The 10 most fun cities in the US, ranked
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- A WalletHub study ranked 182 of the most-populated cities in the US by how fun they are.
- The study compared cities based on categories like costs and nightlife and parties.
- Las Vegas was ranked the No. 1 most fun city in the country.
As 2024 draws to a close, it's already time to start plotting next year's travels.
So, if you're looking for a fun city to explore — or an exciting new place to ring in 2025 — WalletHub's latest report offers a look at 182 US cities ranked based on how fun they are.
The personal finance outlet first identified the 150 most-populated cities in the US, as well as at least two of each state's most-populated cities. Then, to measure "fun," it compared those cities across three categories: entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and costs. For those categories, 65 different metrics were considered, such as the number of attractions, the acres of parkland per capita, bar accessibility, cost of living, and average prices for beer and wine.
WalletHub said the data used in its report was compiled from the US Census Bureau, the Council for Community and Economic Research, Numbeo, Yelp, and previous WalletHub studies, among other sources, and was accurate as of November 4.
The most fun cities in the US "provide a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities for all types of interests, from sports to theaters to arcades, and they have plenty of diverse restaurants to try," analyst Chip Lupo said.
From Las Vegas to New Orleans, here are the 10 most fun cities in the US, according to WalletHub.
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The 10th most fun city in the US is New York.
It received two top-10 rankings in entertainment and recreation, and nightlife and parties, placing fifth and eighth, respectively, out of the 182 cities.
According to WalletHub, the city is tied for the most park playgrounds per capita and has the fourth most dance clubs per capita. A previous WalletHub study also ranked New York as the fourth-best sports city in the country.
However, New York ranked last among the 182 cities for costs, as the cost of living database Numbeo reported that New York is the most expensive city in the country.
In addition to cost of living, WalletHub compared costs of items like wine, movie tickets, and average fitness-club fees. In New York, a mid-range bottle of wine and a movie ticket each cost about $20, while a one-month fitness-club fee costs nearly $150.
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Houston's highest ranking was as the No. 15 city for nightlife and parties, with WalletHub reporting that the city was tied for the most dance clubs per capita.
The "Space City" also received two top-25 rankings for entertainment and recreation and costs, finishing 23rd and 25th.
Numbeo reported that people in Houston's monthly fitness-club fee costs about $39, while a mid-range bottle of wine costs about $13, and a movie ticket costs $15.
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The "Windy City" ranked the eighth most fun city in the US, with 10th and 11th place finishes in entertainment and recreation and nightlife and parties, respectively.
According to WalletHub, Chicago was tied for the most park playgrounds and most restaurants per capita. It was also ranked the 15th best sports city in the country.
However, the city also struggled in the costs category, ranking 151st overall.
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The seventh most fun city is San Francisco, with top-10 rankings in entertainment and recreation, and nightlife and parties.
WalletHub reported the city was tied for the most festivals, restaurants, and dance clubs per capita.
However, San Francisco was one of the worst-ranked cities for costs, with WalletHub ranking the city 178 out of 182.
Similar to New York, people in San Francisco can expect to pay $17 for a movie ticket, $18 for a mid-range bottle of wine, and about $96 for a one month fitness-club membership, Numbeo reported.
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Austin's ranking as the sixth most fun city in the US could largely be credited to its position as the seventh-best city for nightlife and parties.
With the city's robust reputation for live music — it's known as the "Live Music Capital of the World" — residents and tourists can enjoy music venues, festivals like Austin City Limits and South by Southwest, and dance clubs (it's tied for the most per capita).
The city also ranked 18th in entertainment and recreation, and earned a mid-tier 50th place ranking for costs.
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As the home of the most famous Mardi Gras celebration in the country, it comes as little surprise that New Orleans would receive a top-five ranking for nightlife and parties.
"Crescent City" tied with San Francisco, Honolulu, Tampa, and Miami for the most festivals per capita, annually hosting the Essence Music Festival and the Voodoo Music and Arts Experience, among other events.
The city also placed 20th in entertainment and recreation as well as 76th in costs. In New Orleans, people can expect to pay around $15 for a movie ticket, $64 for one month at a fitness club, and $17 for a mid-range bottle of wine, according to Numbeo.
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The fourth most fun city in the US is Atlanta, which placed sixth in nightlife and parties and eighth in entertainment and recreation.
The city is home to a variety of music festivals, like SweetWater 420 Fest, Atlanta Jazz Festival, and Shaky Knees Music Festival, all of which contribute to the city's nightlife score.
Atlanta was also ranked as a top 15 city for sports fans.
Meanwhile, the city's lowest ranking was for costs, where it ranked 124th.
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The city synonymous with spring break — Miami — ranked third overall for fun, with top-10 rankings in entertainment and recreation and nightlife and parties.
According to WalletHub, the "Magic City" is tied for the most festivals and restaurants per capita, and it has the fourth most fitness centers and fifth most dance clubs per capita. The outlet added that more than 88% of Miami residents live within half a mile of the park, and that it is the country's leader for water sports opportunities.
And you can't forget about sports; with the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, and Inter Miami FC, the city ranked sixth overall for best sports cities in the country.
However, similar to other major cities on the list, Miami was hurt by the cost category, where it ranked 157th.
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The second most fun city in the US is Orlando, home of world renowned theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
But if rides aren't your thing, the city has plenty more to offer, as it tied for the most restaurants per capita and ranked second overall for nightlife and parties.
The city also has the second most fitness centers per capita and is the fifth best city for soccer fans, as both the MLS and NWSL have teams in Orlando (Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride).
And contrary to the rising prices of Disney tickets, the city itself isn't as expensive as some other major cities. It ranked 58th in the cost category, with Numbeo reporting the average movie ticket costs $15, a monthly fitness club membership costs about $40, and a mid-range bottle of wine costs $15.
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Last but not least, is Las Vegas. The most fun city in the US is ranked No. 1 in nightlife and parties and No. 2 in entertainment and recreation. (Honolulu took the top spot for entertainment and recreation, but ultimately did not make the list of top 10 fun cities.)
From casinos and dance clubs to sports stadiums, spas, and arcades, "Sin City" has it all. WalletHub reported that Las Vegas is tied with other cities for the most dance clubs, restaurants, and park playgrounds per capita.
All that fun doesn't have to break the bank, either. The city ranked 36th in costs, with $13 movie tickets, $25 monthly fitness memberships, and $15 bottles of wine.
