Salt Lake City Soars: Among the World’s Best Cities for 2025
Salt Lake City has climbed to an impressive position among the globe’s elite urban centers. In Resonance’s 2025 rankings of the 100 Best Cities in the World, the Utah capital secured the 66th spot, sharing the limelight with Edmonton, Canada, and Baltimore, Maryland.
The accolade recognizes Salt Lake City’s thriving connection to the outdoors, its evolving cultural scene, and ongoing investments in urban development and beautification. While the city isn’t resting on its laurels—acknowledging areas for improvement—it’s clear that efforts to boost its global stature are paying off.
Cracking the Code of the Best Cities List
Resonance, a global consulting firm specializing in urban strategies, evaluated over 400 cities to compile its list. Each city was scored on three core attributes:
- Livability – quality of life and infrastructure.
- Lovability – cultural and social appeal.
- Prosperity – economic strength.
From Mountains to Museums: What Sets SLC Apart
Salt Lake City earned praise for its deep connection to the outdoors, an aspect that resonates strongly with its identity as a hub for outdoor enthusiasts. The city’s “cultural climate” also stood out, highlighting its blend of tradition and innovation. Resonance commended the city’s ongoing efforts in “development and beautification,” noting significant investments aimed at enhancing both functionality and aesthetics.
Salt Lake CIty outdoors (Shutterstock)
However, the report also acknowledged that Salt Lake City has “room for improvement” in certain areas. These ongoing strides, paired with its existing strengths, reflect a city determined to climb even higher in the rankings in the future.
World’s Best Cities: A Peek at the Top 20
Here’s a look at the top 20 cities from the list:
- London, United Kingdom
- New York, N.Y., USA
- Paris, France
- Tokyo, Japan
- Singapore
- Rome, Italy
- Madrid, Spain
- Barcelona, Spain
- Berlin, Germany
- Sydney, Australia
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- San Francisco, USA
- Dubai, UAE
- Los Angeles, USA
- Toronto, Canada
- Seoul, South Korea
- Chicago, USA
- Vienna, Austria
- Seattle, USA
- Milan, Italy
Salt Lake City’s Global Glow-Up
Salt Lake City’s placement in this prestigious ranking highlights its growing global influence. From its iconic mountains to its vibrant arts scene and forward-thinking city planning, it’s becoming a city to watch—and visit—in the years to come.
