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How 50 Global Cities Rank for Raising a Family
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Key Takeaways
- Australia has four cities in the top 10, with Brisbane ranked as the best city among the 50 observed for raising a family.
- Europe also has four cities in the top 10, with London ranked second overall and Helsinki ranked fourth.
Not every city is created equally when it comes to raising a family. From cost of living to access to green spaces, each city offers different parental perks.
This world map compares 50 major cities worldwide for raising children, incorporating data from a 2026 index created by Compare the Market that weighs diverse variables.
The index specifically evaluates cities based off safety, happiness, cost of living, family benefits, parental leave, child vaccination rates, green spaces, child activities, education spending to reach an aggregate score.
Australia: The Clear Favorite for Raising a Family
No country is better represented than Australia, which has four cities in the top 10 due in part to the country’s relative safety and happiness scores. Brisbane even clinches the first-place spot, helped in large part by its vast number of open green spaces and parks.
The data table below lists the ranking of 50 global cities for raising a family, alongside their score in the index:
| Rank | City | Index Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brisbane | 6.457 |
| 2 | London | 5.992 |
| 3 | Auckland | 5.460 |
| 4 | Helsinki | 5.305 |
| 5 | Sydney | 5.239 |
| 6 | Perth | 5.120 |
| 7 | Melbourne | 5.056 |
| 8 | Stockholm | 5.008 |
| 9 | Berlin | 4.969 |
| 10 | Seoul | 4.904 |
| 11 | Paris | 4.637 |
| 12 | New Delhi | 4.591 |
| 13 | Prague | 4.542 |
| 14 | Copenhagen | 4.449 |
| 15 | Barcelona | 4.377 |
| 16 | Lisbon | 4.352 |
| 17 | Wellington | 4.344 |
| 18 | Rome | 4.328 |
| 19 | Vienna | 4.234 |
| 20 | Madrid | 4.234 |
| 21 | Manchester | 4.111 |
| 22 | Tokyo | 4.090 |
| 23 | Brussels | 4.060 |
| 24 | Amsterdam | 4.020 |
| 25 | Munich | 3.969 |
| 26 | Santiago | 3.929 |
| 27 | Mumbai | 3.901 |
| 28 | New York | 3.895 |
| 29 | Toronto | 3.794 |
| 30 | Rio de Janeiro | 3.775 |
| 31 | Montreal | 3.762 |
| 32 | Osaka | 3.676 |
| 33 | Chicago | 3.634 |
| 34 | Dallas | 3.633 |
| 35 | Frankfurt | 3.630 |
| 36 | São Paulo | 3.579 |
| 37 | Zurich | 3.551 |
| 38 | San Francisco | 3.528 |
| 39 | Milan | 3.500 |
| 40 | Houston | 3.389 |
| 41 | Johannesburg | 3.307 |
| 42 | Washington D.C. | 3.274 |
| 43 | Bogotá | 3.266 |
| 44 | Los Angeles | 3.225 |
| 45 | Istanbul | 3.222 |
| 46 | Cape Town | 3.180 |
| 47 | Buenos Aires | 3.040 |
| 48 | Phoenix | 2.982 |
| 49 | Durban | 2.752 |
| 50 | Mexico City | 2.425 |
Given the high placement of Sydney (5th), Perth (6th), and Melbourne (7th) as well, Australian cities offer a strong mix of affordability, parental leave benefits, and public spaces for families.
Beyond Australia, Oceania is also well represented due to New Zealand’s two entries, including Auckland (3rd) and Wellington (17th).
The European Center of Gravity
Led by London (2), Europe is the center of gravity for family-friendly cities, with four cities in the top 10.
Northern European cities like Helsinki (4) and Stockholm (8) perform especially well, although Mediterranean metropolises such as Barcelona (15) and Rome (18) also score favorable rankings.
The most expensive city on the list, Zurich, scores a 37th-place finish, while Europe’s largest city, Istanbul, manages to eke out a position at 45.
Lower-Ranked Cities in the Americas
Notably, not a single city in the Americas reaches the top half of the list.
New York, the most populous city in the United States, leads the hemisphere with the #29 position.
Within Latin America, lower prices and higher happiness scores are offset by safety concerns and weaker parental benefits.
Santiago (26) and Rio de Janeiro (30) lead the region, while Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico each see their respective capital cities in the bottom quintile of the list.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Global Cost of Living Index 2026 on Voronoi.