Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide have scores three top spots in this year’s EIU Global Livability Index.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) scores 173 cities each year to determine which are the most liveable. Each city is scored on 30 indicators across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture & environment, education, and infrastructure. Using these markers, the index is able to qualify the challenges and benefits to an individual’s lifestyle in any given location with a score out of 100.
This year, three Australian cities made the top ten list, which is more than any other country on Earth. Melbourne achieved an overall score of 97 out of 100, while Sydney scored an impressive 97 points and Adelaide scored 96 points. This is well above the average score of 76.1 points, showing just how comfortable and enjoyable it can be to live in Australia.
Amazingly, all three cities improved on their 2025 scores. Sydney rose two places, even taking Melbourne head on with identical scores in every category except culture and environment.
But what was the number one city in 2026? For the second year running, Copenhagen took the crown, earning perfect scores in three of the five categories: stability, education and infrastructure.
The top 10 most liveable cities in the world for 2026:
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Vienna, Austria
- Melbourne, Australia
- Sydney, Australia
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Osaka, Japan
- Adelaide, Australia
- Vancouver, Canada
- Tokyo, Japan
Why not visit one of these incredible liveable cities? Discover the best places to dine near Sydney Harbour here.
Rex flies to Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. Book your tickets here and check out the route map below.
