Surpassing Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City is in the top 2 cities in the world that 'retain residents' best

According to the City Pulse 2025 report by Gensler Research Institute cited by The Independent Singapore News, Taipei (Taiwan), with 64% of residents surveyed saying they were "unlikely" or "very unlikely" to move, topped the list of cities with the best resident retention in the world in 2025.

PHOTO: TN

Closely following with a rate of 61%, Ho Chi Minh City excellently ranked 2nd, surpassing a series of other famous cities in the world such as: Singapore (59%), Sydney, Australia (58%) and Berlin, Germany (51%).

The study, conducted by the world’s largest architecture and design firm, looked at responses from 33,000 participants in 29 countries about their motivations for staying or leaving the city where they live. The survey results showed that while people choose to stay in their city because it fosters emotional connections and meaningful experiences, others tend to move to a new city in pursuit of financial security and physical health through a well-developed health system.

People will choose to move to cities where their basic needs are met. When asked to identify the most important qualities when deciding where to live, the majority of survey respondents said cost of living ranked highest (83%), followed by crime levels (81%), quality health care (80%), job opportunities (74%) and tax rates (70%). Additionally, climate change is another factor that many people are concerned about, as people tend to move away from cities that are vulnerable to it.

However, the report also found that while the need to have one's needs met makes people move, what keeps them in the city is enjoyment and a sense of belonging.

“The longer people live in a city, the less likely they are to leave, largely due to a deepening sense of pride and attachment. Urban vibrancy and attractiveness are the strongest motivators for people to choose to stay in their city,” added the Gensler Institute.