The Cities with the Best Quality of Life in Europe: where do the happiest people live?

Europe continues to lead the way in living standards, promoting comfortable, safe and friendly places to live. Find out which locations have risen to the TOP 5 and why people rate them so highly

Electronic road vignette for traveling in Europe

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Quality of life is one of the key factors that people pay attention to when planning to move, study or look for new professional opportunities abroad. In Europe, these indicators are regularly studied to determine how comfortable, safe and friendly the urban environment is to residents.

Based on a large-scale study by the European Commission, we have prepared a selection of cities where the level of life satisfaction is one of the highest in Europe. This will help those who are considering temporary or permanent residence abroad and want to choose a location with a truly high quality of life.

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Read how the border crossing procedure for Ukrainians has changed after the introduction of the EES system here.

How were the cities in the world with the best quality of life chosen?

In 2023, the European Commission conducted one of the largest studies of the quality of urban life in Europe. The survey was conducted among 71,153 respondents from 83 cities in the EU, the UK and Turkey.

The assessment included more than 20 criteria, including:

- Level of safety in the city;

- Accessibility of medical, social and administrative services;

- Quality of public space and infrastructure;

- Environmental indicators, in particular air quality;

- Employment opportunities;

- Level of trust between residents and sense of community.

Based on a combination of these factors, a ranking of cities where it is most comfortable, safest and most stable to live was formed.

TOP-5 cities in Europe with the highest quality of life

Gdansk, Poland

- Satisfaction level: 95%

Gdansk is one of the most comfortable cities in the Baltic region with a developed infrastructure and a high level of safety. It is also one of the key ports of Poland, which is actively developing.

The city is considered friendly to foreigners: a stable labor market, modern services and a moderate cost of living make Gdańsk popular among those planning to move to Poland.

Leipzig, Germany

- Satisfaction level: about 95%

Leipzig is a city that combines an active rhythm and quiet residential areas. It is appreciated by young professionals and families with children due to its accessible infrastructure and gentle urban pace.

An important advantage is air quality: 83% of respondents are completely satisfied with this indicator, which makes Leipzig one of the most environmentally friendly cities in Germany.

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Copenhagen, Denmark

- Satisfaction level: 96%

Copenhagen is traditionally included in the list of the happiest cities in the world. High safety, developed bicycle infrastructure, environmental standards and a strong economy create a comfortable environment for living.

The only downside, residents say, is the high cost of housing, which makes it quite difficult to find an affordable apartment here.

Groningen, Netherlands

- Satisfaction level: over 96%

Groningen is a compact, green and extremely safe city, distinguished by a high level of tolerance and friendliness.

Its strengths: safety and comfort for foreigners, a friendly environment for the LGBTQ+ community, accessible public spaces and a large number of green areas.

A feature of Groningen is its exceptionally high level of trust: 86% of residents believe that people in the city can be trusted, and they feel safe even at night. This is a unique indicator for European megacities.

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Zurich, Switzerland

- Satisfaction level: 97% – absolute leader

Zurich shows the best results in almost all indicators: transport, medicine, ecology, work, financial stability and social protection.

The city was also recognized as one of the most comfortable for older people and the LGBTQ+ community.

The only drawback that respondents pointed out is expensive housing: only 11% believe that it is realistic to find an affordable option here.

The rating shows that quality of life is a combination of safety, accessible services, ecology, social trust and a stable labor market. If you are planning to move or live in Europe for a long time, these five cities can be a great starting point for choosing a comfortable and safe location.

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If you plan to travel around Europe or temporarily live in cities with the highest quality of life, take care of the electronic road vignette (e-vignette) - this is an official digital document confirming the payment of the toll for using toll highways in EU countries.

The e-vignette is mandatory for all drivers traveling by car through the territory of states where the toll highway system operates. It can be issued online in a few minutes - without paper documents, queues and the risk of getting a fine while traveling.

Order an e-vignette in advance and discover Europe comfortably and without worries!

Let us remind you! 2026 brings new trends in choosing the best cities for living and traveling. We have already told you who entered the TOP-10 best cities in the world for living and traveling this year.

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