Monocle's Top Quality of Life Cities: Paris, Munich, Vienna, Copenhagen, Zurich, Tokyo

Monocle's Quality of Life Survey, launched in 2007, ranks cities based on factors beyond crime, economics, and transport, including green space, late-night dining, and community. Over the past decade, the top cities have been Paris (2025), Munich (2024 and 2018), Vienna (2023), Copenhagen (2022 and 2021), Zurich (2019), and Tokyo (2017 and 2016). Paris, under Mayor Anne Hidalgo, leveraged the 2024 Olympics to showcase its revival, becoming cleaner, greener, and more international. Munich, Germany's most expensive city, boasts a 41% academic-degree workforce and a €8.4bn education budget. Vienna celebrated the 150th anniversary of the 1873 World's Fair, expanded social housing, and added driverless X-Wagen trains. Copenhagen's cycling infrastructure and pandemic resilience kept it at the top. Zurich offers punctual trains, clean streets, and a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Tokyo's 24-hour economy and safety make it a standout. The 2026 survey will be released on June 25.