Canberra ranks best in world for quality of life
Canberra ranks first globally for quality of life. High pay and low income inequality drive this success.
Canberra topped the quality-of-life rankings in the 2026 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index. The index looked at 1,000 of the world's largest cities.
The ACT capital's success came from high salaries and low income inequality. Stable, well-paying government jobs help create this.
Excellent healthcare and strong life expectancy also matter. Canberra is not known as a cultural hotspot.
But its smaller size means more venues for recreation and culture per person. The city ranked 45th overall, behind New York, London and Paris.
Bergen in Norway, Singapore, Grenoble in France, Bern in Switzerland and Oslo in Norway took the next spots for quality of life. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the result reflected what Canberrans already know.
Our city is one of the very best places in the world to live, work and raise a family.
- 1st globally
- Quality of life rank
- 45th
- Overall rank
- 1000
- Cities assessed
- 2026
- Index year
Why it mattersThe ranking shows Canberra's appeal to job seekers and families looking to relocate. It is backed by real living standards. This matters more than reputation alone.
AustraliaCanberra's quality-of-life ranking is a major drawcard for migrants and skilled workers considering Australian cities, supporting the ACT's economic growth strategy.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 8 d ago
