New York City is known for a lot of things–think: pizza, bagels, fast walkers, and NYC slang, just to name a few.
But the city that never sleeps is also constantly the focus of many a study, and the things that it’s most known for has caused it to be given several different titles throughout the year–such as the #1 best U.S. city for pizza addicts (duh).
So, here’s how our city measures up to others in various categories, whether we’re being compared to other cities throughout the U.S. or cities across the world:
1. The top city in the world to meet your soulmate
Jewelry company Angelic Diamonds is on a mission to help people find love, and according to their study NYC was voted the top city in the world to meet your soulmate.
Judging by factors such as the number of singles, number of dating app downloads, number of date spots, and the number of classes and workshops where you might bond over a hobby, an overall “soulmate score” was reached, and NYC scored a 77 (and beat out nine other cities in the process).
With over 125 million singles in the US and over 8 million people in New York City alone, it’s easy to see why New York City is the hottest spot to meet your soulmate. NYC is well-known for its nightlife, but it stands out in our rankings for its green spaces and tea and coffee shops. Whether as a spot to go for your first date or a great setting for a meet-cute, New York is a must-visit destination to find your soulmate.
2. The second highest cost of living in the world
Something we’re totally not surprised by, but can’t help but be bummed about anyway, is the fact that NYC has the second highest cost of living in the world (a two spot jump from when it ranked fourth in 2021).
ECA International took a closer look at costs of day-to-day goods and services throughout 490 locations, as well as rental costs in over 207 cities. What they found was that a cup of coffee in NYC has reached an alarming average of nearly $4, and rent has increased 12% over one year.
We’re normally pretty stoked about being on top, but hopefully by this time next year we’ll have dropped lower on this list.
3. The third best city in the world for 2023
International consultant group Resonance’s annual ranking of the best cities in the world was just released–and this year, NYC found itself as #3 on the list!
The greatest city in America—lauded and crowned in our rankings for the past seven years and in countless others for many more—was a ghastly reminder during the pandemic of the vulnerability of even the colossal and seemingly all-powerful; we saw here what awaited the rest of the country. And the world. As early cases spiked, Gotham became the nation’s nightmarish coronavirus core.
Though of course in our hearts NYC should’ve been #1, the third spot is still pretty good when you’re looking at 100 different cities all over the world!
4. The fourth most picturesque place in the world
Between our gorgeous parks, stunning brownstone-lined roads, and city skyline, it’s easy to understand how we made it onto this list.
Money.co.uk gathered data from some of the most popular destinations around the world, such as the number of Instagram posts that hashtag the destination, the number of TikTok videos that mention the destination, and the number of YouTube searches about the destination, in order to discover which can be considered the most “picture-perfect.”
And though according to their data NYC came in second for Instagram and TikTok, we came in fourth place overall with a score of 9.66/10.
So, be sure you’re always ready to snap that perfect Insta-worthy photo when you’re out and about!
5. The fifth best big city in the U.S.
While NYC should have totallyyyy taken the #1 spot here, you know what they say–first is the worst, second is the best, fifth is the…okay we tried.
Here’s what they had to say:
New York City buzzes as though it’s perpetually caffeinated (and most of its residents probably are)—packed with people moving, creating, and making the most of every block. After a requisite visit to a few world-class museums (you can never take enough trips to the Met or the Guggenheim), make like a local by tucking into soup dumplings in Chinatown, pizza in Greenwich Village, and steak-frites in Soho, and walking it all off on the High Line; or picnic in Bryant Park. Of course, there are four boroughs beyond Manhattan, and they deserve love, too; stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge for a drink at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, or venture out to Long Island City for a day at MoMa PS1. In this town for all seasons, there’s no wrong itinerary.
At the end of the day, NYC is always #1 to us!