NYC is officially one of the world’s best cities for Gen Z

Ah, Gen Z. They love Labubus and littering. They call Manhattan “work island.” They do not want to start a bar tab, thank you very much. And they think New York City is one of the best places in the world for their generation of people born from 1995 to 2012.

How do we know? Well, we surveyed readers from across the globe about what it’s like to live in their cities, and based on the responses from this demographic specifically, we’re pleased to introduce Time Out’s first-ever ranking of the Best Cities for Gen Z. This global list was created by Gen Z, for Gen Z. These results highlight the cities where the next generation truly thrives. Keep scrolling for the full list. 

RECOMMENDED: The world’s best cities for Gen Z to live in—according to Gen Z

Topping the list is Bangkok, thanks to standout scores in happiness (84% of Gen Z respondents say they’re happy living there) and affordability (71% say it’s a budget-friendly place to live). Melbourne, Australia, comes in next on the list, followed by Cape Town, South Africa, then our very own New York City. 

Gen Z praised New York City as the most "exciting" on the list. Plus, they lauded its walkability (82 percent of Gen Z said it's easy to get around by foot) and its nightlife offerings (84 percent rated the city highly for nightlife).

Global ranking of best cities for Gen Z

1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Melbourne, Australia
3. Cape Town, South Africa
4. New York City, United States
5. Copenhagen, Denmark
6. Barcelona, Spain
7. Edinburgh, United Kingdom
8. Mexico City, Mexico
9. London, United Kingdom
10. Shanghai, China
11. Sydney, Australia
12. Beijing, China
13. Paris, France
14. Tokyo, Japan
15. Berlin, Germany
16. Seville, Spain
17. Chicago, United States
18. Chiang Mai, Thailand
19. Prague, Czech Republic
20. Lisbon, Portugal

Wondering about the United States specifically? If we narrow down the list to just this country, Gen Z ranked New York City as No. 1, followed by Chicago, Austin and New Orleans. 

USA's Best Cities for Gen Z

1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. Austin
4. New Orleans
5. Los Angeles
6. Miami
7. Dallas
8. Washington, D.C.
9. San Diego
10. San Antonio

With so much to do for Gen Z in NYC—from flea markets to theater to museums—it makes total sense that readers in this demographic would absolutely love NYC.