Compare cities
Pick up to four cities and compare them on 95 measures, from rent to sunshine.
The grey shape is all 283 cities; each row says whether lower or higher is better. Ratings out of 10 are our reviewed estimates; the rest is published data. How we measure
United States
What matters to you
Set how much each area counts. The ranking updates as you go. Climate and values are left out because there is no better or worse there, only your taste.
- 1San Francisco67
Leads on nature & outdoors, city life, work & family and moving & settling in; stands out for milder summers and beach & sea.
- 2Austin61
Leads on money; stands out for space for the money and easier house-hunting.
Scores out of 100, averaged from the areas you weighted. For a ranking built around your own situation, take the quiz.
Side by side
Money
Rent on a new lease, everyday prices and tax.
- $1,485/mo, leads
- $2,674/mo
- ~27%, leads
- ~37%
- 100
- 100
- 24–44%
- 24–44%
Climate
The year month by month. Whether it suits you is yours to judge.
Solid line: average daytime high. Dashed: night-time low. Point at the chart for any month; point at a city name to shade its range.
- 231 days
- 268 days, leads
- 189 days
- 3 days, leads
- 10 µg/m³
- 7.9 µg/m³
Nature & outdoors
How easily you get to water, mountains and green space.
- 2/10
- 7/10, leads
- 3/10
- 7/10, leads
- 7/10
- 8/10, leads
- 6/10
- 10/10, leads
City life
Getting around on foot, food, culture and the feel of the streets.
- 4/10
- 8/10, leads
- 3/10
- 7/10, leads
- 8/10
- 9/10, leads
- 7/10
- 9/10, leads
Safety & health
Crime, how safe people feel, and the care you would get.
- 5.6
- 5.5
- 6/10, leads
- 5/10
- 8/10
- 10/10, leads
- 10/10
- 10/10
Work & family
Jobs, working culture, schools and raising kids.
- 9/10
- 10/10, leads
- 10/10
- 10/10
- 3/10
- 3/10
- 6/10
- 7/10, leads
Moving & settling in
Visas, language, paperwork and staying connected.
- 9/10
- 9/10
- 1/10
- 1/10
- 7/10
- 8/10, leads
- 7/10
- 9/10, leads
Society & values
Where each city sits. There is no right end of these scales.
- 7/10
- 10/10
- 8/10
- 10/10
- 8/10
- 9/10
- 7/10
- 9/10
Which of these fits you?
These numbers treat everyone the same. The quiz weighs them by your budget, climate taste, family and work, and ranks all 283 cities for you.
Comparisons we have written up
The same side-by-side view across 283 cities, with a verdict in words. Scores are based on published data and reviewed estimates. See how we score them.
Popular head-to-heads
Two cities, compared in numbers and in words.
Showdowns
Themed line-ups: safest, cheapest, sunniest and more.
By country
The top cities in every country in our index.
