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- Copenhagen is the 5/4 favourite to remain the World’s Most Liveable City in 2026.
- Vienna and Zurich sit close behind in a tightly priced betting market.
- Quality-of-life rankings are becoming an increasingly popular entertainment betting market.
Liveability Rankings Put Betting Odds in the Spotlight
Betting sites are increasingly turning their attention to global quality-of-life rankings and the World’s Most Liveable City market has become one of the more intriguing long-term entertainment betting specials.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index was shaken up this year when Copenhagen claimed the number one spot for the first time in three years.
That shift at the top has been reflected immediately in the betting, with the Danish capital now installed as the 5/4 favourite to retain its crown in 2026.
With urban living standards, infrastructure and stability under greater scrutiny worldwide, the race for top spot has taken on added relevance and that has translated into increased interest across betting sites.
What the expert says...
Why Copenhagen Sits at the Top of the Market
Copenhagen’s rise to the summit of the EIU rankings was driven by exceptional scores across stability, education and infrastructure, areas that carry significant weight in the index’s methodology.
From a betting perspective, that breadth of strength explains why Copenhagen heads the market at 5/4, giving it an implied probability of 44.4% to be named the world’s most liveable city again in 2026.
Unlike some previous winners, Copenhagen does not rely on a single standout category.
Instead, it performs consistently across almost every metric used by the EIU, making it a difficult city for rivals to overhaul in a single year.
World’s Most Liveable City 2026 Odds & Implied Probabilities
| World’s Most Liveable City 2026 | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen | 5/4 | 44.4% |
| Vienna | 6/4 | 40.0% |
| Zurich | 3/1 | 25.0% |
| Melbourne | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Geneva | 7/1 | 12.5% |
| Sydney | 9/1 | 10.0% |
Long-time leader Vienna finds itself second in the betting at 6/4 having been overtaken by Copenhagen in the most recent rankings.
The Austrian capital shares second place in the current EIU index with Zurich, underlining just how fine the margins are at the top.
Why Liveability Has Become a Betting Market
From an entertainment betting perspective, liveability rankings sit at the intersection of data, global trends and long-term narratives.
Unlike awards driven by voting or judges, the EIU index is rooted in measurable criteria, making it easier for odds compilers to assign probabilities.
That analytical foundation has helped this market grow in popularity across betting sites, particularly among bettors who enjoy long-range outcomes based on data rather than short-term form.
With Copenhagen now sitting at the top of both the rankings and the betting market, the World’s Most Liveable City 2026 race looks set to be one of the closest in recent years.
Vienna remains firmly in contention, while Zurich and Melbourne lurk as credible alternatives should the balance shift.
