US cities often score well on economic measures globally yet lag in quality of life factors according to fresh analysis.

Oxford Economics produced its 2026 Global Cities Index by assessing 1000 locations on economics human capital environment and quality of life.

Each category receives an economic perspective including quality of life which factors in income equality and housing costs.

Mark Britton managing director of city services at Oxford Economics noted that the index tracks advancement across many metrics and helps show current standings along with future directions under varying conditions.

The broader ranking places eight US cities in the top 20 with New York at the summit. Quality of life however which makes up 25 percent of the total score shows only one US entry in the leading group.

While quality of life proved challenging for American cities other locations performed strongly in this area. Here are the top performers in quality of life per the Oxford Economics data.

20. Venice Italy

Overall score: 51.2 Quality of life score: 86.3

19. Stuttgart Germany

Overall score: 70.7 Quality of life score: 86.5

18. Prague

Overall score: 78.1 Quality of life score: 86.9

17. Sydney

Overall score: 88.3 Quality of life score: 87.2

16. Munich

Overall score: 85 Quality of life score: 87.3

15. Berlin

Overall score: 84.6 Quality of life score: 87.7

14. Zurich

Overall score: 89.1 Quality of life score: 87.7

13. San Jose United States

Overall score: 89.6 Quality of life score: 87.9

12. Linz Austria

Overall score: 70.6 Quality of life score: 88

11. Basel Switzerland

Overall score: 79.6 Quality of life score: 88

10. Paris

Overall score: 93.4 Quality of life score: 88.1

9. Ghent Belgium

Overall score: 74.9 Quality of life score: 88.4

8. Dresden Germany

Overall score: 59.4 Quality of life score: 88.5

7. Luxembourg

Overall score: 82.5 Quality of life score: 89

6. Oslo Norway

Overall score: 89.1 Quality of life score: 89.3

5. Bern Switzerland

Overall score: 78.2 Quality of life score: 89.8

4. Grenoble France

Overall score: 67.7 Quality of life score: 90.8

3. Singapore

Overall score: 82.1 Quality of life score: 91.6

2. Bergen Norway

Overall score: 80 Quality of life score: 94.3

1. Canberra Australia

Overall score: 79.4 Quality of life score: 100