Gen Z wants to socialize in places other than the bar. Here are the top 20 global cities for Gen Z.

August 8, 2026 adminsr

Gen Z is often labeled as cold or less sociable, but that might be an unfair characterization.

In order to determine the best places for Gen Z to live, Time Out surveyed local residents ages 18 to 29 around the world, asking them about everything from affordability to nightlife.

Time Out travel writer Liv Kelly told Business Insider that the survey findings show Gen Z socializes plenty, but does so differently than past generations.

Kelly said her generation finds joy in day-to-day experiences rather than living for the weekend. While nightlife was a factor in Time Out’s rankings, alternatives like outdoor activities and community building opportunities were just as, if not more, important to the under-30 crowd.

“I think how Gen Z socializes and how they go out is still crucial to their day-to-day interactions and their happiness — it’s just changing shapes,” Kelly told Business Insider.

Gen Z yearns for third spaces, and cities that can provide those ranked high on the list.

“In Tokyo, there are spaces which offer game nights where you can engage in sports with friends without having to drink,” Kelly said. “In Shanghai, there are no-phone socials. The cities that are ranked particularly well are ones where people find it easy to socialize. I think that also speaks volumes about there being a shift towards people preferring face-to-face interaction.”

Below, see what cities around the world are best suited for Gen Z.

20. Vienna

Vienna.

Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Population: 1,925,213

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,215.90

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,281.45

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $86.48

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.40

19. Vancouver, Canada

Canada geese swim across calm harbor water with Vancouver skyline, marina boats, and forested shoreline reflected behind them. — Vancouver, Canada.

Sarah Jessiman /Getty Images

Population: 751,644

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,075.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,831.78

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $85.31

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.26

18. Rio de Janeiro

Christ the Redeemer overlooks Rio de Janeiro’s coastline, mountains, city neighborhoods, and Guanabara Bay at sunset. — Rio de Janeiro.

marchello74/Getty Images

Population: 6,772,868

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $637

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $842.04

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $39.86

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.46

17. Mexico City

Crowds and street vendors fill a historic pedestrian street lined with colonial buildings at sunset. — Mexico City.

pawel.gaul/Getty Images

Population: 9,020,812

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $815.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,113.41

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $52.12

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.89

16. Athens, Greece

Athens cityscape with the Acropolis and Parthenon above historic neighborhoods under a partly cloudy sky. — Athens, Greece.

George Pachantouris/Getty Images

Population: 3,134,884

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $981.90

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $731.46

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $74.95

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.22

15. Paris

Paris cityscape with the Eiffel Tower rising above rooftops and a tree-lined avenue under a partly cloudy sky. — Paris.

Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images

Population: 2,059,821

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,212.6

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,630.82

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.71

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.05

14. Seoul, South Korea

Lotte World Tower rises above illuminated Seoul streets with traffic light trails at dusk. — Seoul, South Korea.

Mlenny/Getty Images

Population: 9,217,913

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,057.40

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $830.54

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $64.69

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.03

13. Kraków, Poland

Kraków Main Market Square with historic buildings, church domes, café umbrellas, and pedestrians viewed from above. — Kraków, Poland.

Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Population: 814,595

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $889.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $937.08

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $53.67

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.46

12. Cape Town, South Africa

Canal lined with modern buildings and paddle boats with Table Mountain in the background. — Cape Town, South Africa.

golero/Getty Images

Population: 4,974,327

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $729.10

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,045.00

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $48.82

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.49

11. Naples, Italy

Sunlit harbor with boats and pastel hillside buildings surrounding a domed church on a coastal Mediterranean village. — Naples, Italy.

I just try to tell my emotions and take you around the world/Getty Images

Population: 904,846

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $996.30

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,061.95

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.71

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.29

10. Bangkok

Wat Arun Temple at sunset, Bangkok. — Bangkok.

Wat Arun Ratchawararam

Population: 5,186,582

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $719.50

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $704.74

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $36.09

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.90

9. Valencia, Spain

Valencia cityscape at sunset with the illuminated El Miguelete bell tower rising above dense urban streets. — Valencia, Spain.

Dado Daniela/Getty Images

Population: 850,475

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $834.50

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,470.20

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.18

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.80

8. Berlin

Berlin skyline at sunset with the Fernsehturm, Berliner Dom, Spree River, bridges, traffic, and red-roofed buildings. — Berlin.

Harald Nachtmann/Getty Images

Population: 3,775,697

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,212

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,504.07

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.71

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.64

7. Copenhagen, Denmark

Nyhavn district in Copenhagen — Copenhagen, Denmark.

Mlenny/Getty Images

Population: 671,714

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,397.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,951.86

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $123.40

Cost of a cappuccino: $7.07

6. New York City

New York, New York. — New York City.

william87/Getty Images

Population: 8,546,038

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,681.40

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $4,408.32

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $140

Cost of a cappuccino: $6.20

5. Shanghai

Neon Chinese storefront signs illuminate a crowded city shopping street at dusk with blurred pedestrians and tall buildings. — Shanghai.

conceptualmotion/Getty Images

Population: 24,722,254

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $618.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $943.43

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $29.61

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.24

4. Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Edinburgh cityscape with St Mary's Cathedral spires rising above stone buildings and hills in the background. — Edinburgh, Scotland.

Posnov/Getty Images

Population: 540,101

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,234.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,637.28

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $107.60

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.12

3. Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne skyline rises beside the Yarra River with parkland, bridges, and the Arts Centre Melbourne spire in view. — Melbourne, Australia.

Alistair McLellan/Getty Images

Population: 4,928,443

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,225.10

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,730.30

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $84.54

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.03

2. Porto, Portugal

Colorful Porto waterfront buildings and boats line the Douro River under a clear blue sky.

Population: 264,493

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $825.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,316.24

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $57.65

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.66

1. Tokyo

Neon-lit Japanese shopping street at night with storefront signs, pedestrians, and a tall illuminated tower in the background. — Tokyo.

Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images

Population: 10,316,210

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $959

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,262.13

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $44.38

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.59

20. Vienna

19. Vancouver, Canada

18. Rio de Janeiro

17. Mexico City

16. Athens, Greece

15. Paris

14. Seoul, South Korea

13. Kraków, Poland

12. Cape Town, South Africa

11. Naples, Italy

10. Bangkok

9. Valencia, Spain

8. Berlin

7. Copenhagen, Denmark

6. New York City

5. Shanghai

4. Edinburgh, United Kingdom

3. Melbourne, Australia

2. Porto, Portugal

1. Tokyo

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