Every year, Forbes Magazine publishes a ranking with the best cities to live in the world. This year, a Spanish city has managed to stand out, taking the top spot: Valencia.
For this study, Forbes has relied on data provided by Internations, the largest global community for people living and working abroad. These data were gathered through surveys conducted with 12,500 expatriates residing in 53 cities across 35 countries.
Old town of Valencia
Why Valencia?
Valencia stands out for several factors: its wonderful beaches, its rich culture and gastronomy, as well as its affordability for living. Moreover, expatriates have praised the low cost of public transportation (96% of respondents), as well as the numerous opportunities that Valencia offers (95% of respondents). Finally, all respondents agreed on highlighting the city's safety.
To reach this conclusion, the report has been based on five key aspects: quality of life, ease of settling in, personal finances, and other important factors.
The best cities 1Valencia, Spain
2Málaga, Spain
3Alicante, Spain
4Panama City, Panama
5Mexico City, Mexico
6Bangkok, Thailand
7Madrid, Spain
8Abu Dhabi, UAE
9Dubai, UAE
10Vienna, Austria
Parish of Our Lady of Consolation, Alicante
Valencia has a fairly relaxed lifestyle”
An expatriate from the Netherlands highlighted his love for Valencia, stating: “It has a pretty relaxed lifestyle. I like the friendly people, the good food, the vibrant culture, and the pleasant climate.”
However, even though it is the best city to live in, it also has some disadvantages. Expatriates mention the difficulties of finding employment as a foreigner, which ranks the city at number 31 in this aspect. Nevertheless, many continue to choose Valencia, attracted by its quality of life.
Virgen square, Valencia
It is curious that in 2023 Valencia lost its first place, which was taken by Málaga, but this year it has regained its position. In addition, it is not only Valencia that stands out, but after the Valencian city, other Spanish cities follow in the second and third positions, Málaga and Alicante. Furthermore, Madrid ranks seventh among the top 10 best places in the world.
Spain stands out, in general, for its excellent quality of life in all aspects: Mediterranean cuisine, mostly pleasant weather all year round, and its cultural richness and history are just some of the factors that make it the most attractive country in the world to live in.
On the other hand, Barcelona, currently ranked 21st, has experienced a decline in its ranking compared to recent years, achieving its lowest position this year. However, the city continues to be recognized for its cultural and gastronomic offerings, keeping it among the best cities in the world, according to Forbes.
Port Vell, Barcelona
The worst cities
In contrast to the best cities, Vancouver (Canada) ranks last, considered the worst city to live in. According to the report, high housing costs are one of the main issues, along with a lack of job opportunities. Nearly 30% of respondents claim to be constantly searching for employment, three times more than the global average. Furthermore, the city is perceived as having a limited social life, as 63% of participants find it very challenging to make local friends.
