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- Copenhagen and Vienna share the joint-favourite price at evens to be named the world's most liveable city in the 2026 EIU Global Liveability Index
- Zurich, which shared second place with Vienna in 2025 with a score of 97.4, is available at 6/4 in third, with Melbourne at 5/1 and Geneva at 6/1 completing a top five that mirrors last year's podium almost exactly
- The EIU's Global Liveability Index assesses 173 cities across 30 indicators in five categories
The World's Most Contested Title And the Market Cannot Split the Top Two
Each June, the Economist Intelligence Unit publishes what has become one of the most anticipated annual reports in global urban policy, the Global Liveability Index.
With the 2026 edition expected imminently, betting sites have opened a fascinating market on which city will claim the top spot this year.
The answer, according to the odds, is either Copenhagen or Vienna, and the market cannot separate them, with both cities available at evens.
For those looking to back their pick, the best entertainment betting sites have the full range of liveability market odds available ahead of the EIU's announcement.
The index assesses 173 cities worldwide across 30 indicators, grouped into five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
Each city receives a score out of 100, with the 2025 edition seeing Copenhagen claim the title with a score of 98.0.
Copenhagen vs Vienna: The Rematch That the Market Cannot Call
The evens pricing for both Copenhagen and Vienna is the betting market's honest acknowledgement that this is genuinely too close to call.
Copenhagen's 2025 victory ended a remarkable run of Austrian dominance as Vienna had topped the index in 2022, 2023 and 2024, making it one of the most sustained periods of supremacy in the index's history.
The Danish capital's perfect scores across three of the five categories in 2025 represented an extraordinary performance, and defending champions have historically shown strong carry-forward momentum in the EIU rankings.
A single year without the top prize rarely indicates structural decline. At evens, the market is saying Vienna will be back.
World's Most Liveable City 2026 Full Odds
| World's Most Liveable City 2026 | Country | 2025 EIU Position | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen | Denmark | 1st (98.0) | EVS | 50.0% |
| Vienna | Austria | 2nd (97.4) | EVS | 50.0% |
| Zurich | Switzerland | 2nd (97.4) | 6/4 | 40.0% |
| Melbourne | Australia | 4th (96.8) | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Geneva | Switzerland | 5th (96.3) | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Sydney | Australia | Top 10 | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Calgary | Canada | Top 10 | 12/1 | 7.7% |
| Osaka | Japan | Top 10 | 12/1 | 7.7% |
| Auckland | New Zealand | Top 15 | 14/1 | 6.7% |
| Adelaide | Australia | Top 15 | 14/1 | 6.7% |
| Vancouver | Canada | Top 15 | 16/1 | 5.9% |
| Toronto | Canada | Top 20 | 18/1 | 5.3% |
| Tokyo | Japan | Top 20 | 20/1 | 4.8% |
| Perth | Australia | Top 20 | 20/1 | 4.8% |
| Dublin | Ireland | Top 25 | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Zurich's Dark Horse Credentials, Australia's Dominance and Tokyo's Emerging Threat
Zurich at 6/4 is the most compelling alternative in the market, and its 40% implied probability deserves serious consideration.
The Swiss city shared second place with Vienna in 2025 with an identical score of 97.4, and its combination of financial stability, pristine infrastructure, world-class healthcare and one of the lowest crime rates of any major global city makes it a perennial contender.
Australia's presence across multiple price points in the market is striking, with Melbourne at 5/1, Sydney at 8/1, Adelaide at 14/1 and Perth at 20/1 collectively reflecting the EIU's long-standing appreciation for Australian cities' combination of political stability, high-quality healthcare and cultural amenity.
Tokyo and Osaka, sharing 20/1 and 12/1 respectively, reflect the growing recognition of Japanese cities as liveability contenders as their extraordinary public safety, infrastructure quality and cultural richness have increasingly impressed EIU assessors, even as cost of living and language accessibility considerations keep them from the very top.
What the expert says...
Where To Bet on the World's Most Liveable City 2026
With the EIU Global Liveability Index expected to be published in June 2026, there is very little time remaining to get your selections on before the announcement.
A wide range of betting sites offer current affairs and lifestyle specials markets, with new customers often finding free bets available to get started.
Always compare prices before placing, and head to our guide to the best entertainment betting sites for a full comparison of where to find the best liveability market odds.
