There are many ways to measure the wealth of a city, but if we’re going by straight financials, there’s only really one metric that matters, GDP. You can have rich culture or a lot of billionaires living there, but economically, this is the most fair way to assemble a list like this. Missing are a few flashy cities of wealth like Dubai and Vegas, and you’ll see which places made the cut below.
[Photo via Scott Olson / Getty]
10. Shanghai, China (GDP: $516.5 billion)
With how much the Chinese economy is booming as of late, it might be a surprise that the only Chinese city on the list isn’t higher. But expect Shanghai to rise in the future as it continues to expand, producing anything and everything from chemicals to steel to video game consoles.
[Photo via ChinaFotoPress / Getty]
9. Moscow, Russia (GDP: $520.1 billion)
Russia may not quite be the superpower it once was, but Moscow is still a powerful force in the world’s economy, supplying a huge amount of the country’s vital resources.
[Photo via Brendan Hoffman / Stringer]
8. Chicago, US (GDP: $524.6 billion)
One of three US cities on this list (can you guess the other two?), Chicago remains a powerhouse in publishing ,manufacturing, printing and many other industries.
[Photo via Scott Olson / Getty]
7. Osaka, Japan (GDP: $654.8 billion)
You may not have expected to see Osaka here, but the Japanese city his extremely prosperous, as well as historically and culturally rich. They manufacture many metals, textiles and plastic, and do quite well in the agricultural sector as well.
[Photo via Buddhika Weerasinghe / Stringer]
6. Paris, France (GDP: $669.2 billion)
It should be no surprise that the tourism capital of the world is sitting this high up on the list, and every year millions flock to the city for high fashion and fantastic food. Paris remains the ultimate dream vacation for many, which is responsible for its booming economy.
[Photo via Frederic T Stevens / Stringer]
5. London, England (GDP:$731.2 billion)
London blends European tourism with a huge financial industry that’s one of the banking capitals of the world. It’s an incredibly rich city and there’s little wonder it’s in the top five wealthiest in the world.
[Photo via Neil P. Mockford / Stringer]
4. Seoul, South Korea (GDP: $779.3 billion)
The last four spots will be a duel between the US and Asia. Seoul is an enormously profitable city specializing in electronics, textiles and metals. It also boasts the world’s fastest internet speeds, which helps its status as perhaps the world’s most technologically integrated country.
[Photo via Chung Sung-Jun / Staff]
3. Los Angeles, US (GDP: $789.7 billion)
LA is mostly known for Hollywood, its big business is entertainment which is exported all around the world. But also helping GDP are the thriving financial and banking sectors in the city.
[Photo via Jason Merritt / Staff]
2. New York, US (GDP: $1,210 billion)
Now we take an enormous leap forward, almost $400 billion worth, to land on New York as the number two city. Surprised it’s not number one? You might be, considering New York is a huge hub for practically every type of business and tourism there is.
[Photo via Andrew Burton / Getty]
1. Tokyo, Japan (GDP: 1,520 billion)
Finally, we take another big jump and land on Tokyo who takes home the crown. After a stunning recovery post-World War II, Tokyo has risen to become the premiere worldwide leader in electronics and telecom, and secures the top spot by a mile.
[Photo via Adam Pretty / Getty]
