A city with the best quality of life. “Something I haven’t found anywhere else”
Copenhagen has been recognized as the best city to live in for the second time. This is determined by, among others: quality of education and resident-friendly space.
Although there is a well-known saying that “anywhere is good where we are not,” at various stages of life we often think about moving to other cities or escaping from them.
Rankings may provide a clue. In this year’s global quality of life index for 2026 prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, retained its leading position for the second time.
The best city to live in. Copenhagen won for the second time
“You can bike to work, then hop into the port and be in time for dinner. It’s not a special day, it’s just Tuesday,” said Laura Amira Kassem, a doctor and PhD student who has lived in Copenhagen for eight years. “This combination of cycling infrastructure, urban water areas suitable for swimming and a scale of the city that is truly conducive to walking and cycling is something I haven’t found anywhere else,” she noted. There is nothing lacking there, and grocery stores, kebab shops and jewelry stores are adjacent to sourdough bakeries, wine bars and small restaurants.
The city will also appeal to runners. In the evening, they use the three-kilometer Loopet, around the largest public park, Fælledparken. The city’s running community gathers and all are welcome. There is the largest skate park in Northern Europe, a children’s playground with road traffic and a tower-shaped playground.
There is a great emphasis on social bonds. Various forms of volunteering are introduced from early education, connecting students with libraries, nursing homes or engaging them in cleaning parks.
The country of high taxes is happy
It is worth mentioning that the inhabitants of Denmark pay some of the highest taxes in the world, accounting for up to half of their income. Additionally, Danes pay 25 percent. VAT on most goods i tax up to 150 percent from new cars (in Poland 23%). For income above DKK 2.8 million, the country introduced a rate of 60.5%. However, residents see the point of such high levies in the quality of public services.
University students do not pay tuition fees and receive a stipend to cover expenses while studying. Childcare is subsidized, and older people receive pensions and caregivers visit them at home.
Vienna and Melbourne were also on the podium of lucky cities.
