Sydney has ranked in the top 5 most liveable cities for 2026 in this globally renowned index

We might be a little biased, but now there's another global ranking backing up what Sydneysiders have long suspected: this gorgeous sun-soaked city is one of the very best places on Earth to call home. Last month, globally-beloved lifestyle publication Monocle released its annual Quality of Life Survey for 2026, and Sydney has landed in an impressive fifth place globally – making it Australia's highest-ranked city. Australia was the only country to have three cities crack the global top 20, with Melbourne placing 18th and Perth tying with Kyoto for 20th – more top-20 cities than any other nation.

Unlike many liveability rankings that prioritise affordability, infrastructure and economic data, Monocle's survey takes a broader view of what actually makes a city enjoyable to live in. Alongside safety, governance, connectivity and green space, the publication also weighs up the quality of a city's hospitality scene, retail offering, architecture and cultural life – and, crucially, whether you can still grab a decent meal or drink after 10pm.

RELATED READ: Here’s how Sydney ranked in Time Out’s Best Cities Index for 2026

This year's survey placed particular emphasis on three qualities: joy, ambition and security. According to Monocle, the best cities aren't just functional – they're exciting places that invest in their future while remaining vibrant, walkable and welcoming. Monocle editor-in-chief Andrew Tuck said the publication launched the rankings because existing liveability surveys failed to capture what people actually enjoy about city life.

"We didn't think that the existing research reflected the Monocle reader's desires," he said. "The statisticians at other organisations might have been adept at assessing the state of the roads... but they were useless when it came to revealing whether a city was fun."

The 2026 results also reveal some notable absences. Major cities including London, Los Angeles and New York missed out entirely, with Monocle pointing to crime, inequality and housing challenges as key factors holding many North American cities back. Vancouver was the continent's only representative in the top 20.

The most liveable cities in the world in 2026, according to Monocle

1. Tokyo
2. Copenhagen
3. Lisbon
4. Vienna
5. Sydney
6. Zürich
7. Madrid
8. Paris
9. Munich
10. Oslo

So while Sydney's soaring rents and painful AF cost-of-living pressures remain very real, the city's beautiful beaches, world-class restaurants, top-tier hiking ops and thriving cultural scene continue to earn global cred. According to Monocle, there's plenty more to quality of life than statistics – and this sparkly city remains one of the world's most enviable places to live. Lucky us.

You can check out the full list over here.

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