Forget The Lists, Here Are The Best Cities To Live In Your 30s

Your thirties are the decade to better understand yourself, and depending on what you're looking for, here are some of the most interesting cities around the world to live in.

Published On Feb 24, 2025 | Updated On Feb 24, 2025

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Every city plays an important part when it comes to individual growth and opportunities. With our 30s being a crucial part of our lives, the various personal and professional decisions that we make during these years define who we ultimately become. Today, with the dramatic change in the quality of life and work opportunities offered around the world, where we live makes for an important life decision.

With certain cities offering more opportunities as compared to others, a number of vital factors such as the cost of living, quality and affordable education, family planning decisions, jobs, and recreational activities are important aspects that one needs to take into consideration while selecting the best cities to live in your 30s.

According to the Global Liveability Ranking, the best city happens to be Vienna, Austria. A stunning city with great cultural heritage, Vienna is indeed a charm. That said, with your 30s, expectations from life start changing. While in your 20s you wanted a fun hip city, you might want a more reasonable cost of living to settle into in your 30s. Or as you start making more money in your 30s, it might just happen that you now want to live in a city with more experiences to offer. In this case, a cookie-cutter list doesn’t do it. 

Whether you are someone who is looking for the best places to live in your 30s with an aim towards settling down, or selecting opportunities to make big life changes, here are some of the best cities that offer a wide range of scope for the same.

Top cities from across the world to live while in your 30s

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The Danish capital and a favourite among people in their 30s, Copenhagen is the ideal place to live in, in every possible way. A top-tier choice for those seeking a quality lifestyle, Copenhagen has a great healthcare system, proper education network as well as affordable public transport options.
Boasting of a thriving creative space, this is among the best cities to live in your 30s that also offers the perfect kind of work-life balance. With the Danish population making for some of the happiest people in the world, the perks of living here are plenty. If a great standard of living with good infrastructure, and safety is what you seek, Copenhagen will easily be your pick from the best cities to live in your 30s.
The city is also home to numerous parks, museums and wonderful eateries. So while you work hard to earn that lifestyle, there’s plenty to do when it comes to relaxation and rejuvenation.

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Vietnam has jumped up many places in the last few years for people looking for great digital nomad options, and not just for workcations, Vietnamese cities are now emerging as great options for long-term stays as well. 

Among the best places to live in your 30s, Ho Chi Minh City is a metropolis that excludes much of the chaotic rush as compared to other Asian cities. Boasting of a dynamic cultural scene as well as opportunities in terms of creative and entrepreneurial skills, Ho Chi Minh City also makes for a destination among the best cities to date in your 30s due to its thriving social lifestyle. 

A city that is also extremely affordable, this city in Vietnam surely makes for a great place to live a rather slow-paced and relaxed life in your 30s, while also simultaneously balancing your work-life culture.

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You may have loved seeing this city in your favourite movies and shows, but we bet you didn’t think it would make it to this list. The bustling capital of Mexico, Mexico City makes for one of the most vibrant places to live while in your 30s. 

Featuring a thriving creative and cultural scene, the social lifestyle of Mexico City is also truly incredible. Among the best cities for singles as well as those who are looking to date, the social life of Mexico City is such that it makes you feel truly alive without being too much of a hassle. With great cuisine and weather, this city is a great place to be in order to truly enjoy your 30s.

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A city that seamlessly blends in tradition with modernity, Seoul displays excellent infrastructure and work opportunities, especially for emerging and independent creatives. A great place to live in your 30s, Seoul also boasts of a thriving social scene, offers safe and secure housing and is often considered under the list of best cities to date in your 30s.

With great food, great fashion and superb connectivity to all parts of the world, Seoul is very high on the list of places for 30-year-olds to move base to. Of course, if you’re a fan of K-drama then this city is heaven on earth for you.  

Apart from these world cities, here are some of the best places to live in India in your 30s

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The emerging technological hub of India in recent years, Hyderabad is the perfect place to spend your 30s. Portraying the ideal balance in work and play, Hyderabad offers a lot of lifestyle benefits that Bengaluru does too but is much more laidback in its approach. With great cuisine and a thriving cultural scene to explore, Hyderabad surely makes it to the list of best cities to live in your 30s.

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The latest and growing hotspot for entrepreneurs and creatives, Jaipur has been rapidly growing into a destination portraying a thriving cultural scene for all the artsy people out there. Jaipur is also a great option when it comes to the cost of living, and yet the lifestyle has gone up many notches in the past few years. Experiences are plenty, and the city is only getting more vibrant with each passing day.

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The capital of Tamil Nadu is another of the best cities to live in your 30s when it comes to India. Chennai has it all, the booming IT and finance sectors, great food, good standards of living, and great cultural heritage. The work life balance is better than many other major cities, and cost of living is also reasonable.


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