Auckland is New Zealand‘s largest city and the country’s financial and economic centre. Located between two harbours, there are beaches, hiking trails, and islands within a short distance of this popular destination in Oceania.
But what do leading rankings and indices have to say about Auckland, its economic performance, urban sustainability, city brand strength, and reputation?
Let’s take a closer look at:
- Economic competitiveness and financial performance
- City brand strength and global reputation
- How appealing it is for talent, investors, visitors, and locals
Overview of Auckland’s Performance Over Time
The following table offers an overview of Auckland’s overall performance across various international rankings. For a deeper analysis, our custom reports provide tailored insights for specific contexts, such as cities, regions, or countries.
| Ranking | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Brand Finance Global City Index | – | – | – | – | 46 | 65 | |
| Resonance World’s Best Cities | – | 98 | 83 | 68 | 64 | 48 | 47 |
| 2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index | 110 | – | – | – | 77 | – | – |
| Mercer Quality of Living Ranking | 3 | – | – | – | 3 | 5 | – |
| Mercer Cost of Living Ranking | 89 | 103 | 70 | 95 | 111 | 111 | – |
| Numbeo Cost of Living Index | – | 53 | 47 | 53 | 53 | 54 | 100 |
| Numbeo Quality of Life Index | – | 74 | 77 | 93 | 59 | 67 | 62 |
| IESE Cities in Motion Index | 35 | 35 | – | 59 | – | 60 | 42 |
Auckland City Brand Strength
According to the Brand Finance Global City Index, Auckland ranked 46th in 2023 and 65th in 2024, suggesting a dip in global perception.
In contrast, Resonance Consultancy‘s World’s Best Cities ranking shows a steady improvement, with Auckland rising from 98th in 2020 to 47th in 2025. These rankings highlight the city’s strong appeal in areas such as livability, cultural vibrancy, and overall brand strength.
The upward movement in the IESE Cities in Motion Index from 59th in 2022 to 42nd in 2025 also suggests advances in governance, environment, and urban development—key pillars of sustainable city performance.
Appeal to Investors and Business
Auckland has been featured in the 2Thinknow Innovation Cities Index, ranking 110th in 2019 and improving to 77th in 2023. This signals a strengthening innovation ecosystem and a favourable environment for new business development. However, the absence of Auckland in major global financial centre rankings points to untapped potential in financial services and business competitiveness.
Appeal to Talent
Auckland has long been recognised for its high quality of life, making it attractive to both talent and expatriates. It ranked 3rd globally in Mercer’s Quality of Living Ranking in both 2019 and 2023, and 5th in 2024, reaffirming its consistent performance in liveability (note: Mercer did not publish Quality of Living rankings from 2020 to 2022).
The Numbeo Quality of Life Index echoes this trend, ranking Auckland 62nd in 2025, an improvement from 93rd in 2022 (though much less favorable overall, compared to Mercer).
The Numbeo Cost of Living Index shows a strong rise in Auckland’s cost of living over time, with a 2025 ranking of 100 compared to 53 in 2020. This trend may pose a challenge to affordability for investors and businesses considering relocation or expansion.
Urban Sustainability
Auckland’s efforts toward sustainability and digital infrastructure are reflected in the IMD Smart City Index 2024, where it holds the 31st position globally and a ‘BBB’ rating. This ranking highlights the city’s commitment to integrating technology, sustainability, and efficient urban planning to improve the quality of urban life.
Our Key Takeaways
Auckland excels in providing a high quality of life and continues to make progress in smart city development and innovation. While its performance has improved in several key indices such as Resonance and IESE, a notable drop in the Brand Finance Global City Index between 2023 and 2024 suggests there is work to be done in maintaining global perception. The city has room to strengthen its presence in financial rankings and address rising costs, which may impact affordability for both talent and investors.
- Strengths: High quality of life, effective smart city initiatives, emerging innovation ecosystem.
- Weaknesses: Limited visibility in financial and economic rankings, rising cost of living.
- Opportunities: Expansion of the financial services sector, increased investment in research and development, enhancement of digital infrastructure.
- Threats: Brain drain to Australian cities, overreliance on real estate and tourism, affordability concerns for residents and businesses.
Last updated in April 2025. Explore more city profiles here.
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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Auckland’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, the data is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Please verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.
