You’re probably familiar with the prestigious annual ranking of the world’s top 100 cities, which notably ranked Sydney 10th for 2025. Now for the first time, Resonance Consultancy has unveiled a list of the top 100 best cities in Asia-Pacific (APAC), offering an insightful look into one of the world’s most dynamic and ever-growing regions.
The cities were assessed across several categories, including Liveability, which examined factors like landmarks, rent, and green spaces; Loveability, which took into account Tripadvisor reviews, nightlife, shopping, and social media presence; and Prosperity, focusing on aspects like the workforce, GDP per capita, and airport connectivity. Sydney secured the seventh spot overall, earning praise for its iconic landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, stunning beaches, and excellent air quality.
“Here, long, laidback summers melt into mild, mellow winters amidst our rankings’ second-best Air Quality — the perfect backdrop to explore Sydney’s remarkable blend of vintage and modern, from the colonial-era sandstone buildings of The Rocks to new icons like the Sydney Tower,” the study noted.
Sydney was the only Australian city in the top 10, alongside Melbourne which secured 9th place on the list.
The first-ever APAC city to claim the top spot? Unsurprisingly, it’s Singapore, praised as one of the region’s most captivating, urban, and well-organised hubs. The Garden City was followed by Tokyo in second place and Seoul in third. India’s Delhi and Mumbai secured the 12th and 13th spots respectively just shy of the top 10. Meanwhile, China boasted 33 cities in the top 100, the most of any country.
The 10 best cities in Asia Pacific for 2025
- Singapore
- Tokyo
- Seoul
- Hong Kong
- Beijing
- Bangkok
- Sydney
- Shanghai
- Melbourne
- Kuala Lumpur
You can find the full study of the best cities in Asia-Pacific here.