Your 20s can be one of those exciting—and sometimes confusing—seasons of life. You’re building a career, figuring out your finances, meeting new people, and hopefully leaving enough room in the budget to actually enjoy yourself.
But where you live can make a huge difference in how easy it is to balance all of those things.
A new August 2026 study from digital entertainment platform BC Game looked at 40 major cities around the world to determine the best cities to live in your 20s, and Sydney, Australia, came out on top.
The research considered more than just salaries. Researchers compared disposable income after rent and living expenses, unemployment, safety, restaurants and cafés, nightlife, quality of life, and public transportation.
In other words, the ranking looked at an important question for young adults: Can you build a life here and still afford to enjoy it?
The 10 Best Cities to Live in Your 20s
Here are the cities that made the top 10:
| City | Safety | Monthly Disposable Income | Unemployment | Restaurants/Cafés* | Nightlife* | Public Transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 66.2 | $1,308 | 4.4% | 230 | 15 | 81 |
| Zurich | 75.9 | $4,029 | 3.0% | 24 | 2 | 91 |
| Copenhagen | 73.7 | $1,741 | 2.7% | 33 | 3 | 88 |
| Tokyo | 75.9 | $881 | 2.5% | 24 | 10 | 95 |
| Amsterdam | 70.0 | $1,500 | 3.8% | 27 | 3 | 88 |
| Seoul | 74.6 | $1,671 | 2.8% | 20 | 1 | 93 |
| Paris | 42.1 | $1,113 | 8.3% | 100 | 10 | 92 |
| Vienna | 70.6 | $1,270 | 6.9% | 13 | 1 | 91 |
| Boston | 59.7 | $1,848 | 4.1% | 22 | 2 | 78 |
| Singapore | 77.7 | $940 | 2.0% | 14 | 1 | 94 |
*Restaurant, café, and nightlife figures reflect the density measurement used in the study.
1. Sydney, Australia
If your dream version of your 20s includes a career, great food, nights out, and plenty to explore, Sydney may check a lot of boxes.
Sydney ranked as the best city in the world for people in their 20s, thanks in large part to its combination of social opportunities, transportation, employment, and disposable income.
The city scored 81.2 out of 100 for public transportation, making it easier to live without depending on a car—something that can potentially eliminate a major expense from a young adult’s budget.
After rent and basic living expenses, the study estimates residents have around $1,308 in disposable income each month.
Sydney also stands out for its food and social scene, with an abundance of restaurants, cafés, bars, and other places to spend time with friends.
Of course, having hundreds of restaurants nearby doesn’t mean you need to visit all of them. Your budget would probably like a word if you tried.
2. Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich takes second place, but when it comes to having money left after paying the bills, it’s difficult to beat.
The study found that young workers in Zurich have nearly $4,029 in monthly disposable income after rent and living expenses.
That’s significantly more than many of the other cities on the list.
Zurich also has an unemployment rate of just 3%, a safety score of 75.9, and an impressive public transportation score of 91.4.
For someone in their 20s who wants to concentrate on building a career and savings at the same time, those numbers certainly make Zurich interesting.
3. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen lands in third place with a combination of career opportunities, transportation, and quality of life.
Its unemployment rate is just 2.7%, while residents have approximately $1,741 left each month after paying rent and typical living expenses.
Public transportation is another advantage. Being able to get around without owning a vehicle can make a considerable difference when you’re trying to build savings or pay down debt in your 20s.
And life doesn’t have to be all work and budgeting. Copenhagen also offers thousands of restaurants and cafés for those moments when you want to put the spreadsheet away and enjoy yourself.
4. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo proves that a city can offer serious career opportunities and an incredible social scene at the same time.
The Japanese capital has nearly 15,000 restaurants, cafés, bars, and other venues, according to the study.
It also earned an impressive 94.8 public transportation score, one of the highest in the ranking.
Unemployment is just 2.5%, another major plus for young adults beginning or growing their careers.
Disposable income is lower than some of the other top cities at approximately $881 per month, but Tokyo’s transportation network and everyday living options can help make that money stretch further.
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam rounds out the top five and earns especially high marks for quality of life.
Residents have approximately $1,500 in disposable income each month after rent and living costs, while unemployment sits at 3.8%.
The city also offers thousands of restaurants and cafés, along with strong public transportation and a safety rating of 70 out of 100.
For young adults looking for that elusive balance between career, money, and actually having a life outside of work, Amsterdam has plenty going for it.
What About the Rest of the Top 10?
The remaining cities show just how different the definition of a “great place to live” can be.
Seoul offers strong public transportation, relatively low unemployment, and about $1,671 in monthly disposable income.
Paris delivers an incredible dining and social scene, although its higher unemployment rate and lower safety rating hurt its overall ranking.
Vienna continues to stand out for transportation and quality of life, while Boston is the only U.S. city to crack the top 10. Boston residents in the study had approximately $1,848 in monthly disposable income.
Finally, Singapore has the lowest unemployment rate among the top 10 at just 2% and the highest safety score on the list at 77.7.
Why Safety and Employment Matter for Gen Z
There is a tendency to focus on nightlife and entertainment when talking about the best places for twenty-somethings to live. But those things don’t matter much if you can’t find a job or don’t feel comfortable going out.
BC Game’s CEO pointed to safety and employment as particularly important considerations for Gen Z.
Young adults entering today’s workforce have to balance career opportunities with increasingly expensive housing and everyday living expenses. A city may offer incredible restaurants and entertainment, but that isn’t particularly helpful if rent consumes your entire paycheck.
That’s why disposable income is such an interesting part of this ranking.
It isn’t simply about how much you earn.
It’s about how much you have left after you live.
Your 20s Are About More Than Your Paycheck
There’s something else worth remembering when looking at rankings like this.
The “best” city isn’t necessarily the city with the highest salary.
A $100,000 salary can feel surprisingly small in a city where housing, transportation, groceries, and entertainment are incredibly expensive. Meanwhile, a lower salary somewhere with affordable housing and reliable public transportation could leave you with more freedom.
If you’re considering relocating in your 20s, look beyond the paycheck.
Think about:
- What will rent realistically cost?
- Will you need a car?
- How easy will it be to find work?
- How much money will you have left after necessities?
- Will you feel safe living and going out there?
- Are there affordable things to do?
- Can you build friendships and a community?
- And perhaps most importantly, can you build the kind of life you actually want?
Because your 20s don’t have to be a choice between saving every penny and enjoying every penny.
The sweet spot is finding a way to do a little of both.
That’s pretty much the Champagne Style Bare Budget philosophy, no matter which city you call home.
