• Time Out ranked the best cities in the world based on happiness, affordability, and quality of life.
• The magazine surveyed of over 24,000 participants across 150 cities, plus over 100 experts.
• The list is full of popular tourist destinations, with a few surprises.

Whether you're looking for a quick getaway or to plant roots overseas, there are plenty of places to choose from.

To make that decision a little easier, Time Out surveyed more than 24,000 people across 150 cities and used their insights to rank cities worldwide by happiness, affordability, and quality of life. They also asked 100 Time Out city experts to weigh in to bolster their results.

The survey questions went beyond recommendations for restaurants and nightlife and also sought to capture the feeling of living in each city.

The result is a comprehensive list of diverse cities, some of which are known for grandiose entertainment like F1 and others that are known for their historic museums and galleries.

No one region — or continent — commands the list, and while there are a few cities you'd expect to see, there are some that may surprise you. Check out which cities made the top 20.

Business Insider included population data from World Population Review, alongside housing and dining data from Numbeo, a crowdsourced comparison website that provides detailed cost-of-living information for major cities worldwide.

• Population: 843,071
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $825.60
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,397.99
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $70
• Cost of a cappuccino: $2.80

• Population: 6,834,320
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $954.70
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,471.23
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $70
• Cost of a cappuccino: $2.96

• Population: 5,656,180
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $698.40
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $899.03
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $45.90
• Cost of a cappuccino: $3.76

• Population: 1,339,000
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $804.50
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,282.55
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $58.33
• Cost of a cappuccino: $2.49

• Population: 769,354
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $873.20
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $959.88
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $54.81
• Cost of a cappuccino: $4.37

• Population: 7.4 million
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,078.40
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,175.46
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $63.84
• Cost of a cappuccino: $4.95

• Population: 23,168,700
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $702.5
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $692.18
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $47.08
• Cost of a cappuccino: $2.19

• Population: 1,409,680
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,359
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,955.30
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $125.28
• Cost of a cappuccino: $7.17

• Population: 14,023,100
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $631.50
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $646.10
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $39.23
• Cost of a cappuccino: $2.30

• Population: 1,466,850
• Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,902
• Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: 3,014.65
• Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $151.66
• Cost of a cappuccino: $7.20

Population: 36,953,600

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $940.40

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,150.92

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $44.17

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.41

Population: 10,050,200

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,042.90

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $868.85

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $60.88

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.65

Population: 11,543,900

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $694.70

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $704.87

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $37.48

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.95

Population: 23,016,800

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $799

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,158.86

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $57.26

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.88

Population: 5,147,500

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $732

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,027.98

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $48.63

Cost of a cappuccino: $2.40

Population: 8,346,955

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,661.90

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $4,215.09

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $140

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.75

Population: 9,927,020

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,486.30

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,957.81

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $107.40

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.45

Population: 568,163

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,195.2

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,603.44

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $107.40

Cost of a cappuccino: $5.16

Population: 31,049,800

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $594.40

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $884.08

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $29.28

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.04

Population: 5,464,920

Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,215.60

Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,728.24

Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $84.43

Cost of a cappuccino: $3.83