Singapore is the most liveable city for Asian expats for the 10th year in a row

We already know that Singapore has many qualities that make it a great place to live. We’re the most peaceful country in the world, have excellent public transport, and the best English proficiency in Asia too. The latest annual Location Ratings Report confirms it – Singapore is the most liveable city for Asian expatriates and for the 10th year in a row too.

Safety, peace, convenience – Singapore ticks all the boxes. “With excellent infrastructure and facilities, low crime rates, and little exposure to socio-political tensions, Singapore remains a very attractive location for expatriates," said Mark Harrison, general manager for Asia at ECA International, the global mobility firm behind the report.

ECA assessed more than 500 locations across the globe, looking at quality of living factors like healthcare access, housing and utilities, climate, and personal safety. While Singapore is tops, the study found that Southeast Asia is becoming more attractive to live in across the board, with significant improvements in transport infrastructure, health services, and recreational facilities. Notable cities include Jakarta (213th to 196th), Phnom Penh (200^th to 184^th) and Hanoi (160^th to 144^th).

Looking at the wider Asian region, mainland Chinese cities have also been steadily climbing the rankings over the past 10 years. Expatriates in cities like Shenzhen, Xi'an, and Wuhan now enjoy better transport infrastructure and international schooling options compared to the previous decade. Some challenges remain though, such as pollution, censorship, and poor healthcare facilities. 

Got your sights set beyond Asia? Your next best bet is a city in New Zealand and Australia – more specifically, Wellington or Adelaide, which are joint second place alongside Tokyo. Eindhoven in the Netherlands is the highest-ranked European city (7th), while Vancouver, Canada trumps in North America (23rd). 

Here are the top 10 most liveable cities for Asian expatriates:

1. Singapore
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. Wellington, New Zealand
4. Adelaide, Australia
5. Brisbane, Australia
6. Osaka, Japan
7. Eindhoven, Netherlands
8. Yokohama, Japan
9. Sydney, Australia
10. Bern, Switzerland 

READ MORE

The largest Nike store in Asia is now open at Orchard Road
McDonald's Singapore to have Hello Kitty collaboration for Chinese New Year
Get from Singapore to JB in just five minutes with this new train launching in 2026