Best Cities for Entrepreneurs
Where should you build your next venture? We rank 380 cities on business environment, cost efficiency, transport connectivity, and safety — weighted for founders who need affordable operations, reliable infrastructure, and a supportive ecosystem. All scores draw from World Bank and IMF institutional data.
Last updated: 2026-10-11
Quick answer
Key facts
- #1: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates highest weighted score (85/100) across 4 dimensions.
- $1,650/mo cheapest in the top 10 — Taipei, Taiwan, single-person cost of living.
- Safest: Orchard highest safety score (95/100) among the top 10.
- Best healthcare: Tokyo highest healthcare score (100/100) among the top 10.
- 380 cities ranked using a 7-dimension framework (cost, safety, healthcare, education, climate, career, transport).
Top 20 Cities
Ranked using persona-optimized weights across city-level indices. Higher scores indicate better fit.
Sharjah
United Arab Emirates
Ajman
United Arab Emirates
Orchard
Singapore
Jurong East
Singapore
Tokyo
Japan
Osaka
Japan
Taipei
Taiwan
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Seoul
South Korea
Valletta
Malta
Sliema
Malta
St. Julian's
Malta
Birkirkara
Malta
Kopavogur
Iceland
Hafnarfjordur
Iceland
Akureyri
Iceland
The Hague
Netherlands
Utrecht
Netherlands
Woodlands
Singapore
Tampines
Singapore
Sharjah
United Arab Emirates
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you score business-friendliness at the city level?
Are startup visas and coworking costs included?
Why is cost weighted so heavily for entrepreneurs?
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These rankings show averages. A premium report uses YOUR income, nationality, and priorities to calculate real tax rates, visa eligibility, city-level prices, and a 90-day action plan.
This plan is not currently for sale while its figures are being re-verified against their sources.
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