Mountainous French city has best quality of life in world, claims UK study

Grenoble has been named the city with the best quality of life in the world in a new study by a leading UK economics group. 

The city took the crown due to its “income equality and a multitude of recreational and cultural sites per person,” said Oxford Economics in its 2024 Quality of Life global report.

“Its proximity to the Alps provides an ideal setting for outdoor activities, which it combines with a variety of museums, festivals and other cultural offerings,” it added. 

Grenoble was not the only French city to make the list – Nantes was ranked 10th, occupying a spot higher than any British, American, or Canadian entrant. 

Residents of the western French city benefit “from long lives, high income equality, and many recreation and cultural amenities,” said the group. 

However, despite high overall scores, both Grenoble and Nantes scored poorly for high housing costs, which the group fears “may turn into a full-blown housing crisis in the future.” 

The rankings were based on six criteria: household income equality, capita per income (adjusted for each nation’s purchasing power), cost of housing and transportation, life expectancy, internet connectivity, and cultural and recreational activities in the area.

The list was largely dominated by mid-size European cities. The remaining cities on the list, ranked second to ninth in order, were:

• Canberra, Australia

• Bern, Switzerland

• Bergen, Norway

• Basel, Switzerland

• Luxembourg, Luxembourg,

• Reykjavik, Iceland

• Zurich, Switzerland

• Ghent, Belgium

Read more: Residents name these 3 French towns top for quality of life