Southeast Asian city ranks among world's top 3 for quality of life

The city state of Singapore ranks third globally for quality of life in the 2026 Global Cities Index by Oxford Economics, a U.K.-based independent economic research and consulting firm.

Singapore scored of 91.6 for quality of life, behind Norway's Bergen at 94.3 and Australian capital Canberra, which topped the list with a perfect score of 100.

Oxford Economics evaluates quality of life from an economic perspective, using indicators including income inequality, housing expenditure and crime rates.

Grenoble, France, ranked fourth with 90.8, followed by Bern, Switzerland, at 89.8, and Oslo, Norway, at 89.3. Luxembourg took seventh place with 89, while Dresden, Germany, ranked eighth at 88.5.

The report said Singapore performs well thanks to high incomes and low crime rates.

"Singapore's excellent healthcare system also contributes to this achievement, as it has resulted in a life expectancy among the best in our rankings," it said.

Singapore's drawback is high housing costs relative to other cities in the region, an issue exacerbated by limited land availability, according to the report.

Canberra's top position is driven by high salaries and low income inequality, supported by an abundance of stable, well-paid government jobs.

The Australian capital ranks highly in healthcare and life expectancy, while its relatively small population helps it score well for recreational and cultural sites per capita, the report said.

Bergen is also an attractive place to live, with high life expectancy and low income inequality. Relatively high incomes have helped it attract young, well-educated workers across various sectors, including financial services, aquaculture and marine research.

People are seen at the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade in Singapore. Photo by Pexels

The quality of life category accounts for 25% of the overall 2026 Global Cities Index, which assesses 1,000 cities worldwide across five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.

Singapore is the second-highest-ranked Asian city in the overall index and the only one in South Asia to make the global top 50.

According to the report, Singapore has a globally connected financial services sector, alongside sizable business services and information and communications industries. It has also maintained its advanced, high-tech manufacturing base and global trade activities. However, its economics score is weighed down by slower employment growth, partly reflecting its rapidly ageing population, one of the fastest-ageing in the world.

While U.S. cities performed strongly in the overall rankings, with eight making the top 20 and New York taking first place, only San Jose entered the top 20 for quality of life. European cities dominated the category, claiming most of the positions.