Singapore ranks #23 in Time Out’s Best Cities 2026 – here’s what locals said about living here

Singapore has landed at #23 in Time Out's Best Cities in the World for 2026, and if you ask us, the reasons are pretty familiar. 

Every year, Time Out surveys more than 24,000 city-dwellers across 150 cities worldwide, asking what they love about their cities and how it actually feels to live there. From food and nightlife to culture, community, and everyday liveability, these reasons are combined with votes from more than 100 Time Out city experts to create our annual list of the world's most exciting places to live in and visit right now.

For Singaporeans, the big wins are in the things we rely on every day. Our local survey respondents gave Singapore's public transport system a 93 percent approval rating, the joint-highest of any city on the list.

Walkability came in strong at 86 percent, thanks to reliably flat streets and paved roads. Singapore also ranked #13 globally for green spaces, thanks to our ever-growing network of parks and park connectors that make it easy to step away from the high-rises and into greenery. We think that might explain our #9 ranking for overall well-being and quality of life. 

But the survey points to some challenges facing the city. Ask most Singaporeans and two things come up quickly: rising costs and a nightlife scene that still trails regional neighbours like Bangkok. In fact, nightlife ranked #90 globally in the Time Out survey results.

These realities likely played a part in Singapore landing at #23 this year, but in some ways, these very same pressures could be shaping the city’s next chapter. Rising costs have nudged many local founders and collectives toward smaller, leaner and more inventive ideas. 

We're loving the daytime parties, singalong clubs, and open jams on the streets by collectives like Wild Pearl, GrooveTop, and Ann Siang Sounds. Young creatives are popping up in unexpected corners: Sideways at Tiong Bahru Market, Eliko bookstore at Chinatown Complex Market, and Open Door Store at Kapo Factory Building. Home-based cafés, bakeries, and supper clubs are opening, too, offering novel menus and a closer connection to the makers, adding more warmth and intimacy to the local food and drinks scene. 

It's a scrappier, grounded counterpoint to the blockbuster attractions in Singapore we know and still love, like Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Gardens by the Bay, and Sentosa. That range, from global spectacle to neighbourhood intimacy, is what makes Singapore feel like both a destination and a home.

Across the region, Southeast Asia also had a strong showing on this year’s list. Bangkok landed at #8, followed by Hanoi (#25) and Chiang Mai (#32), alongside Asian heavyweights Shanghai (#2), Seoul (#9), Tokyo (#10) and Hong Kong (#15).

The top 25 best cities in the world for 2026, according to Time Out:

1. Melbourne
2. Shanghai
3. Edinburgh
4. London
5. New York
6. Cape Town
7. Mexico City
8. Bangkok
9. Seoul
10. Tokyo
11. Zurich
12. Rio de Janeiro
13. Copengahen
14. São Paolo
15. Hong Kong
16.  Kraków
17. Porto
18. Guadalajara
19. Madrid
20. Valencia
21. Sydney
22. Paris
23. Singapore
24. Marrakech
25. Hanoi

The full 50 Best Cities in the World ranking and what makes each city worth visiting right now are available here. 

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