Top 10 cities for quality of life

The full Top 10

#	City	Quality of life	HDI	English	Score	Monthly cost
1	Akureyri Iceland	99	0.972	very-high	62.9	$3,600*
2	Reykjavík Iceland	99	0.972	very-high	62	$3,689
3	Brisbane Australia	98	0.958	native	70.6	$2,758
4	Perth Australia	98	0.958	native	70.2	$2,808
5	Newcastle (NSW) Australia	98	0.958	native	68.6	$3,350*
6	Sydney Australia	98	0.958	native	68.5	$3,538
7	Toowoomba Australia	98	0.958	native	66.6	$3,350*
8	Townsville Australia	98	0.958	native	66.3	$3,350*
9	Gold Coast Australia	98	0.958	native	65.9	$3,350*
10	Drammen Norway	98	0.97	very-high	65.8	$3,500*

* country-level cost estimate. Lists ranked by overall score put cities with a city-level price first; country-wide estimates only fill a list with fewer than ten. Scores are 0–100 under balanced weights; open a city for every number and its source.

What the data says

These 10 cities are the best of 1,487 that qualify, with balanced scores from 62 to 71. The 4 with a city-level price run from $2,758 to $3,689 a month for one person. They span Europe and Oceania; 0 of the 10 are in countries with a digital-nomad visa.

The ten, one by one

1. 1. Akureyri

   Akureyri, Iceland: Iceland's capital of the north, a fjord town far from Reykjavík's crowds. It scores 63/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on climate. About $3,600 a month on the national estimate, 101 Mbps measured download and 0 of 12 comfortable months.

2. 2. Reykjavík

   Reykjavík, Iceland: Small capital at the edge of the Arctic. It scores 62/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on climate. About $3,689 a month for one person including rent, 91.8 Mbps measured download and 0 of 12 comfortable months.

3. 3. Brisbane

   Brisbane, Australia: Subtropical, growing and gearing up for 2032. It scores 71/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $2,758 a month for one person including rent, 41.8 Mbps measured download and 11 of 12 comfortable months.

4. 4. Perth

   Perth, Australia: Isolated, sunny and laid-back. It scores 70/100 under balanced weights, best for climate and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $2,808 a month for one person including rent, 39.2 Mbps measured download and 12 of 12 comfortable months.

5. 5. Newcastle (NSW)

   Newcastle (NSW), Australia: Surf city two hours from Sydney at a fraction of the rent. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $3,350 a month on the national estimate, 46.5 Mbps measured download and 11 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. Sydney

   Sydney, Australia: Harbour city with beaches in the suburbs. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $3,538 a month for one person including rent, 44.2 Mbps measured download and 10 of 12 comfortable months.

7. 7. Toowoomba

   Toowoomba, Australia: Queensland's garden city on the range, cooler than Brisbane. It scores 67/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $3,350 a month on the national estimate, 47.4 Mbps measured download and 9 of 12 comfortable months.

8. 8. Townsville

   Townsville, Australia: North Queensland's dry-tropics city with Magnetic Island offshore. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $3,350 a month on the national estimate, 38.7 Mbps measured download and 10 of 12 comfortable months.

9. 9. Gold Coast

   Gold Coast, Australia: Surf city with a light rail. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $3,350 a month on the national estimate, 46.5 Mbps measured download and 9 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. Drammen

    Drammen, Norway: River city 35 min from Oslo, rebuilt around a cleaned-up waterfront. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on climate. About $3,500 a month on the national estimate, 84.1 Mbps measured download and 1 of 12 comfortable months.

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