New Study Highlights Singapore’s Appeal as the Region’s Best City to Live, Visit, and Work
According to the latest Asia-Pacific Best Cities report for 2025, Singapore has emerged as the region’s top city for livability, prosperity, and lovability. The comprehensive study, which evaluated over 140 cities across various metrics, highlighted Singapore’s outstanding job opportunities, vibrant lifestyle, and overall quality of life.
The inaugural study ranked cities based on three main categories: livability, prosperity, and lovability. Tokyo followed closely behind Singapore in second place, with Seoul securing third. Other prominent cities making the top 10 include Hong Kong (4th), Bangkok (6th), and Sydney (7th). Notably, China had the highest number of cities in the top 100, with Beijing and Shanghai taking the 5th and 8th spots respectively.
The report surveyed over 7,000 participants from nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region. It incorporated a variety of factors such as price-to-income ratios, tree cover, and user-generated data like Tripadvisor reviews and Google Trends. One key factor assessed was the price-to-income ratio, which measures the affordability of housing by comparing median apartment prices with household disposable income.
The findings were revealed on February 12 at a lecture titled “What Makes Cities Liveable and Lovable,” hosted by the Singapore-based Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC). Global consulting firm Resonance, in collaboration with Ipsos, conducted the research. CLC’s Executive Director, Hugh Lim, expressed pride in Singapore’s achievement, noting the city’s notable urban accomplishments.
Resonance, known for its annual World’s Best Cities rankings, also ranked Singapore 5th in its global list for 2025. Additionally, the city-state topped Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index as the least corrupt country in the Asia-Pacific region.
Singapore’s economic vitality and dynamic retail and dining scenes were lauded, alongside its dedication to sustainable living. The city’s high GDP per capita and focus on green spaces were also highlighted. Singapore’s government is working on further developments, including expanding its green areas and establishing smart urban districts like the Park Connector Network, which blends work, education, and leisure spaces.
According to Resonance CEO, Chris Fair, more than 30% of survey respondents considered Singapore one of the top three cities in Asia-Pacific for living, visiting, and job prospects. This strong preference indicates the city’s growing regional influence.
Singapore was ranked first in prosperity, with factors such as the presence of Fortune Global 500 companies and low unemployment rates boosting its standing. While it placed second in both the livability and lovability categories, just behind Tokyo, its overall score placed it ahead in the regional rankings.
The report also commended Singapore’s commitment to preserving nature, with 40% of its land dedicated to green spaces. Its forward-thinking urban plans focus on creating eco-friendly communities and sustainable living models.
In comparison with global rankings, Singapore was ranked a spot behind Tokyo in the 2025 global study, where London was ranked first for the 10th consecutive year. Fair pointed out that while the metrics were similar in both global and regional studies, the Asia-Pacific study didn’t include some global metrics, such as bike-friendliness.
Nevertheless, the strong performance of Singapore in the Asia-Pacific rankings suggests that it may eventually surpass Tokyo in the global rankings in the future, based on its strong regional performance.
