While visiting foreign cities may be an exciting adventure, the experience may not be so amazing if you live there. Many places attract tourists for their vibrant culture, unique landscapes, and scenic views. However, some of these places are ranked low when it comes to the quality of living. From the high cost of living to inadequate public services, these cities present challenges for residents. Based on recent rankings and testimonials presented by Forbes, these are the seven worst cities to live in.
1. Kuwait City, Kuwait (82nd Overall)
Kuwait City tops the list as the world’s worst city to live in due to poor treatment of foreign workers and unfriendly locals. Foreign workers have expressed their dissatisfaction with having to work long hours and the insane six-day work weeks. Among the testimonials, a British expat highlighted that the country has a poor attitude toward foreign and low-income workers.
2. Rome, Italy (81st Overall)
Rome is one of the most popular places due to its impressive history and unique landscapes. However, it is the second worst place to live in the world. Although it has a cultural allure, Rome falls short when it comes to available job opportunities. A Turkish expat mentioned the difficulty of finding employment. Additionally, the city’s living cost is very high, which a Spanish expat spoke about. The individual expressed that “the cost of living is too expensive” while the salaries are low.
3. Milan, Italy (80th Overall)
Ranking as the third worst city to live in is Milan. This Italian city had a poor performance in the Urban Work Life Index. While this city is known as a global fashion hub, it is also infamous for ranking as the worst city when it comes to job satisfaction. The city does not offer financial stability, which was indicated in the comment of one German expat who expressed that the wages are low and the living costs are high.
4. Lagos, Nigeria (79th Overall)
While the vibrant culture attracts tourists, Lagos is ranked one of the worst cities to live in due to safety concerns and transportation issues. These issues were even highlighted by a Russian expat. Furthermore, the
Lagos is renowned for its vibrant culture and climate, but expats face significant hurdles, particularly in safety and public transportation. It ranks among the worst in the Quality of Urban Living Index, with a Russian expat summarising, “There is no safety, and no proper public transport is available.” Political instability and personal security concerns make Lagos a difficult city for foreign residents.
5. Paris, France (78th Overall)
While Paris is the city of romance, it is not a city of friendly locals, nor does it offer financial stability. Paris is ranked close to the bottom in the Getting Settled Index. Paris has been described as unfriendly by close to 40% of expats. The city also has a high cost of living, which makes it challenging for residents. Several expats also feel unsafe in the city. This safety concern, paired with the high living cost, makes it hard for residents to enjoy living in the vibrant city. A Portuguese expat shared, “Everything is just so expensive, from housing to basic items.”
Why Do These Cities Rank Poorly?
Many of these cities attract thousands of visitors who have life-changing experiences. However, migrating to these regions would provide an entirely different experience. The common issues foreign workers face in these cities are expensive living costs, poor work-life balance, low wages, and challenges with safety and infrastructure. Many expats also struggle to integrate into local communities due to cultural barriers, according to Forbes. It is fair to say that some of these cities are more suitable for vacation spots rather than migration destinations. These cities share unique issues that many people would not expect, which is why it is important to thoroughly research a city before backing your bags to relocate.
