Where Does Seoul Rank? The Best Cities to Live in, Chosen by Generation Z

Which global cities are captivating Millennials & Gen Z around the world?

Recently, the British travel magazine Time Out conducted a global ranking survey of the "Best Cities for Generation Z," targeting people under 30.

Which cities made it onto the list?

10th Place: Shanghai, China

Night view of downtown Shanghai. Photo by Getty Images

9th Place: London, United Kingdom

A bus passing in front of the London landmark 'Big Ben'. Getty Images

8th Place: Mexico City, Mexico

View of Zocalo Square in downtown Mexico City. Photo by Getty Images

7th Place: Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Edinburgh's landmark 'Edinburgh Castle' Getty Images

6th Place: Barcelona, Spain

The representative Roman Catholic cathedral of Barcelona, 'Sagrada Familia' Getty Images

5th Place: Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen's landmark 'Nyhavn Canal' Getty Images

4th Place: New York, United States

Statue of Liberty located in New York. Photo by Getty Images

3rd Place: Cape Town, South Africa

Residential complex in Cape Town, South Africa. Getty Images

2nd Place: Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne CBD in Australia. Photo by Getty Images

Brighton Beach, a famous attraction in Melbourne. Photo by Getty Images

1st Place: Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Arun Temple, a representative tourist attraction in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by Getty Images

Bangkok, popular among Generation Z for its "financial ease." The photo shows the infinity pool at a hotel located in Bangkok. Photo by Getty Images

Bangkok ranked first in the global list of the best cities to live for Generation Z (those born from the mid-to-late 1990s to the late 2000s).

While megacities like New York and London remain attractive in terms of opportunities, they could not surpass Bangkok's advantages of "affordable cost and high satisfaction."

Why is Bangkok so popular?

In particular, Bangkok stood out in key indicators that Generation Z values, such as quality of life, happiness, and cost of living.

According to the survey, 84% of Generation Z respondents living in Bangkok said they are "satisfied with their current lives."

Additionally, in a time when global inflation and student loan burdens are weighing heavily on young people, "reduced cost of living" was also cited as an appealing factor.

71% of respondents described Bangkok as a 'budget-friendly city'. The magazine explained that this does not just refer to affordable street food, but also to the "financial freedom" that allows people to pursue creative activities, travel, and self-development.

The magazine noted, "This is a clear example of generational shifts in values regarding cities," adding, "While previous generations prioritized stable jobs or suburban living, Generation Z, who grew up in a digital environment and an unstable economy, crave dynamic experiences, genuine community, work-life balance, and above all, financial freedom."

Bangkok's 'social connectivity' also stood out.

According to the survey, Generation Z residents in Bangkok reported the highest rate among all surveyed cities for "ease of making new friends." In an era of increasing isolation, Bangkok's culture of hospitality, vibrant coworking spaces, and diverse networking opportunities have contributed to a strong sense of community.

The overall 'city satisfaction score' reached 66%, further proving Bangkok's appeal to Generation Z.

The magazine stated, "For a generation that values experiences over ownership and community over the office, Bangkok is the ultimate urban playground," adding, "Bangkok is the city where you can achieve both financial and life satisfaction."

Which cities follow in the ranking?

Meanwhile, cities ranked 11th to 20th as the most desirable places to live for Generation Z were Sydney (Australia), Beijing (China), Paris (France), Tokyo (Japan), Berlin (Germany), Seville (Spain), Chicago (United States), Chiang Mai (Thailand), Prague (Czech Republic), and Lisbon (Portugal), in that order.

Seoul, South Korea, did not make it into the rankings.