Chicago Rated 'Best City In The World' For 2nd Straight Year

CHICAGO, IL — Despite repeated claims from state and national political leaders, Chicago is, in fact, the best city in the world right now, according to results from a new survey. Time Out said Chicago topped its global index of the most exciting cities for the second consecutive year. Its survey anonymously asked 15,000 participants across 32 global cities about their town's affordability, culture, food, drink, happiness, neighborhoods, livability, pride and friendliness.

Chicago came out with top scores for eating and drinking. The survey found the average Chicagoan eats out once a week, with 36 percent saying they'd wait over an hour for a table.

"We are so incredibly proud that Chicago topped the charts as the best city to have it all for the second time in a row," said Time Out Chicago Editor Morgan Olsen, announcing the rankings.

In addition to its bar scene, live music and culture, residents gave above average scores to the city's affordability and local neighborhoods.

"This Midwestern city offers its dwellers endless opportunities to eat and drink well, be happy and experience cultural opportunities at every turn," Olsen said.

According to the survey, Chicago's biggest shortcoming is safety — with 39 percent of respondents saying crime is the biggest problem facing the city — and whether it had become a better place to live over time.

Although the number of shootings in Chicago dropped by more than 21 percent in Chicago last year, the city recorded 650 murders — more than the total killed in New York City and Los Angeles combined.

Still, Chicagoans ranked as some of the happiest and proudest residents of any U.S. city, according to Time Out.

In other findings from the survey, the Portuguese city of Porto came in second overall. It was seen as the most livable city and the best for finding love. And Melbourne, Australia topped the happiness rankings but scored fourth overall. Residents there reported exercising more than anywhere else.

Across the country, New Yorkers (#3) are the most stressed but have the best nightlife, Austin, Texas (#13) has the best live music and Washington, D.C. (#23) has the most active singles scene with people most likely to stand up dates. Boston was the lowest ranking of all U.S. cities included in the survey.

See the results of all cities surveyed below.

Time Out City Life Index 2018 for "Most Exciting Cities" (total points)

1. Chicago (138.2)
2. Porto (137.9)
3. New York (134.6)
4. Melbourne (132.3)
5. London (131.4)
6. Madrid (131.1)
7. Manchester (130.9)
8. Lisbon (130.2)
9. Philadelphia (129.2)
10. Barcelona (128.4)
11. Edinburgh (128.2)
12. Tel Aviv (125.8)
13. Austin (125.3)
14. Paris (124.9)
15. Mexico City (121.2)
16. Shanghai (119.5)
17. San Francisco (119.4)
18. Berlin (119.2)
19. Tokyo (117.7)
20. Los Angeles (116.8)
21. Zürich (115.3)
22. Beijing (113.0)
23. Washington, D.C. (111.3)
24. Bangkok (111.0)
25. Moscow (110.2)
26. Hong Kong (109.6)
27. Miami (107.9)
28. Sydney (106.1)
29. Dubai (105.3)
30. Boston (103.7)
31. Singapore (98.7)
32. Istanbul (87.1)

» via the Time Out City Life Index

Time Out did not provide a methodology for its rankings but did offer the following explanatory statement:

The Time Out City Life Index not only ranked the world’s best cities but also found the key factors that make residents find their city exciting: they dine out often and rate their city’s food and drink highly, think their city has great culture, live music and nightlife, like their local area, are city-proud and feel free to be themselves. If a city offers all that, it can afford to have some flaws and will still be loved: affordability and feeling safe are great but not deal-breakers; long commutes are annoying but not enough to stop people enjoying their city.