Singapore has secured a spot among the world’s top three cities for quality of life, according to the 2026 Global Cities Index published by Oxford Economics.
The city-state ranked third globally with a score of 91.6, placing it behind Canberra in Australia, which took first place with a perfect score of 100, and Bergen in Norway, which scored 94.3.
The ranking highlights Singapore’s strengths in areas such as income levels, public safety and healthcare, although the country’s high housing costs remain a notable weakness.
Singapore Scores Highly For Healthcare And Low Crime Rates
Oxford Economics, a UK-based economic research and consulting firm, assesses quality of life using several indicators, including income inequality, housing expenditure and crime rates.
According to the report, Singapore’s strong performance is largely attributed to its high incomes and relatively low crime rates.
The country’s healthcare system also played an important role in its ranking, with Oxford Economics highlighting Singapore’s high life expectancy compared with other cities included in the assessment.
However, Singapore’s biggest disadvantage remains its housing affordability. The report noted that housing costs are relatively high compared with other cities in the region, partly due to the country’s limited land availability.
European Cities Dominate Quality Of Life Rankings
Following Singapore in third place, Grenoble in France ranked fourth with a score of 90.8, while Bern in Switzerland took fifth place with 89.8.
Oslo in Norway came sixth with 89.3, followed by Luxembourg in seventh place with 89. Dresden in Germany completed the top eight with a score of 88.5.
Canberra’s top position was attributed to its high salaries and relatively low income inequality, supported by a large number of stable and well-paid government jobs.
The Australian capital also performed strongly in healthcare and life expectancy. Its relatively small population further helped it achieve a higher score for recreational and cultural facilities per capita.
Bergen, meanwhile, benefited from high life expectancy and low income inequality. Its relatively high income levels have also helped attract young, well-educated workers across industries such as financial services, aquaculture and marine research.
Singapore Also Performs Strongly In Overall Global Cities Index
The quality of life category accounts for 25% of the overall 2026 Global Cities Index, which evaluates 1,000 cities worldwide across five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.
Singapore was also identified as the second-highest-ranked Asian city in the overall index and the only Asian city from its regional grouping to feature in the global top 50.
The report highlighted Singapore’s internationally connected financial services industry, alongside its established business services and information and communications sectors.
Its advanced manufacturing capabilities and role in global trade also contributed to its economic standing.
However, Singapore’s economic score was weighed down by slower employment growth, partly attributed to its rapidly ageing population.
Interestingly, while American cities performed strongly in the overall rankings, with eight making the top 20 and New York taking first place, only San Jose featured among the top 20 cities for quality of life.
European cities continued to dominate this particular category, securing most of the leading positions.
For Singapore, the latest ranking reflects its strengths in public safety, healthcare and income levels, while also highlighting the ongoing challenge of keeping housing affordable in one of the world’s most expensive urban environments.