Gen Z wants to socialize in places other than the bar. Here are the top 20 global cities for Gen Z.

Aug 08, 2026 09:07 PM - 1 hour ago 2

Happy couples sitting pinch drinks successful disposable cups astatine a euphony festival.

Gen Z residents want much than conscionable an progressive nightlife erstwhile considering a city. Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

Gen Z is often branded arsenic acold aliases little sociable, but that mightiness beryllium an unfair characterization.

In bid to find the champion places for Gen Z to live, Time Out surveyed section residents ages 18 to 29 astir the world, asking them astir everything from affordability to nightlife.

Time Out recreation writer Liv Kelly told Business Insider that the study findings show Gen Z socializes plenty, but does truthful otherwise than past generations.

Kelly said her procreation finds joyousness successful day-to-day experiences alternatively than living for the weekend. While nightlife was a facet successful Time Out's rankings, alternatives for illustration outdoor activities and community building opportunities were conscionable as, if not more, important to the under-30 crowd.

"I deliberation really Gen Z socializes and really they spell retired is still important to their day-to-day interactions and their happiness — it's conscionable changing shapes," Kelly told Business Insider.

Gen Z yearns for 3rd spaces, and cities that tin supply those classed precocious connected the list.

"In Tokyo, location are spaces which connection crippled nights wherever you tin prosecute successful sports pinch friends without having to drink," Kelly said. "In Shanghai, location are no-phone socials. The cities that are classed peculiarly good are ones wherever group find it easy to socialize. I deliberation that besides speaks volumes astir location being a displacement towards group preferring face-to-face interaction."

Below, spot what cities astir the world are champion suited for Gen Z.

20. Vienna

Vienna, Austria

Vienna. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Population: 1,925,213

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $1,215.90

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,281.45

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $86.48

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.40

19. Vancouver, Canada

Canada geese aquatics crossed calm harbor h2o pinch Vancouver skyline, marina boats, and forested shoreline reflected down them.

Vancouver, Canada. Sarah Jessiman /Getty Images

Population: 751,644

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $1,075.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,831.78

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $85.31

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.26

18. Rio de Janeiro

Christ the Redeemer overlooks Rio de Janeiro’s coastline, mountains, metropolis neighborhoods, and Guanabara Bay astatine sunset.

Rio de Janeiro. marchello74/Getty Images

Population: 6,772,868

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $637

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $842.04

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $39.86

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.46

17. Mexico City

Crowds and thoroughfare vendors capable a historical pedestrian thoroughfare lined pinch assemblage buildings astatine sunset.

Mexico City. pawel.gaul/Getty Images

Population: 9,020,812

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $815.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,113.41

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $52.12

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.89

16. Athens, Greece

Athens cityscape pinch the Acropolis and Parthenon supra historical neighborhoods nether a partially cloudy sky.

Athens, Greece. George Pachantouris/Getty Images

Population: 3,134,884

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $981.90

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $731.46

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $74.95

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.22

15. Paris

Paris cityscape pinch the Eiffel Tower rising supra rooftops and a tree-lined avenue nether a partially cloudy sky.

Paris. Francesco Riccardo Iacomino/Getty Images

Population: 2,059,821

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $1,212.6

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,630.82

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $80.71

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.05

14. Seoul, South Korea

Lotte World Tower rises supra illuminated Seoul streets pinch postulation ray trails astatine dusk.

Seoul, South Korea. Mlenny/Getty Images

Population: 9,217,913

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $1,057.40

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $830.54

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $64.69

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.03

13. Kraków, Poland

Kraków Main Market Square pinch historical buildings, religion domes, café umbrellas, and pedestrians viewed from above.

Kraków, Poland. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Population: 814,595

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $889.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $937.08

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $53.67

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.46

12. Cape Town, South Africa

Canal lined pinch modern buildings and paddle boats pinch Table Mountain successful the background.

Cape Town, South Africa. golero/Getty Images

Population: 4,974,327

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $729.10

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,045.00

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $48.82

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.49

11. Naples, Italy

Sunlit harbor pinch boats and pastel hillside buildings surrounding a domed religion connected a coastal Mediterranean village.

Naples, Italy. I conscionable effort to show my emotions and return you astir the world/Getty Images

Population: 904,846

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $996.30

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,061.95

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $80.71

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.29

10. Bangkok

Wat Arun Temple astatine sunset, Bangkok.

Bangkok. Wat Arun Ratchawararam

Population: 5,186,582

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $719.50

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $704.74

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $36.09

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.90

9. Valencia, Spain

Valencia cityscape astatine sunset pinch the illuminated El Miguelete doorbell building rising supra dense municipality streets.

Valencia, Spain. Dado Daniela/Getty Images

Population: 850,475

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $834.50

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,470.20

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $69.18

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.80

8. Berlin

Berlin skyline astatine sunset pinch the Fernsehturm, Berliner Dom, Spree River, bridges, traffic, and red-roofed buildings.

Berlin. Harald Nachtmann/Getty Images

Population: 3,775,697

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $1,212

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,504.07

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $80.71

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.64

7. Copenhagen, Denmark

Nyhavn territory successful Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Denmark. Mlenny/Getty Images

Population: 671,714

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $1,397.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,951.86

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $123.40

Cost of a cappuccino: $7.07

6. New York City

New York, New York.

New York City. william87/Getty Images

Population: 8,546,038

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $1,681.40

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $4,408.32

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $140

Cost of a cappuccino: $6.20

5. Shanghai

Neon Chinese storefront signs illuminate a crowded metropolis shopping thoroughfare astatine dusk pinch blurred pedestrians and gangly buildings.

Shanghai. conceptualmotion/Getty Images

Population: 24,722,254

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $618.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $943.43

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $29.61

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.24

4. Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Edinburgh cityscape pinch St Mary's Cathedral spires rising supra chromatic buildings and hills successful the background.

Edinburgh, Scotland. Posnov/Getty Images

Population: 540,101

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $1,234.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,637.28

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $107.60

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.12

3. Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne skyline rises beside the Yarra River pinch parkland, bridges, and the Arts Centre Melbourne spire successful view.

Melbourne, Australia. Alistair McLellan/Getty Images

Population: 4,928,443

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $1,225.10

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,730.30

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $84.54

Cost of a cappuccino: $4.03

2. Porto, Portugal

Colorful Porto waterfront buildings and boats statement the Douro River nether a clear bluish sky.

Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Images

Population: 264,493

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $825.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,316.24

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $57.65

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.66

1. Tokyo

Neon-lit Japanese shopping thoroughfare astatine nighttime pinch storefront signs, pedestrians, and a gangly illuminated building successful the background.

Tokyo. Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images

Population: 10,316,210

Monthly costs for a azygous personification (excluding housing): $959

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom location successful the metropolis center: $1,262.13

Cost of a three-course repast for 2 astatine a mid-range edifice (excluding drinks): $44.38

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.59

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Jordan reports connected moving trends — from remote work to house hacking. He besides writes astir movers struggling pinch issues astir relocating for illustration buyer's remorse and the galore intricacies of moving to an unfamiliar state. He besides has stories focusing connected property technology and successful 2022, moderated a sheet connected fractional investing astatine existent property exertion convention Blueprint.  Before Insider, he covered luxury existent property successful South Florida for The Real Deal.  He holds a Master's grade successful Magazine Writing from New York University and a Bachelor's grade successful English from Florida State University.

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