The safest cities to live

Safety is the floor most people won't move below, whatever else a city offers. These cities rank highest on the Numbeo Safety Index — a measure of how safe residents feel day to day, where a higher number is safer. Each row also shows the city's cost of living and healthcare, because feeling secure somewhere is rarely about crime alone.

CitySafety index (higher = safer)

Ranked from our city + feasibility data (banded, directional). Visa and tax rules change — verify current rules before you move. Updated 2026-06.

Safety gets you onto the shortlist; it doesn't get you to a decision. The safest city in the world is the wrong move if it's priced out of reach or slowly bores you. The assessment weighs safety against everything else you're actually optimizing for.

Common questions

What is the safest city to live in?

By the Numbeo Safety Index, the safest cities in our data sit largely in East Asia, the Gulf, and parts of Europe — the ranking above orders them. Safety is one input; the right city balances it against cost, healthcare, climate, and fit.

How is safety measured here?

We use the Numbeo Safety Index where available — a perception-based measure of how safe residents feel, where higher is safer. It's directional and city-level; always check current, neighbourhood-level conditions before you move.

Which of these fits you?

A list is a place to start, not a way to choose. The assessment reads every city through your relocation profile — and surfaces the ones that fit the life you’re trying to build.

Take the assessment →