Tokyo named world’s most liveable city for tech workers

Seoul and Singapore are also amongst the top 10 cities.

Singapore has been named one of the world’s most liveable cities for tech workers, ranking seventh in Savills’ inaugural Matcha Index, a new global study that measures urban liveability through café culture, matcha affordability and quality. Tokyo, London and Seoul took the top three spots respectively.

The Index forms part of Savills’ broader Tech Cities research, which explores the lifestyle factors that help technology hubs attract and retain talent. Using matcha lattes as a lens, the study highlights the growing role of café culture as a key component of the social infrastructure supporting modern tech ecosystems.

Savills’ analysis shows significant variation in the price of a matcha latte across global cities, ranging from just US$3.61 in Beijing to US$6.21 in New York. In Singapore, the average price stands at US$5.43, placing the city among the higher-cost markets in the Index, alongside established tech hubs such as London, where matcha lattes average US$5.54.

Despite its relatively higher prices, Singapore performs strongly on overall liveability for tech workers, underpinned by widespread café availability, quality offerings and strong connectivity.

According to Sulian Tan-Wijaya, Executive Director of Retail & Lifestyle at Savills Singapore, the city’s café scene has evolved rapidly in recent years. “Singapore has a vibrant and rich café culture. Besides the strong presence of established and new coffee chains, our café culture has evolved to embrace anything matcha, which you can find in lattes, gelato, cakes and even bubble tea,” she said.

“Matcha is also a favourite among health-conscious consumers. Interestingly, Singapore is also an early adopter of the emerging trend of matcha rave parties—innovative, alcohol-free events combining wellness and nightlife.”

At the top of the Index, Tokyo stands out for balancing affordability with vibrancy, with matcha lattes averaging US$4.66. The Japanese capital blends its deep-rooted tea traditions with a modern tech lifestyle, making it particularly attractive to young professionals. Seoul follows closely, with an average matcha latte price of US$4.15, reflecting its strong café culture and relative affordability.

Savills notes that the rise of matcha as the preferred drink among tech workers mirrors broader lifestyle shifts within the sector. Valued for its slow-release energy and perceived health benefits, matcha aligns with a growing emphasis on wellness and work-life balance.

Charlotte Rushton, Associate in the Savills World Research team, said the findings reveal a clear pattern across leading tech cities. “The Matcha Index reveals that tech cities which successfully blend lifestyle and innovation tend to thrive. While the Index may appear playful, it underscores a serious truth: vibrant café cultures, whether centred on espresso or matcha, are vital to urban liveability and connectivity.”

“These spaces foster spontaneous interactions, networking, and a seamless blend of work and leisure, making them essential to the social fabric of modern tech hubs,” she added.

Source: Savills Research. Availability of matcha: number of coffee shops and share that serve matcha; Quality of coffee shops: Number of third wave coffee shops and average rating; Affordability of matcha: average cost of a matcha latte in USD.