For years, Vienna reigned supreme in the Global Liveability Index, but 2025 brought a surprise: Copenhagen claimed the top spot. While these rankings highlight stability, infrastructure, and quality of life, what’s it actually like to live in these picture-perfect cities? We spoke to locals to find out.
The Rankings Shake-Up
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) evaluates cities based on stability, healthcare, culture, education, and infrastructure. Traditionally, Western European, Australian, and Canadian cities dominate—and 2025 was no exception. However, two major changes stood out:
Copenhagen dethroned Vienna after three years, earning perfect scores in stability, education, and infrastructure.
Safety concerns impacted rankings, with Vienna dropping...