Singapore may top our Standard of Living subcategory, but the city is pursuing so much more. Orchard Road continues its reinvention with the opening of mixed-use luxury towers and retail concepts blending sustainability and experience-first shopping (ranking #28), while the long-anticipated QT Singapore, which debuted in late 2024 in a historic 1927 building, is already buzzing as a nightlife anchor. AIR CCCC, the city’s experiment in circular gastronomy, keeps drawing global attention with its mix of culinary innovation and sustainability education, underscoring how food culture here is as progressive as it is indulgent, helping with the #14 Restaurants ranking.
The city-state’s skyline and waterfront remain works in progress. Marina Bay Sands has advanced construction on its fourth hotel tower and 15,000-seat arena, both now targeting a 2031 debut, while across the harbor, NS Square – slated to open in 2027 – will anchor downtown with a new outdoor venue replacing the floating platform. The Great Southern Waterfront project, reimagining almost 5,000 acres of prime coast, passed key planning milestones this year, with the first tranche of 9,000 homes expected to break ground in 2026.
Singapore’s green push warrants its #9 Nature & Parks ranking. Over 40% of land is already green, but the Park Connector Network now links more than 230 miles of trails, and new vertical gardens are being integrated into upcoming residential districts. Tuas Mega Port’s phased rollout continues, with automation advances in 2025 cementing its role as a global logistics hub and just one of the many reasons Singapore finished Top 5 in our overall Prosperity index. Bolstered by $5 billion in Google cloud infrastructure investment and parallel expansions by Microsoft and Apple, Singapore’s once-stealthy tech might is having its moment. Add in the Changi East Industrial Zone and airport expansion, and the city is poised to improve its already impressive Top 10 rankings for both Unemployment Rate (#8) and Large Companies (#9).
The hospitality and cultural sectors are surging in tandem. High-profile restaurant groups from Tokyo and Paris opened in Robertson Quay this year, while luxury operators are extending their reach into secondary districts like Katong and Jurong. Meanwhile, the city’s museums are planning expansions, with the National Museum of Singapore unveiling two newly renovated wings in 2026, sure to improve the city’s #43 Museums ranking.