In partnership with the association “Villes & Villages où il fait bon vivre” (Cities & Villages where life is good), the Journal du Dimanche has published its famous Top 500 French cities with the best quality of life. Paris, which was already knocked out of the top 100 last year, continues its decline in 2026, confirming the downward trend that began several years ago.
The ranking that undermines the capital year after year
With its population in decline for several years, the capital is suffering from a palpable disenchantment that is prompting more and more of its inhabitants to jump ship. This decline in popularity can be explained in particular by a quality of life that is deteriorating over time. In any case, this is the conclusion reached by the association Villes & Village, which publishes an annual guide to French cities with more than 2,000 inhabitants that are pleasant to live in.
©JDD – Villes & Villages
Unsurprisingly, as the years go by, Paris’s rating continues to plummet. Ranked only 101st last year, the capital now finds itself in 107th place this year. This is quite an alarming situation, considering that the City of Lights was ranked 55th in the index five years ago. Safety, cleanliness, and real estate are often cited as the factors that let Paris down and drag the city’s ranking down.
In terms of methodology, the association scrutinizes 197 elements from 11 different categories. In addition to those mentioned above, there are other key factors such as education, health, and access to leisure and sports.
On the other hand, Biarritz retains its position as the number one city to live in, closely followed by Annecy, the little Venice of the Alps. Completing the podium is Angers, which has fallen one place compared to last year. Finally, Boulogne-Billancourt is the region’s best representative, coming in at 20th place.