World's prime city for individuals in their twenties, as per Time Out's assessment
Time Out has unveiled a new "best cities" list tailored specifically for young people, focusing on the preferences and priorities of Generation Z and the youngest millennials. The list, titled "Best Cities for 2025", highlights cities that excel in factors that matter most to this age group, such as happiness, affordability, walkability, cultural vibrancy, and diversity.
Top Cities for Young People
Bangkok takes the top spot as the No. 1 city for young people. The Thai capital scored highly for happiness, affordability, and being a great place to meet new people among its residents. Mexico City, at No. 8, is the second-most affordable place for Gen Z to live, after Bangkok.
New York City, at No. 4, is described as "exciting" by its younger residents, particularly praised for its walkability and nightlife. Melbourne High Street in Australia was named Time Out's coolest thoroughfare for 2024, scoring highly for art, culture, inclusiveness, and quality of life.
Cape Town makes it to No. 3 on the under-30 list, scoring particularly high for beauty and affordable nights out. Three out of four young people in Cape Town say that going out for drinks there is affordable.
Diverse and Inclusive Cities
Barcelona and Melbourne are tied for the highest rating for diversity and inclusivity. Nearly four in five young Melburnians described their city as diverse and inclusive. More than nine in 10 young Melburnians praised their city's art and culture scene, and an impressive 96% said Melbourne's quality of life is "good" or "amazing."
Shanghai is described as "a cinematic city where everyone's the main character." Young people living in Shanghai are the most likely to describe their city as modern. Shanghai performs well for public transport (96% rate it highly) and overall happiness (84% say they're happy living there).
Affordable Cities
Copenhagen is known for prioritizing good food, good people, and looking after each other. More than half of young people in Copenhagen said it's an easy place to find love. Mexico City scores highly for affordability (69% agree) and happiness (96% say they're happy).
Edinburgh is at No. 7 on the under-30 list due to its walkability, green spaces, and access to nature. Nearly 95% of young people in Edinburgh love its opportunities for green-space action.
Comparing the Lists
The young people's list is tailored by filtering survey data to focus on under-30 priorities, emphasizing social life, affordability, walkability, and cultural engagement. In contrast, the multigenerational list combines perspectives from a full age spectrum, potentially giving different weight to factors like economic opportunity or family-friendly amenities.
Other Cities in the Top 20
Sydney, Beijing, Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, Seville, Chiang Mai, Prague, Lisbon are other cities in the top 20. London makes it to No. 9 on the under-30s list thanks to its excellent cultural scene and diverse gastronomic offerings, with 95% of young Londoners rating the food scene highly.
Cape Town is overlooked by the breathtaking Table Mountain, while New York City offers a vibrant nightlife and walkability. Copenhagen climbs to No. 5 when filtering for the under-30s, and Shanghai performs well for public transport and overall happiness.
Barcelona places at No. 17 in the overall list but earns a No. 6 ranking with Gen Z and the youngest millennials. Melbourne is No. 2 on the under-30s list, two places higher than on the multigenerational ranking.
- The Thai capital, Bangkok, ranked first as the best city for young people, excelling in factors such as happiness, affordability, and ample opportunities for socializing.
- New York City, at rank 4, is popular among the young residents due to its walkability and vibrant nightlife, particularly appreciated by Generation Z and the younger millennials.
- In addition to Bangkok and New York City, other cities in the top 20 include Mexico City, Barcelona, Sydney, Beijing, Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, Seville, Chiang Mai, Prague, Lisbon, and Edinburgh.
- Melbourne, ranking second on the under-30 list, was praised for its diversity, inclusiveness, art, culture, and quality of life, with nearly four in five young Melburnians approving of these factors.
- Among the cities mentioned, Copenhagen and Shanghai stood out for their affordability and overall happiness, respectively, with Copenhagen climbing to No. 5 on the under-30 list, and Shanghai performing well for public transport and happiness indices.
