Millennials between the ages of 15 to 29 in 75 cities around the world were asked to pick the world's best cities to live. They ranked their choices based on affordability, work and education, nightlife or leisure, and entertainment, among other factors.
At a certain point, millennials have to make the choice to pack their bags and leave the comforts of home for education or job opportunities, relationships, or simply because they need to learn to stand on their own two feet. However, uprooting isn't always easy, and everyone understand the struggles to living as an adult.
However, the survey conducted from 2013 to 2015 by Youthful Cities among 50,000 millennials around the world revealed that millennials have two very important considerations in choosing where they should live: the city must be affordable, and it should also offer the most youthful vibe.
Below are the top 10 overall best cities for millennials, according to millennials:
1) New York - Most Youthful City of the Year
2) London
3) Berlin
4) San Francisco
5) Paris
6) Toronto
7) Chicago
8) Los Angeles
9) Mexico City
10) Amsterdam
Affordability
Millennials consider Berlin as having the best rates for renting an apartment in Europe, while Dallas is the top pick in the U.S. The city also ranks high for its opportunities for the youth, and there have been many millennials moving to Dallas to start their lives. Thus, it has become America's third fastest growing city.
In Asia, rents are already low compared to its Western counterparts, but it's Osaka that tops the list. Airbnb's ranking of Osaka also attests that housing is indeed affordable in this city. However, in the general ranking, Sydney, Montreal, Detroit, San Francisco and Berlin round up the top five most affordable cities.
Employment
Millennials believe that job prospects are lucrative in New York, London and San Francisco because big companies have their headquarters in these cities. There are also many employment opportunities for the youths in Toronto, since the city has effective programs that support and provide work. Toronto is also appealing to millennials because the government prioritizes public healthcare and gives importance to scholarships and educational loans.
Education
Paris is the best pick for millennials who would like quality education abroad without spending on astronomical tuition fees. However, four Australian cities - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide - are also part of top choices for education opportunities.
European millennials already enjoy university education for free, particularly in Nordic territories like Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. However, the drawback is that the costs of living in these countries are some of the highest and most expensive in the world.
Culture (Art, Nightlife, Entertainment)
Lisbon is a top destination for leisure and creative pursuits for millennials because it's more affordable with plenty to offer compared to other European cities. Art and creative hubs are also thriving in Lisbon. For movie lovers, the cities to go to are Montreal and Quebec in Canada, while Guangdong is an emerging cultural hub in Asia for its nightlife, bars and public libraries.
