 2026.

The World’s Best Cities for Gen Z in 2026

Time Out’s final ranking includes cities from various regions of the world—from Asia and Australia to Europe and North America. Tokyo took the top spot, but several European cities also made it to the top of the list.

The top 10 best cities for Generation Z in 2026 are as follows:

1. Tokyo, Japan

2. Porto, Portugal

3. Melbourne, Australia

4. Edinburgh, United Kingdom

5. Shanghai, China

6. New York, United States

7. Copenhagen, Denmark

8. Berlin, Germany

9. Valencia, Spain

10. Bangkok, Thailand

These cities made the top list for various reasons.

In some places, young people value affordability and a strong sense of community most highly; in others, it’s the cultural scene, restaurants, and nightlife; and in certain megacities, the key advantages are ease of transportation and a wide range of opportunities for social life.

Tokyo — No. 1 in the World Among the Best Cities for Generation Z

Tokyo topped the ranking of the best cities for Generation Z thanks to a combination of convenient urban infrastructure, a rich array of leisure activities, and a high level of satisfaction with everyday life. 100% of surveyed city residents under the age of 30 stated that they find joy in daily events and experiences.

Among the Japanese capital’s strengths, young people also highlight its well-developed public transportation, the ability to easily get around the city on foot, a wide selection of cultural events, and virtually limitless options for evening entertainment. 89% of respondents rated Tokyo’s nightlife positively. Not only are clubs and bars popular here, but so are karaoke, 24-hour bathhouses, and large sports and entertainment centers.

At the same time, Tokyo cannot be called a budget-friendly city: only 33% of Zoomers surveyed consider it affordable. This is one of the telling results of the ranking: for the younger generation, the high cost of living can be offset by the quality of the urban environment, transportation, culture, and the abundance of leisure opportunities.

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Porto — Affordability and a Strong Sense of Community

Porto took second place in the ranking. Unlike Tokyo, the Portuguese city received particularly high marks specifically for the affordability of living and its social environment. 93% of Generation Z respondents surveyed described Porto as affordable, making it one of the strongest options in the ranking in terms of the balance between cost and quality of urban life.

Another key indicator: 100% of young respondents rated the city’s sense of community positively. Compact neighborhoods, along with a large number of cafes, bars, and public spaces, create an environment where it’s easier to meet people and maintain an active social life.

For Gen Zers, Porto is also appealing for its scale: it’s not a megacity with a population in the tens of millions, but the city boasts a vibrant cultural life, the ocean nearby, a well-developed public transit system, and plenty of opportunities for work and leisure.

Melbourne: Culture, Gastronomy, and a Comfortable Urban Lifestyle

Melbourne took third place in the ranking—one of the strongest cities in terms of cultural offerings and quality of daily life. Among the Gen Z respondents surveyed, 100% rated the restaurants and dining options positively, and 97% rated the city’s cultural life positively.

Melbourne’s neighborhoods also received high marks: 94% of young respondents are satisfied with where they live. For a large metropolis, this is an important indicator, as comfort often depends not only on the city center but also on the availability of transportation, cafes, green spaces, local services, and recreational facilities in residential areas. Melbourne is also known for its abundance of concerts, festivals, galleries, independent venues, and coffee culture.

Learn more about the most affordable countries for expats to live in 2026 by following the link.

Edinburgh: Safety, Well-Being, and a High Quality of Life

Edinburgh took fourth place in the ranking. Young residents particularly highly rated their overall sense of comfort: 90% of Generation Z respondents said they feel happier here than in the cities where they lived previously.

Another 84% of respondents rated well-being and quality of life positively. Furthermore, among the cities in the top 20, Edinburgh received the highest score for perceived safety. For young people, this is important not only in everyday life but also when getting around the city in the evening, attending events, and enjoying an active nightlife.

At the same time, Edinburgh combines a compact city center, plenty of green spaces, a vibrant cultural life, and a strong festival scene. The city may not have the scale of a metropolis, but it offers ample opportunities for studying, working, socializing, and leisure—which secured its place in the top five of the ranking.

Shanghai: An Active Social Life and a Youth-Friendly Environment

Shanghai took fifth place in the ranking. One of the city’s main attractions for Generation Z is its active social scene: 76% of young respondents noted that it’s easy to meet new people and make friends here.

Another 83% of respondents reported that they have been feeling happier lately while living in Shanghai. This is a high figure for a metropolis of this scale, where a vibrant urban lifestyle is combined with a wealth of restaurants, cultural venues, shopping districts, and entertainment options.

Shanghai also attracts young people with its well-developed transportation system and diverse neighborhoods. Here, you can find both dynamic business districts and more local neighborhoods with cafes, bars, and public spaces, making the city suitable for a variety of lifestyles.

In our previous article, we discussed the cost of living in the best EU countries in 2026.

Which other cities made it into the top 10?

The second half of the top 10 consists of major metropolises and European cities with a wide range of advantages: from a vibrant cultural life to convenient urban infrastructure and a strong sense of community.

New York: An Endless Selection of Events and Opportunities

New York took sixth place. Despite the high cost of living, the city remains attractive to young people thanks to its vast selection of cultural events, restaurants, nightlife, and opportunities for professional and social life.

In the overall Time Out 2026 ranking, New York also received particularly high marks for arts and culture—93%—and 91% of residents rated the restaurant scene positively.

Copenhagen: A Comfortable Urban Environment

Copenhagen ranked seventh. The Danish capital attracts young residents with its ease of transportation, cycling infrastructure, access to public spaces, and the city’s overall focus on the comfort of everyday life. In the Gen Z ranking, Copenhagen was named the best city in Denmark and one of four European cities in the top ten.

Berlin: Culture and the Freedom of City Life

Berlin took eighth place. The German capital has long attracted young people with its large international community, concerts, clubs, art spaces, and diverse neighborhoods. In the context of the Time Out ranking, it is particularly important that the city offers many ways to spend time and meet people, which is one of the key criteria for Gen Z.

Valencia: A Comfortable Life by the Sea

Valencia took ninth place. This Spanish city combines a Mediterranean climate, beaches, a compact city center, green spaces, and an active urban life. It is precisely this balance between a big city and a more relaxed pace that makes Valencia a notable alternative to more expensive European metropolises.

Bangkok: A City Where Young People Feel Happy

Bangkok rounds out the top ten, becoming the only city in Southeast Asia to make the top 10. 96% of the young residents surveyed said the city makes them happier than other places they’ve lived. The restaurant scene was highly rated by 87%, and the nightlife by 78% of respondents under the age of 30.

Bangkok also stands out for its vibrant social scene: young residents note the openness of local communities and the relative ease of meeting new people. It is precisely this combination of gastronomy, entertainment, social life, and affordability that has allowed Thailand’s capital to maintain its place among the world’s top destinations for Gen Z.

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