There comes a time in life, for many, when priorities change. The day-to-day pace shifts, causing us to rethink whether the place we’ve called home for so long remains the best choice.
We’re referring to parenthood, of course – or the time when adults who see parenthood on the horizon start to consider their options. When it comes to raising children, there are a whole host of new factors to consider, from local safety to the quality of education services and the proximity of green spaces to explore.
While not all families will have the exact same priorities, the home loan comparison experts at Compare the Market AU have ranked 50 cities based on nine different data points to determine the best cities in the world to raise a family in 2026.
Results are influenced by each city’s safety score, the world happiness score, the number of things to do with kids, the monthly cost of living (in US Dollars, per family of four), national family benefits spending, national statutory parental leave combined (in weeks), green spaces per capita, national child vaccination rates and national education spending.
So, which city comes out on top? Unsurprisingly to travellers who’ve experienced a taste of life Down Under, four of Australia’s major cities claim spaces in the top 10 – with Brisbane in first place.
The capital of Queensland boasts the highest number of green spaces per capita, with 84.89 parks and playgrounds per 100,000 people, plus the second-highest safety score. While other cities have plenty more things to do with little ones, the outdoor lifestyle is a draw for an increasing number of expats.
