Brisbane Named Best City in the World to Raise a Family

New report from Compare the Market ranks top 50 cities globally for family life

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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A new report from Compare the Market, an Australia-based financial comparison site, has named Brisbane, Australia as the best city in the world to raise a family. The report evaluated 50 cities across the globe using metrics like safety, green space, cost of living, parental leave, and education spending. While Australian and European cities dominated the top of the list, several major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago, and Dallas ranked much lower.

Why it matters

The findings add to the ongoing debate over the best cities to raise a family, as parents weigh factors like affordability, safety, work-life balance, and access to outdoor space. In recent years, global comparisons of the best countries to raise a family have gained traction, particularly as more families consider relocating internationally.

The details

To determine the rankings, Compare the Market analyzed 50 global cities using a weighted index built around nine data points. Each city was scored on a scale from 0 to 10 based on its performance across measures including safety, national happiness levels, the number of child-friendly activities, cost of living for a family of four, national family benefits spending, parental leave, green spaces, child vaccination rates, and education spending.

  • The 2026 edition of the report builds on Compare the Market's previous global analysis in 2023, which evaluated 38 cities.

The players

Compare the Market

An Australia-based financial comparison site that conducted the report on the best cities to raise a family.

Stephen Zeller

The general manager of money at Compare the Market, who commented on the findings.

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What they’re saying

“The difference between scores for the top cities are quite small, showing that all cities have their own unique strengths and qualities when it comes to raising kids. Some will have more advantages over others, but given all families are different and will prioritize different things, it's crucial to remember what makes one city better than another won't apply for every family.”

— Stephen Zeller, General Manager of Money (Compare the Market)

What’s next

The report's findings are likely to spur further debate and analysis around the best places to raise a family, both within the U.S. and globally.

The takeaway

This report highlights how factors like safety, cost of living, access to green space, and government policies can significantly impact a city's suitability for raising a family. While no single city excels in every category, the data suggests that geography and government support can make a measurable difference in quality of life for families.