Ranking the world's most welcoming cities.

​Are you itching to explore a new city, but worried about feeling like an outsider? Don’t fret! We’ve got you covered.

We understand how important it is to feel welcomed and included when venturing into unknown territory. That’s why we’ve developed the Community Spirit Index – a comprehensive ranking of 53 cities worldwide based on their friendliness for non-natives.

We’ve analysed six key metrics, including visitor return rates, safety ratings, LGBTQ+ equality, and overall happiness, to determine the most welcoming cities for you.

So, whether you’re seeking a fresh start in a new location or simply craving a thrilling adventure, you’ve come to the right place!

​What is community spirit?
Community spirit is all about building a sense of belonging and connectedness among individuals in a community. Effective communication and language are key players in fostering community spirit – when people communicate effectively, it helps to create a sense of trust and understanding, breaking down barriers and building bridges.

Community spirit is especially important when it comes to welcoming newcomers. A strong sense of community can make newcomers feel right at home, helping them navigate the challenges of adjusting to a new environment, make new connections, and build meaningful relationships.

To measure the sense of community spirit in each city we investigated, we considered six metrics that point towards a friendly and welcoming environment:

• Visitor return rate: The percentage of visitors who return to each city after travelling there, telling us if the location left a good impression.
• Friendly staff: The percentage of accommodation reviews mentioning ‘friendly’, giving us an idea of how welcoming local staff are.
• Community respect: The city’s safety index score, which indicates if it’s a safe environment for both natives and newcomers.
• Acceptance of diversity: The LGBTQ+ equality score in each city, which indicates if this is an accepting and supportive community.
• Happiness: The city’s overall happiness and wellbeing score, according to inhabitants.
• Ease of communicating through a common language: English is the most commonly spoken language in the world, so we looked at each city’s English-speaking proficiency score to determine the ease of communication there.

Community Spirit Index: The top 20 friendliest cities in the world

​Toronto and Sydney are the friendliest cities for non-natives in 2023
According to our Community Spirit Index, Toronto and Sydney are tied as the friendliest cities in the world for non-natives in 2023, both receiving an impressive overall friendliness score of 7.97 out of 10.

Toronto boasts a very decent visitor return rate of 15%, which means that people who come to Toronto tend to love it so much that they come back again and again. And for good reason – with a happiness score of 7.03 out of 10 and a very high LGBTQ+ equality score of 90 out of 100, Toronto is an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.

Meanwhile, Sydney excels in safety with a score of 65.87 out of 100, and has a similarly high score of 84 out of 100 for LGBTQ+ equality. Sydney’s inhabitants also have a happiness score of 7.13 out of 10 and a visitor return rate of 16% – which are actually higher than in Toronto.

Plus, since English is the official language in both Toronto and Sydney, communication won’t be a problem here!
Both cities have their unique charms and strengths, making them great destinations for non-natives looking for a friendly and inclusive community. So, whether you prefer the cosmopolitan vibe of Toronto or the laid-back beach lifestyle of Sydney, you can be sure you’ll find a warm and welcoming environment in either city.

Edinburgh and Manchester are the second and third friendliest cities in the world
Edinburgh and Manchester rank as the second and third friendliest cities in the world for non-natives, respectively.

Edinburgh takes second place with a high overall friendliness score of 7.78. The city’s safety index score of 68.92 out of 100 is particularly impressive, ranking as the highest of all countries in the top 10.

Manchester isn’t far behind, coming in third place with an overall score of 7.72 out of 10. The city is known for its welcoming atmosphere, with 14.76% of reviews mentioning the word ‘friendly’ – higher than for any other city we analysed.

Despite its lower safety index score of 45.09, Manchester’s welcoming attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community, with a score of 88 out of 100, and its visitors’ high return rate of 12% make it a desirable destination for non-natives.

And, since both cities are located in the UK, communicating in English should be nice and easy!​

Source: Preply