The Best Global Cities for Workers

As remote work and relocation schemes continue to grow in popularity, workers are increasingly seeking cities that offer the best balance of salary, job satisfaction, and lifestyle. To determine the best global cities for workers, we’ve conducted a new study, analysing 30 of the world’s bustling cities, based on factors such as average net salary, hours worked, annual leave, internet speed, job satisfaction, office space availability, and inflation rates. This study aims to provide insights into which cities are leading the way in providing optimal conditions for office.

Top five best global cities for workers

1. Copenhagen, 85.4/100

Copenhagen takes the crown as the best global city for workers, earning a high score of 85.4/100. Copenhagen also ranked in fifth place for the city’s average weekly hours worked. With a population of just 1.4 million, great eco-policies and the Hygee lifestyle, Copenhagen is a great city for workers wanting a great work-life balance.

2. Geneva, 84.6/100

The Swiss city of Geneva ranks as the second best city for workers, with an overall score of 84.6 out of 100. Geneva scored highly mostly due to the city’s economic stability. Geneva ranked in second place for its highest-paying salaries (losing only to another Swiss city of Zurich) and in first place for its low inflation rate. The city also ranked in the top ten for its internet speed, ensuring workers will avoid the dreaded unstable team call! Geneva is considered one of the world’s best financial hubs, providing many job opportunities for workers within that sector. The city also provides a high quality of life in terms of cleanliness and safety, making it an ideal place to settle.

3. Amsterdam, 83.9/100

Third place is jointly held by Amsterdam and Zurich, both scoring 83.9 out of 100. Amsterdam offered the best work-life balance with locals working just 26.7 hours a week as well as ranking in second place for the number of office spaces available. Amsterdam also scored highly for its low rate of inflation. Known for its great cycle culture and scenic canals, Amsterdam is a great spot for workers wanting to explore a vibrant city and have a laid-back lifestyle.

4. Zurich, 83.9/100

Zurich scored highly due to the city offering the highest monthly salary at £3,116.84, as well as the city being in the top 5 for its low inflation rate. The largest city in Switzerland offers some great scenery, too since it lies at the north end of Lake Zurich, therefore the city offers some of the most beautiful working conditions across Europe.

5. London, 82.7/100

The UK capital of London finishes our top five cities for workers, scoring 82.7 out of 100. London is known for its rich history, being home to iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London. The multicultural city is a leading global hub for finance and politics. However, London is one of the most expensive cities in Europe, with locals complaining about rent prices and the very high cost of living.

Best City for Every Category

Zurich is the Best City for Salary

Zurich is the best city for average net salary, offering £5,920.88 and therefore earning a perfect score of 100. Zurich is a global centre for banking and finance, therefore it’s no surprise that the city pays well. However, workers would need to be very wary of the high cost of living, as it is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Despite this, Zurich offers a high quality of life, with great public services, efficient transport, and access to stunning natural landscapes, making it an appealing destination for professionals.

Oslo offers the Best Job Satisfaction

Oslo offers the best job satisfaction, with an overall rating of 79%. The capital of Norway is another city that is known for its natural beauty, surrounded by forests and hills, but also has a mix of urban and outdoor life. One of the world's most sustainable cities, Oslo offers a fantastic quality of life, however, it is amongst one of the most expensive cities in the world and only sees 5-6 hours of daylight in the winter, therefore, workers should consider this.

London Offers the Most Office Spaces

London has the highest number of office spaces, with 10.7 office spaces for every 100,000 residents in the UK capital. With a population of 9.7 million, London has established itself as the top location for businesses and workers. The city that is known for its diversity and blooming economy has been home to every kind of industry, from finance and tech to media and arts. There is a great number of office spaces in London which means businesses have lots of room to grow, and workers can choose from several flexible working spaces.

Amsterdam is the Best City for a Work-Life Balance

Amsterdam is the best city for work-life balance, scoring 100 for the average number of hours worked, with locals only working 26.7 hours a week on average. In comparison to Londoners working an average of 37 hours a week, Amsterdam is an attractive option for younger workers or workers who are prioritising a work-life balance. With the city’s cycle scheme, cool canals and gorgeous park, Amsterdam is a great option for those wanting a slower pace of life.

Dubai is the Best City for Annual Leave

If you’d prefer more annual leave over less weekly hours worked, Dubai is the place for you, offering a whopping 44 day annual leave policy. The city offers 30 paid days a year, plus 14 paid public holidays aka bank holidays. One of the most appealing things about Dubai is the tax-free income, making workers get more bang for their buck if they make the move there. Over 85% of Dubai’s population is also made up of expats, therefore Dubai is becoming an increasingly more appealing place for workers.

Singapore is the Best City for Internet Speed

Singapore is the best city for internet speed, offering an average speed of 305.01 Mbps, 35 more than the next ranking city. This is mostly because Singapore heavily invested in telecommunications infrastructure for homes and businesses. The city is known for being a global powerhouse in finance, trade, and technology, as well as offering a wide range of green spaces, despite its urban setting, earning the name ‘The Garden City”.

With relocation becoming increasingly appealing to workers, it's clear there is much to consider when choosing a destination. From financial stability and quality of life to career prospects, the study highlights the cities leading the way in salaries, job satisfaction, work-life balance, and office spaces. Whether it’s access to green spaces, flexible working environments, or economic stability, these destinations set the standard for supporting the modern workforce.

Methodology

Office Freedom collated our own city data with appropriate articles and sources (such as Kisi and World Population Review) to create a final seed list of 30 cities, which were relevant to the factors used.

Factors:

• Average net monthly salary sourced via World Population Review and Numbeo.
• Hours Worked Per Week: Weekly hours worked for 2024 by city sourced via International Labour Organization (ILO).
• Paid holidays and public holidays by country sourced via Wikipedia. The minimum annual leave was used. When a range was given (e.g., 37-47 days), the midpoint was used.
• The average Mbps speed came from Speedtest. If city-specific data wasn’t available, the national average was used.
• Job Satisfaction sourced via Zippia. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Philippines, South Korea and Finland were sourced via the following; PWC, Gulf News, PWC, Dlib and Internations.
• Number of office spaces per 100,000 people sourced via Office Freedom’s internal data.
• Inflation Rate sourced via World Population Review.

Each factor was normalised using min-max normalisation, with a scale ranging from 50 to 100.

The final score for each city was calculated as a weighted average of the normalised scores for all factors. The floor of 50 ensures that the lowest score does not suggest a complete absence of the infrastructures being analysed.