Forget New York City and Paris: These are the 11 best small cities to move to in 2020

Melissa Wiley

December 27, 2019 5:26 PM

11. Reykjavik, Iceland

Global affairs and lifestyle magazine Monocle has released its 2020 Small Cities Index , a list of 20 small cities around the world that promise the best quality of life.
Monocle evaluated cities with populations of approximately 200,000 people based on statistics such as life expectancy and crime rates, as well as intangible factors like coffee shop hours and natural beauty.
European cities secured eight out of the top 11 spots.
Cities in Colorado , Japan and Australia took the remaining three.
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Global affairs and lifestyle magazine Monocle predicts that 2020 will be the "decade of the small city."

The magazine assembled a list of the 20 best small cities around the world to live in based on quality of life places where finances go further, professional opportunities abound, commutes aren't a nightmare, and the social life is vibrant and diverse yet community-focused.

To compile its shortlist, Monocle enlisted a team of global correspondents who reviewed each city based on a combination of statistics and intangible qualities. Those included life expectancy, crime rates, coffee shop hours, and natural beauty. As a last step, they visited top cities to ask locals what they enjoy and don't enjoy about their hometowns, as well as what type of interests each city most suits.

From a vineyard-encircled city in Italy to a surfing spot in Japan , keep reading for a countdown of the 11 best small cities to move to in 2020.

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