The Hague has topped the Quality of Life Index, published by online database Numbeo, ranking the Dutch city as the world’s best city for quality of life for the fourth consecutive year.
The Hague topped the rankings with a score of 230.1, ahead of fellow Dutch cities Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen and Rotterdam. Six cities from the Netherlands featured in the global top 10, with others including Luxembourg (6th), Vienna (7th), Gent (9th) and Nuremberg (10th).
Numbeo‘s annual index compares cities using a range of indicators including purchasing power, healthcare, safety, cost of living, housing affordability, commuting times, pollution and climate.
The Hague’s latest score represents an improvement on previous years, increasing from 217.1 in 2023 to 230.1 in the 2026 edition of the index.
‘A meaningful acknowledgement’
According to Nur Icar, alderman for work, income, sport and the centrum district of The Hague, the ranking reflects the city’s combination of employment opportunities, public services and access to recreational amenities.
“Being recognised as the world’s leading city for quality of life for the fourth year in a row is a meaningful acknowledgement. It reflects the combination of qualities that The Hague aims for: a safe, accessible, and liveable city where international organisations, businesses, knowledge institutions, and residents can thrive together,” he said. Read more here and here.
Quality of Life Index by City 2026 – Top 20
| Rank | City | Country | Quality of Life Index | Purchasing Power | Safety | Health Care | Cost of Living | Property Price to Income Ratio | Traffic Commute Time | Pollution | Climate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hague (Den Haag) | Netherlands | 230.1 | 153.3 | 80.0 | 84.0 | 72.3 | 6.0 | 20.1 | 17.6 | 90.6 |
| 2 | Utrecht | Netherlands | 221.6 | 149.1 | 79.0 | 85.6 | 77.3 | 7.1 | 21.7 | 22.7 | 87.2 |
| 3 | Eindhoven | Netherlands | 219.4 | 144.6 | 79.1 | 80.2 | 71.7 | 7.0 | 22.6 | 19.6 | 85.4 |
| 4 | Groningen | Netherlands | 216.1 | 130.5 | 78.4 | 80.8 | 68.7 | 7.3 | 19.1 | 17.6 | 83.5 |
| 5 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | 213.1 | 130.9 | 74.0 | 84.3 | 74.6 | 6.5 | 21.0 | 22.2 | 87.9 |
| 6 | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 210.1 | 153.3 | 72.1 | 75.0 | 80.8 | 10.2 | 25.9 | 20.4 | 82.6 |
| 7 | Vienna | Austria | 209.7 | 137.4 | 71.6 | 81.8 | 73.9 | 12.6 | 21.5 | 15.6 | 81.8 |
| 8 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | 209.4 | 135.6 | 74.3 | 81.5 | 82.6 | 9.3 | 22.1 | 22.6 | 87.5 |
| 9 | Gent | Belgium | 208.7 | 127.1 | 76.2 | 83.0 | 73.2 | 6.5 | 25.2 | 24.9 | 88.7 |
| 10 | Nuremberg | Germany | 208.2 | 151.3 | 70.0 | 72.7 | 69.0 | 7.7 | 25.9 | 22.1 | 77.5 |
| 11 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 207.1 | 141.9 | 74.3 | 78.0 | 85.7 | 8.9 | 26.9 | 22.5 | 83.7 |
| 12 | Munich | Germany | 206.4 | 148.2 | 78.9 | 79.5 | 76.1 | 11.9 | 28.4 | 23.7 | 76.0 |
| 13 | Valencia | Spain | 206.3 | 118.0 | 65.3 | 81.7 | 50.3 | 8.4 | 19.7 | 21.3 | 93.8 |
| 14 | Gothenburg | Sweden | 205.9 | 159.0 | 54.2 | 69.9 | 68.7 | 6.8 | 23.8 | 19.5 | 77.5 |
| 15 | Basel | Switzerland | 205.2 | 189.5 | 68.6 | 69.3 | 112.4 | 9.6 | 36.9 | 31.4 | 82.8 |
| 16 | Bergen | Norway | 204.4 | 130.2 | 76.2 | 75.3 | 85.6 | 7.3 | 26.2 | 19.8 | 78.8 |
| 17 | Frankfurt | Germany | 204.3 | 161.9 | 55.5 | 78.2 | 74.0 | 7.2 | 23.5 | 32.0 | 84.7 |
| 18 | Stavanger | Norway | 204.1 | 139.1 | 74.9 | 71.8 | 82.7 | 6.2 | 32.3 | 20.6 | 80.0 |
| 19 | Bern | Switzerland | 204.0 | 179.8 | 74.1 | 70.2 | 110.0 | 10.5 | 39.8 | 25.3 | 76.0 |
| 20 | Plzen | Czech Republic | 202.9 | 117.3 | 75.5 | 81.6 | 50.8 | 9.7 | 21.6 | 23.9 | 81.4 |
