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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $85.40
- Cost of a cappuccino: $3.91
16. Shanghai
- 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
- 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
- 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 a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $115.28
- Cost of a cappuccino: $4.92
13. Seoul
- 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 a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $54.47
- Cost of a cappuccino: $3.61
12. Los Angeles
- 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 a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $100.00
- Cost of a cappuccino: $5.74
11. Sydney
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.17
- Cost of a cappuccino: $3.24
4. Tokyo
- 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
- 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 a mid-range restaurant: $74.93
- Cost of a cappuccino: $5.01
2. New York
- 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
- 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 a mid-range restaurant: $104.58
- Cost of a cappuccino: $5.27
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