Linz ranks 12th globally for quality of life in new index

According to the Global Cities Index 2026 by Oxford Economics, Austrian cities have achieved notable rankings in quality of life. Linz ranked 12th globally in the quality of life category, followed by Graz at 46th and Vienna at 85th.

In the overall ranking of 1,000 cities and metropolitan areas, Vienna secured 35th place, while Linz placed 99th and Graz 105th. New York took the top position in the overall index, and Canberra was cited as having the highest quality of life.

Vienna demonstrated strength in economic stability and diversity, ranking 48th in economic power and 57th in human capital. However, the capital faced challenges in environmental metrics, ranking 272nd due to factors such as temperature deviations and natural hazards. High housing costs were also identified as a significant weakness affecting Vienna's quality of life score.