Amsterdam is the second most liveable city in the world for expats, according to a new index that ranked 35 cities on everything from air quality to how welcoming locals actually are.
The ranking comes from Global Citizen Solutions, a global mobility consultancy whose team assessed cities on a variety of factors. These include cost of living, personal safety, air quality, healthcare quality, English proficiency, ease of settling in, and passport mobility.
The index evaluated 35 major cities worldwide, including Melbourne (3rd), Vienna (4th), Barcelona (5th), Singapore (6th), and Tokyo (8th).
Here’s why Amsterdam scores so well
It’s worth noting that the index doesn’t reward cities that excel in just one area; the highest-ranked entries are real all-rounders.
Amsterdam fits that profile well, earning high marks for safety, healthcare, and air quality, with the highest English proficiency score among all European cities in the ranking.
READ MORE | Finding a job in Amsterdam: the ultimate guide in 2026
The city also earns some well-deserved praise for its car-free lifestyle. According to research cited in the ranking, walking, cycling, and public transport accounted for roughly 72–77% of all trips in Amsterdam between 2015 and 2022.
Naturally, there are some trade-offs
No city in the top ten is without its drawbacks, and Amsterdam is no exception. In particular, the index flags two main weaknesses: cost and social integration.
Amsterdam is one of the most expensive cities in the ranking, a fact that’s utterly unsurprising to anyone who’s recently checked Pararius or Funda.
And, as anyone who’s moved to Amsterdam can attest, making genuine local friends takes time. It’s for this reason that the city’s ease-of-settling-in score sits on the lower end among the top ten cities.
Where does your city rank?
While Amsterdam may have seized #2, it’s definitely in good company. Here’s the full top ten:
| 🏆 Ranking | 📍 City |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lisbon, Portugal |
| 2 | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 3 | Melbourne, Australia |
| 4 | Vienna, Austria |
| 5 | Barcelona, Spain |
| 6 | Singapore |
| 7 | Auckland, New Zealand |
| 8 | Tokyo, Japan |
| 9 | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 10 | Seoul, South Korea |
For expats choosing where to settle, the index puts it plainly: the right city depends on your priorities.
A family that wants English-language access and institutional stability might look at Amsterdam, Melbourne, or Singapore. Meanwhile, someone chasing affordability might find Bangkok or Tbilisi a better fit.
Does Amsterdam’s second-place ranking match your experience of living here? Let us know in the comments.
