Top 10 Cities for a Career in Finance

There are finance jobs to be found in nearly every city in the world, but some cities offer more potential than others. This article pinpoints 10 top cities across the globe for finance jobs and examines their language requirements, typical weather, cost of living, and other factors. All of these cities are expensive places to live, but they also offer plentiful and high-paying jobs in the finance industry. 

Here are 10 of the most popular cities for finance professionals (in alphabetical order).

1. Boston, Massachusetts, USA

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2023: 21
• Language: English
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $3.776 (2024)

Well-known for its asset management businesses, Boston is home to leading money management firms such as Fidelity Investments and Putnam Investments. Although employment in Boston can suffer during tough times, the job market for asset management professionals tends to be more stable than the job market for investment banking or trading. This stability makes Boston an appealing location for financial workers during economic recessions or market pullbacks.

Boston residents are particularly passionate about their sports teams, which have enjoyed mixed success recently. Boston is also a popular destination for American history buffs, and the city is relatively close to both beaches and mountains.

2. Chicago, Illinois, USA

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2023: 24
• Language: English
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $2,336 (2024)

Chicago is home to the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), making it a hot spot for futures and derivatives trading. Large banks and brokerage firms also often have offices in America’s “second city.” 

Chicago has a vibrant nightlife and sports teams as well as a thriving music scene; however, winters in the Windy City can feel colder than the temperatures indicate.

3. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2023: 18
• Language: Arabic
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $2,183 (2024)

Dubai is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world and is gaining recognition as a finance mecca as it attempts to become the financial capital of the Middle East. Many global financial institutions have rushed to open and staff regional offices here, making the city a popular destination for finance professionals.

International applicants might find that they can find work here even if they do not speak Arabic. While cosmopolitan, Dubai is still a Muslim city that follows the rule of Sharia Law (the religious legal system for the Islamic faith). The city allows alcohol consumption by non-Muslims, but there are strict rules that must be followed.

4. Frankfurt, Germany

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2023: 48
• Language: German
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $1,310 (2024)

Frankfurt is arguably the finance capital of continental Europe and is the home of German financial powerhouses, such as Deutsche Bank. Many international firms also keep their European headquarters in Frankfurt. 

Residents of Frankfurt enjoy extensive entertainment options as well as tourism hot spots throughout Germany and Europe. Frankfurt has been a destination for banks and other financial institutions that relocated from London after the Brexit vote.

5. Hong Kong, China

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2022: 1
• Language: Chinese, English
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $2,312 (2024)

Hong Kong is one of the top cities for finance jobs in Asia and a key gateway to China. As such, this is a rapidly growing market for a wide variety of brokerage, banking, wealth management, and trading jobs. While some employees may be able to get by speaking only English, knowledge of Chinese is an advantage.

Hong Kong is expensive and crowded, but it is also a vibrant, exciting city with some of the best shopping anywhere in the world. As Hong Kong is a regional airline hub, other parts of Asia are within easy reach. 

6. London, England

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2023: 17
• Language: English
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $2,801 (2024)

For those who do not view New York as the finance capital of the world, London is their answer. In addition to being the finance capital of the United Kingdom, nearly all of the large international banks and brokerage firms maintain a significant presence in London. The city is particularly strong in currency trading, commanding nearly twice the market share of its closest rivals.

Like New York, London suffered job losses during the credit crisis. After the Brexit vote, financial institutions moved a significant number of jobs out of the UK to other cities within the European Union (EU), leaving London under a cloud of uncertainty.

London is a hot spot for culture and nightlife with theater, fine dining, museums, pubs, sporting events, and easy access to continental Europe. However, the weather in London can be dreary, particularly in winter.

7. New York, New York, USA

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2023: 6
• Language: English
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $4,181 (2024)

New York City is typically considered the finance capital of the world. Many of the largest investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch, are headquartered in New York City. So too are several large banks, including Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase. Nearly every large global financial institution has a presence in New York. The city lost a large number of jobs during the credit crisis, but Wall Street is still the place to be.

The city that never sleeps is a hot spot for culture and nightlife with Broadway plays, fine dining, music and museums, clubs and bars, and sporting events.

8. San Francisco, California, USA

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2023: 14
• Language: English
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $3,690 (2024)

San Francisco is the finance capital of the western United States. There are many brokerage and banking firms with offices in the San Francisco area, such as Franklin Templeton Investments, headquartered in nearby San Mateo. As the gateway to Silicon Valley, San Francisco has a particular focus on the technology sector, and the Bay Area is the worldwide headquarters of the venture capital industry.

San Francisco boasts significant natural beauty with beaches and parks, and it is relatively close to many outdoor opportunities, making it a destination for city dwellers who enjoy the outdoors. While the weather in San Francisco can be foggy, temperatures are moderate.

9. Tokyo, Japan

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2023: 19
• Language: Japanese
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $975 (2024)

Japan has the world’s fourth-largest economy, slipping from third place in late 2023. Tokyo is home to most Japanese financial institutions’ headquarters and many international firms’ regional headquarters. Once considered a rival to New York for the title of world financial capital, Tokyo has slipped in importance in recent years as the Japanese economy and financial markets languished.

While there are opportunities, Tokyo is a difficult place to get a job if you do not speak Japanese. For those interested, working for an international financial firm and then requesting a transfer to Tokyo might be an idea.

10. Zurich, Switzerland

• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking for 2023: 3
• Language: German, French, English
• Average Monthly Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment: $2,481 (2024)

Zurich, the capital of the Swiss banking industry, offers a variety of finance jobs. Global giant UBS has its headquarters here, and the city is strong in wealth management and private banking. Applicants will have more success if they speak some German or French, but it may be possible for otherwise well-qualified, English-speaking-only applicants to find jobs.

Switzerland routinely ranks highly for overall quality of life. Natural beauty, clean air, low crime levels, relatively high incomes, and its cosmopolitan culture make Zurich a popular place to live.

The Bottom Line

All of the cities discussed in this article offer wonderful possibilities for job seekers. Prospective employees will find that there are no wrong choices on this list. While the world’s leading financial cities offer amazing job opportunities for qualified candidates, the cost of living might be the biggest factor when deciding to relocate.

Editor’s Note: Mercer is an international human resources company that offers financial advice, products, and services. The highest cost of living city is listed as No.1, and the comparison cities are rated in descending order. The listed rankings and the average monthly rental rates are as of 2023 and 2024, respectively.