Best cities for healthcare quality and access
A high healthcare score is worth little if the monthly premium is unaffordable. This ranking weights quality heaviest but prices private cover into the household budget, so systems that are excellent and free to use rise.
The ranking
| # | City | Match | Monthly cost | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 82% | $3,856 | Healthcare scores 92/100Safety scores 94/100Getting around scores 93/100English usability scores 92/100No remote-work visa route |
| 2 | Stockholm Sweden | 82% | $2,787 | Healthcare scores 88/100Safety scores 84/100English usability scores 96/100Family friendliness scores 94/100No remote-work visa route |
| 3 | Copenhagen Denmark | 81% | $3,326 | Healthcare scores 90/100Safety scores 88/100English usability scores 94/100Getting around scores 92/100No remote-work visa route |
| 4 | Valencia Spain | 78% | $1,983 | Healthcare scores 84/100Safety scores 80/100Affordability scores 78/100Family friendliness scores 84/100 |
| 5 | Dubai United Arab Emirates | 78% | $3,662 | Healthcare scores 80/100Safety scores 88/100English usability scores 88/100Connectivity scores 100/100 |
| 6 | Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates | 77% | $3,196 | Healthcare scores 80/100Safety scores 92/100English usability scores 86/100Family friendliness scores 80/100 |
| 7 | Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR | 77% | $3,635 | Healthcare scores 84/100Safety scores 86/100Getting around scores 96/100Connectivity scores 96/100No remote-work visa route |
| 8 | Barcelona Spain | 76% | $2,594 | Healthcare scores 84/100Getting around scores 91/100 |
| 9 | Tokyo Japan | 76% | $2,777 | Healthcare scores 88/100Safety scores 94/100Getting around scores 94/100 |
| 10 | Tallinn Estonia | 76% | $1,915 | Healthcare scores 76/100Safety scores 84/100Affordability scores 79/100Family friendliness scores 84/100 |
| 11 | Melbourne Australia | 76% | $3,244 | Healthcare scores 88/100English usability scores 100/100Family friendliness scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 12 | Osaka Japan | 76% | $2,380 | Healthcare scores 86/100Safety scores 92/100Getting around scores 91/100 |
| 13 | Lisbon Portugal | 75% | $2,506 | Safety scores 78/100Getting around scores 82/100 |
| 14 | Amsterdam Netherlands | 75% | $3,436 | Healthcare scores 86/100Safety scores 76/100English usability scores 96/100Getting around scores 90/100No remote-work visa route |
| 15 | Seoul South Korea | 75% | $2,500 | Healthcare scores 88/100Safety scores 86/100Getting around scores 93/100 |
The top five, in detail
Capped childcare fees and universal healthcare make family costs unusually low relative to the headline tax rate.
High taxes buy near-free childcare, healthcare and one of the best cycling cities on earth.
Beach, bike lanes and Barcelona weather at roughly two-thirds the cost — the current value pick of coastal Spain.
Zero income tax and a remote-work visa; housing, schooling and the car you will need eat most of the tax saving.
Other guides
Frequently asked
How was this best cities for healthcare quality and access list produced?
It is a calculation, not an opinion. Each of the 70 cities in the dataset is scored 0–100 on ten dimensions, weighted by the criteria for this guide (Healthcare quality score; Monthly cost including health cover; Safety; Air quality via climate), and ranked on the weighted average. Cost is scored relative to the rest of the shortlist.
What household does this price?
1 adult, in a 1-bed, city centre, at a moderate lifestyle, without a car. You can change all of that in the live tool.
What is the number one cities for healthcare quality and access?
Singapore, Singapore, with a 82% match and a modelled monthly cost of $3,856 for this household. The best-run city in Asia with low taxes and top-tier healthcare — housing and car ownership are the exceptions.