Best cities for young professionals
Early career means a flatshare, not a one-bedroom, and the things that matter are what the city gives you outside work. We price a room and weight the ranking accordingly.
The ranking
| # | City | Match | Monthly cost | Left over | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 85% | $1,638 | $2,771 | 2,771 USD/month left after costsGetting around scores 93/100Nightlife & culture scores 76/100English usability scores 92/100No remote-work visa route |
| 2 | Dubai United Arab Emirates | 83% | $1,554 | $3,029 | 3,029 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 86/100Affordability scores 81/100English usability scores 88/100 |
| 3 | Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR | 82% | $1,504 | $2,539 | 2,539 USD/month left after costsGetting around scores 96/100Nightlife & culture scores 84/100Affordability scores 80/100No remote-work visa route |
| 4 | Stockholm Sweden | 82% | $1,305 | $1,876 | 1,876 USD/month left after costsGetting around scores 91/100Nightlife & culture scores 80/100English usability scores 96/100No remote-work visa route |
| 5 | Copenhagen Denmark | 81% | $1,497 | $1,262 | 1,262 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 84/100Getting around scores 92/100English usability scores 94/100No remote-work visa route |
| 6 | Barcelona Spain | 81% | $1,166 | $2,024 | 2,024 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 96/100Getting around scores 91/100Affordability scores 80/100 |
| 7 | Tel Aviv Israel | 79% | $1,699 | $1,702 | 1,702 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 94/100Getting around scores 78/100English usability scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 8 | Lisbon Portugal | 79% | $1,155 | $1,758 | 1,758 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 88/100Getting around scores 82/100Affordability scores 79/100 |
| 9 | Melbourne Australia | 78% | $1,470 | $2,186 | 2,186 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 92/100English usability scores 100/100Getting around scores 83/100Connectivity is weak here (16/100) |
| 10 | Amsterdam Netherlands | 78% | $1,706 | $1,516 | 1,516 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 88/100Getting around scores 90/100English usability scores 96/100No remote-work visa route |
| 11 | Valencia Spain | 78% | $924 | $2,266 | 2,266 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 82/100Affordability scores 83/100Getting around scores 83/100 |
| 12 | Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates | 77% | $1,385 | $3,198 | 3,198 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 83/100English usability scores 86/100Connectivity scores 96/100 |
| 13 | Seattle United States | 77% | $2,330 | $1,530 | 1,530 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 100/100Nightlife & culture scores 76/100No remote-work visa route |
| 14 | Toronto Canada | 77% | $1,735 | $1,647 | 1,647 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 82/100English usability scores 98/100Getting around scores 77/100No remote-work visa route |
| 15 | Chicago United States | 76% | $2,271 | $1,427 | 1,427 USD/month left after costsNightlife & culture scores 88/100English usability scores 100/100Getting around scores 79/100No remote-work visa route |
The top five, in detail
Zero income tax and a remote-work visa; housing, schooling and the car you will need eat most of the tax saving.
A ~15% effective tax ceiling and superb transit, paid for entirely in square metres.
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.
Other guides
Frequently asked
How was this best cities for young professionals 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 (Room in a flatshare, lean lifestyle; Nightlife and culture; Getting around; Money left over on $55,000), and ranked on the weighted average. Costs are measured against a $55,000 gross salary taxed under each country's own rules.
What household does this price?
1 adult, in a room in a shared flat, at a lean lifestyle, without a car. You can change all of that in the live tool.
What is the number one cities for young professionals?
Singapore, Singapore, with a 85% match and a modelled monthly cost of $1,638 for this household. The best-run city in Asia with low taxes and top-tier healthcare — housing and car ownership are the exceptions.