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Best Places to Live in Asia

Scored on affordability, safety, internet, democracy, and climate. From Tbilisi to Tokyo.

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1.
🇰🇷

Seoul

South Korea

$871/mo rent, 182 Mbps internet, extremely safe. The numbers work.

$871/mo rent$1960/mo total82°F summers182 MbpsMountains
81score
2.
🇹🇼

Taipei

Taiwan

$735/mo rent, extremely safe, bring sunscreen and regret. The numbers work.

$735/mo rent$1567/mo total90°F summers142 Mbps
76score
3.
🇲🇾

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

$690/mo rent, extremely safe, bring sunscreen and regret. The numbers work.

$690/mo rent$1373/mo total90°F summers135 Mbps
73score
4.
🇯🇵

Tokyo

Japan

$1359/mo rent, extremely safe. The numbers work.

$1359/mo rent$2386/mo total82°F summers53 MbpsCoastal
71score
5.
🇸🇬

Singapore

Singapore

$2696/mo rent, 279 Mbps internet, extremely safe. The numbers work.

$2696/mo rent$3915/mo total88°F summers279 MbpsCoastal
71score
6.
🇨🇳

Shanghai

China

$907/mo rent, 281 Mbps internet, extremely safe. The numbers work.

$907/mo rent$1552/mo total88°F summers281 MbpsCoastal
68score
7.
🇬🇪

Batumi

Georgia

$461/mo rent. The numbers work.

$461/mo rent$1171/mo total79°F summers32 MbpsCoastalMountains
68score
8.
🇻🇳

Da Nang

Vietnam

$475/mo rent, 245 Mbps internet, bring sunscreen and regret. The numbers work.

$475/mo rent$868/mo total93°F summers245 MbpsCoastal
68score
9.
🇦🇲

Yerevan

Armenia

$680/mo rent, bring sunscreen and regret. The numbers work.

$680/mo rent$1287/mo total93°F summers65 MbpsMountains
67score
10.
🇨🇳

Beijing

China

$1059/mo rent, 204 Mbps internet, extremely safe. The numbers work.

$1059/mo rent$1681/mo total88°F summers204 Mbps
66score
11.
🇬🇪

Tbilisi

Georgia

$681/mo rent. The numbers work.

$681/mo rent$1488/mo total84°F summers45 Mbps
66score
12.
🇮🇱

Haifa

Israel

$1054/mo rent. The numbers work.

$1054/mo rent$2791/mo total84°F summers63 MbpsCoastalMountains
66score
13.
🇮🇳

Bangalore

India

$324/mo rent. The numbers work.

$324/mo rent$731/mo total82°F summers94 Mbps
66score
14.
🇮🇳

Goa

India

$167/mo rent. The numbers work.

$167/mo rent$562/mo total84°F summers80 MbpsCoastal
66score
15.
🇹🇭

Chiang Mai

Thailand

$463/mo rent. The numbers work.

$463/mo rent$1062/mo total88°F summers143 MbpsMountains
66score
16.
🇮🇩

Bali

Indonesia

$1082/mo rent, extremely safe. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$1082/mo rent$1727/mo total84°F summers36 MbpsCoastal
63score
17.
🇨🇳

Shenzhen

China

$743/mo rent, extremely safe. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$743/mo rent$1360/mo total88°F summers
62score
18.
🇮🇱

Jerusalem

Israel

$1920/mo rent. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$1920/mo rent$3607/mo total84°F summers88 MbpsMountains
61score
19.
🇦🇪

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

$2288/mo rent, 378 Mbps internet, extremely safe, bring sunscreen and regret. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$2288/mo rent$3644/mo total106°F summers378 MbpsCoastal
59score
20.
🇮🇱

Tel Aviv

Israel

$2194/mo rent. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$2194/mo rent$4083/mo total84°F summers92 MbpsCoastal
59score
21.
🇹🇭

Phuket

Thailand

$708/mo rent. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$708/mo rent$1511/mo total88°F summersCoastal
59score
22.
🇭🇰

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

$2225/mo rent, extremely safe. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$2225/mo rent$3363/mo total86°F summersCoastal
58score
23.
🇰🇿

Almaty

Kazakhstan

$756/mo rent. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$756/mo rent$1598/mo total82°F summers133 MbpsMountains
58score
24.
🇹🇭

Bangkok

Thailand

$703/mo rent, bring sunscreen and regret. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$703/mo rent$1435/mo total91°F summers77 Mbps
58score
25.
🇺🇿

Tashkent

Uzbekistan

$609/mo rent, bring sunscreen and regret. Trade-offs exist, but the math is honest.

$609/mo rent$1132/mo total95°F summers83 Mbps
57score
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Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · World Bank · EF EPI · Ookla Speedtest

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best city to live in Asia in 2026?▾

Seoul (South Korea) leads our Livability Rankings for Asia with a score of 81/100. That's based on affordability, safety, internet, democracy, English ease, and climate.

Top 5 best cities in Asia?▾

#1 Seoul (81/100), #2 Taipei (76/100), #3 Kuala Lumpur (73/100), #4 Tokyo (71/100), #5 Singapore (71/100). Each scored across 7 weighted dimensions. No editorial bias — the spreadsheet decides.

Which top-ranked city is also affordable?▾

Goa (India) — rent starts at $167/mo with a livability score of 66/100. Good things can be cheap.

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