The Best And Worst Cities For Healthcare

Are you thinking about moving abroad? Alongside finding a place to live and settling into a new culture, it’s essential to consider your healthcare options. Take time to research the quality and accessibility of healthcare in your new country. If local healthcare provision may not meet your needs, an international health insurance policy can provide access to private medical treatment and a wider choice of healthcare providers.

You may have already read our guide to the best countries in the world for healthcare, and our run-down of the worst countries for healthcare. Now, to help you narrow it down even further, we’ve ranked the five best cities for medical care worldwide, along with the five worst cities.

In this article

• The best 5 cities for healthcare
• The 5 worst cities for healthcare

The best and worst cities for healthcare worldwide

While there is no universally agreed ranking of the world’s best cities for healthcare, as methodologies and evaluation criteria vary between organisations and research institutes, it is still possible to identify cities that consistently perform well across key healthcare measures. To create this list, we used recent figures from The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Health Organization.

We’ve also used data from Numbeo’s 2026 mid-year index of healthcare quality for major cities worldwide. Numbeo calculates its figures based on self-reported feedback from citizens of those cities, and is based on an amalgamation of scores assessing:

• Cost of healthcare
• Overall quality of the local healthcare system
• Numbers of healthcare professionals
• Quality of healthcare professionals
• Quality of medical equipment

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The 5 best cities for healthcare

Our top five cities with the best healthcare globally are:

1. Seoul, South Korea
2. The Hague, Netherlands
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Madrid, Spain
5. Tokyo, Japan

1/ Seoul, South Korea

Topping our leaderboard is the capital of South Korea, Seoul.

South Korea dominates the leaderboards in the health category for developed OECD countries and has one of the highest life expectancies in the world at 83.5 years.

The country has an exceptional track record when it comes to medical technology and no fewer than four hospitals in Seoul featured in Newsweek and Statista’s ranking of the world’s best hospitals 2026, making Seoul a true powerhouse when it comes to quality of healthcare.

Each hospital was scored by Statista and Newsweek based on:

• Recommendations from medical experts
• Hospital quality metrics
• Existing patient experience data
• Statista’s Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Implementation Survey (PROMs) 

Seoul was also rated highly by Numbeo in its 2026 healthcare overview, with all eight of the healthcare components ranking as high or very high. Its highest score, at 90.7%, was for ‘equipment for modern diagnosis and treatment’, demonstrating Seoul’s commitment to innovation and technology.

If you choose to move to Seoul, you should find it easy to access the best medical treatments – and, better yet, as an expat, your health insurance contributions will be paid for by your South Korean employer.

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2/ The Hague, Netherlands

While you may have expected to see Amsterdam on this list, it is actually The Hague that has been named one of the best cities for healthcare. As the seat of the Dutch government and parliament, The Hague is also an important international centre, home to a range of healthcare and medical institutions.

Big names like AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly make the region a real hotspot for medical technology and innovation, a culture that influences The Hague’s well-equipped and forward-thinking hospitals. HagaZiekenhuis and Haaglanden Medisch Centrum (HMC) are the two teaching hospitals in the Hague providing top clinical care using the best specialists and the newest medical tech.

A small city in a small country, The Hague benefits from its strong connections to other cities, and its role as the political capital of The Netherlands. The Dutch spend 10% of their GDP on healthcare, above average for OECD countries, and an impressive 83% of people say they are satisfied with the healthcare.

If a healthy lifestyle is important to you, you’ll find yourself in good company. In 2025, rates of smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity in the Netherlands were lower than OECD averages.

If you need over-the-counter advice, there are 79 pharmacies in the Hague. However, across the country as a whole, the number of pharmacists per person is lower than in similar European countries. 

While it may be small, The Hague sets a fantastic example to other cities worldwide when it comes to great quality healthcare. It was also named number one city in the world for quality of life by Numbeo in its mid-year 2026 report.

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3/ Zurich, Switzerland

If you move to Zurich, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to world-leading healthcare. Zurich’s Universitätsspital hospital (USZ) ranks number one in Switzerland and number nine in the world, according to Statista and Newsweek’s study in 2026.

The hospital is thought to have first existed as early as 1204, and is now famous for world-leading research and cutting edge medical technology. Another of Zurich’s hospitals, Klinik Hirslanden Zürich also features high in the top 100, at number 59.

Across Switzerland as a whole, rates of physical activity are higher than the OECD average and rates of self-reported obesity are lower than the average. Smoking, however, is slightly higher than average across the 32 OECD countries. 

With its clean air, active lifestyles and world-leading healthcare, it’s no wonder Zurich was named fifth in a BBC report of the top ten most liveable cities in the world in 2026. 

If you become an expat in Zurich, remember that healthcare is not free to access in Switzerland and expats must have health insurance. As one of the most expensive countries in the world, you do not want to be paying medical expenses out-of-pocket while living in Switzerland.

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4/ Madrid, Spain

Spain’s appearance on this list may come as no surprise. We’ve previously named Spain one of the healthiest countries in the world, thanks in part to its strong focus on sports and leisure and its globally renowned Mediterranean diet. Last year, we featured Valencia on this list, but this time it’s the capital Madrid that takes the crown.

Madrid has rightfully earned its place. The Spanish capital boasts one of the most efficient healthcare systems in Europe and tops the leaderboards across Spain for a number of quality of life indicators. Among the many metrics to recommend Madrid are that it has the highest life expectancy at birth across the EU at 85.7.

Madrid is also home to the world-class teaching and research centres Hospital Universitario La Paz and Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, both of which feature in Statista and Newsweek’s top 50 hospitals in the world, 2026.

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5/ Tokyo, Japan

As one of the top ten countries in the world for medical care, Japan has an extremely efficient healthcare system and world-renowned life expectancy figures.

Its capital Tokyo is home to the University of Tokyo Hospital which was named 13^th best hospital in the world in 2026 by Statista and Newsweek. A world leader in health research, medical technology and patient care, the University of Tokyo Hospital is also well known for its neurology department.

And like Seoul, Tokyo was rated highly by Numbeo in its 2026 mid-year healthcare overview, with all eight of the healthcare components assessed ranking as high or very high. Its highest score, of 84.5%, was for ‘friendliness and courtesy of staff’.

Tokyo also outranked Singapore, another healthcare high-hitter, according to Numbeo in its 2026 city comparison. Tokyo’s most impressive scores, when compared to Singapore, were in ‘equipment for modern diagnosis and treatment’ and ‘satisfaction with cost to patient’.

Alongside Zurich, Tokyo also features on the BBC’s list of the world’s most liveable cities 2026.

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The 5 worst cities for healthcare

Identifying the world’s worst cities for healthcare is challenging because reliable city-level healthcare data is often limited.

Our selection combines available healthcare quality indices with reporting from international organisations including the WHO, UNICEF, and the OECD on healthcare access, infrastructure, staffing and health outcomes.

1. Caracas, Venezuela
2. Dhaka, Bangladesh
3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4. Cairo, Egypt
5. Lagos, Nigeria

1/ Caracas, Venezuela

Underpinned by spiralling inflation and rising poverty rates, Venezuela is facing a severe healthcare crisis, with its public health system struggling to meet the needs of the population.

In 2026, The Lancet reported that Venezuela’s public health system can barely provide the most essential health services. The overall situation has been made worse since two huge earthquakes that occurred in June 2026.

The lack of availability of basic medicines and vaccines has led to a resurgence of rare communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and diphtheria, while rates of malaria have been increasing too. These diseases have caused infant mortality to rise, with 24 in every 1,000 children passing away before the age of five. 

Experts have called the situation in Venezuela a humanitarian crisis. They have focused the spotlight on the capital city of Caracas, where a lack of clean water is further exacerbating the situation, which was already desperate due to a lack of medical equipment and staff.

Any expats intending to relocate to Caracas should look to invest in suitable international health insurance that includes medical evacuation cover, allowing access to private healthcare providers locally and, where necessary, treatment elsewhere in the region.

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2/ Dhaka, Bangladesh

As millions of Bangladeshis rush to seek new opportunities in the country’s metropolitan areas, Dhaka has become one of the fastest-growing cities on earth. With its population already standing at 36 million, Dhaka is growing exponentially and stands to become the world’s largest city by 2050.

This rapid influx to Dhaka has pushed many incoming citizens to slums on the city’s outskirts, where they find a lack of adequate sanitation, clean water and medical facilities. The dirty air and rivers create the ideal breeding grounds for diseases to spread, and this is causing an unprecedented healthcare crisis.

Dengue is a particularly serious concern in Dhaka. The number of cases remains high with an ever-increasing fatality rate. The spread of dengue also opens the door to other vector-borne illnesses, such as malaria and chikungunya, to spread unimpeded during rainy seasons.

Currently less than 1% of Bangladeshis have health insurance coverage. This means most people have to pay for medical care from their savings, if they have any.

If you are thinking of living in Dhaka as an expat, it is worth knowing that the Economic Times ranked it the third least liveable city in the world in 2026. It’s worth considering fully comprehensive private medical insurance before moving to Bangladesh. This will ensure you will have access to private medical facilities, as well as essential prescriptions including anti-malarial drugs.

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3/ Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Brazil has historically faced major challenges in the healthcare arena. It ranked close to the bottom the last time the WHO released its ranking of healthcare systems and has one of the lowest life expectancies in the OECD.

There are many reasons why healthcare in Brazil is struggling, including the country’s slow move towards digitisation of healthcare records, its failure to invest in preventative care and – perhaps most prevalent of all – inequality.

This is where the story moves to Rio de Janeiro, a city known for its contrasts. While renowned for its spectacular coastline and lively atmosphere, Rio also has a large number of favelas, highlighting the social and economic inequalities that exist across the city.

Healthcare infrastructure in Rio’s wealthier districts is of a decent quality and rapidly improving (indeed, the healthcare budget in Brazil has risen to 9.4% of GDP in recent years). In the favelas, however, the healthcare infrastructure is constantly on the brink of collapse.

Up-to-date statistics are hard to come by for the healthcare situation in Rio’s favelas, but historic data has shown that the infant mortality rate is five times higher in the favelas than wealthier neighbourhoods.

As with many other slums around the world, Rio de Janeiro’s favelas often face limited access to quality sanitation and clean water, creating conditions that can accelerate the spread of disease. However, they are also affected by high levels of violent crime, which contribute to injuries and a range of long-term health complications.

As an expat moving to Rio, you will be able to take part in Brazil’s state-funded healthcare system. However, it is worth considering international health insurance, which can provide access to private healthcare facilities and greater flexibility in how and where you receive treatment.

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4/ Cairo, Egypt

Despite Cairo’s economic development over recent decades, the city’s healthcare infrastructure has fallen by the wayside, which has sadly placed it amongst the worst in the world for major cities.

After decades of under-funding, Egypt is consistently one of the lowest-performing countries in the Arab world for several key health metrics, having one of the highest rates of deaths from cancer and cardiovascular disease, and one of the shortest life expectancies. However, in 2026 the government announced the 100 Million Healthy Lives initiative focusing on early detection of heart disease.

Cairo, and Egypt in general, has come on leaps and bounds in some areas of healthcare over the last century, including infant mortality which is around 12 per 1,000 births, compared to 210 per 1,000 births in the 1960s. Average life expectancy is 71.8, compared to 58 in the 1980s.

While expats will be expected to pay for medical treatment in Cairo, the city has a good number of private hospitals, which is an advantage for any expat intending to move to Egypt. If you are planning to relocate to Cairo, it’s worth considering taking out private medical insurance to ensure you have access to high-quality treatment.

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5/ Lagos, Nigeria

Another of the world’s fastest-growing cities, Lagos in Nigeria is experiencing many of the same problems as other rapidly-expanding metropoles. Huge swathes of inward migration have rocked the city with an acute health crisis, which is made worse by the fact Nigeria is in the middle of a humanitarian health crisis.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is severely lacking in maternal, neonatal and infant healthcare. Infant mortality is steadily declining but is still worryingly high, at 70 per 1,000 births. Rates of stillbirths are also high.

Transmissible diseases are a big problem in Lagos, especially as Nigeria is lagging behind other countries when it comes to vaccination rates. This has created a situation where diseases such as malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea are able to thrive. Alongside this, according to UNICEF, Nigeria has one of the world’s largest populations of impoverished and severely malnourished children.

Another issue that has affected Lagos is that many doctors have gone on strike due to welfare concerns and unpaid wages. A crisis in healthcare leadership has led to widespread dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals, which has caused many highly-skilled doctors and nurses to desert the sector, leading to a ‘brain drain’ of medical expertise.

There is a long way to go to fix the situation in Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos, and until that happens, expats living in Lagos are advised to seek private health insurance to help access high-quality medical care from the private healthcare sector, including private hospitals such as Duchess International Hospital, Lagoon Hospital and Reddington Hospital.

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Frequently asked questions on cities with the best and worst healthcare

Which city has the best healthcare in the world?

Based on our analysis of healthcare quality, specialist facilities, patient outcomes and medical technology, Seoul ranks as the best city for healthcare in 2026–27.

What makes a city’s healthcare system good?

Factors include access to hospitals, availability of specialists, patient outcomes, medical technology, waiting times, healthcare affordability and overall patient satisfaction.

Which cities are best for expats who need healthcare?

Cities including Seoul, Zurich, Madrid, Tokyo and The Hague offer strong healthcare infrastructure and access to both public and private medical facilities, making them attractive destinations for expats.

Which city has the worst healthcare in the world?

There is no universally recognised ranking of the world’s worst cities for healthcare, and reliable city-level healthcare data is often limited. In many parts of the world, organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and OECD publish healthcare statistics at a national rather than city level.

For this reason, our list combines available healthcare quality indices with reports from organisations on healthcare access, infrastructure, staffing levels and health outcomes.

Cities featured in our lowest-ranked group face significant challenges in one or more of these areas, but that does not mean every hospital, healthcare professional or treatment option in those cities is poor.

Healthcare quality can vary considerably between neighbourhoods, providers and public versus private facilities. Expats living in cities with healthcare challenges can often access good quality private care, particularly when supported by comprehensive international health insurance.

Can expats use public healthcare abroad?

This depends on the country. Some countries allow expats to access public healthcare after obtaining residency or making social insurance contributions, while others require private health insurance.

Learn more about accessing public healthcare abroad

What is the difference between healthcare quality and healthcare accessibility?

A city may have excellent hospitals but limited access due to waiting times, cost or insurance requirements. The best healthcare destinations balance both quality and accessibility.

What is preventive healthcare?

And how can you find it as an expat?

Health insurance designed especially for expats

Thinking of moving to a new city? Make sure you’ve taken out international health insurance.

At William Russell, we have over 30 years’ experience helping expats find health insurance that suits their needs when moving abroad. Our policies give you the freedom to choose where you receive treatment, with access to inpatient care at any eligible hospital within your area of cover, so you can feel confident you’ll have access to quality medical care when you need it most.

Get an online quote today and start your new life abroad with total peace of mind.

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