Safety is the one score on this site we'd never suggest trading away for a better dating scene or a cheaper rent — it's the difference between a bad night and a genuine emergency in a country where you don't speak the language and don't know the system. This list takes every city in our database with a dating scene score of 6/10 or higher, so it's still a realistic shortlist and not just "anywhere quiet," and sorts what's left purely by safety score, highest first.
A few patterns show up immediately: East Asia (Singapore, Seoul, Taipei) and several Central European capitals (Prague, Kraków, Warsaw, Budapest) dominate the top of the list, alongside a handful of Southeast Asian and Eastern European cities that combine strong safety with a real dating scene. None of this means the cities further down are dangerous — every entry on every list here already clears a baseline; this ranking just orders them by how far above that baseline they sit.
Every city below links to its safety-concerns section, which names the specific scam patterns reported there — read it before you travel, not after.
| # | City | Best for | Dating | Safety | English | Cost / mo | Safety score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore 🇸🇬 Singapore | English speakers, Safety first, Remote work | 7 | 9.5 | 9.5 | $2,500 | 9.5 |
| 2 | Dubai 🇦🇪 UAE | English speakers, Safety first, Remote work | 7 | 9 | 9 | $2,000 | 9.0 |
| 3 | Taipei 🇹🇼 Taiwan | Safety first, Remote work, Easy visa | 7 | 9 | 7 | $1,100 | 9.0 |
| 4 | Seoul 🇰🇷 South Korea | Safety first, Remote work | 6.5 | 9 | 6.5 | $1,300 | 9.0 |
| 5 | Krakow 🇵🇱 Poland | Tight budgets, Safety first, Remote work | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7 | $700 | 8.5 |
| 6 | Lisbon 🇵🇹 Portugal | English speakers, Safety first, Remote work | 7.5 | 8.5 | 8 | $1,200 | 8.5 |
| 7 | Prague 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | Safety first, Remote work | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7 | $1,000 | 8.5 |
| 8 | Bali 🇮🇩 Indonesia | Dating scene, Safety first, Easy visa | 8.5 | 8 | 7 | $800 | 8.0 |
| 9 | Barcelona 🇪🇸 Spain | Safety first, Remote work | 8 | 8 | 7.5 | $1,500 | 8.0 |
| 10 | Chiang Mai 🇹🇭 Thailand | Tight budgets, Safety first, Remote work | 8 | 8 | 6 | $700 | 8.0 |
Singapore, Singapore
Southeast Asia · safety score 9.5/10
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to u · CC BY 4.0
Why Singapore ranks #1
Singapore is the safest city in our entire database at 9.5/10 — low street crime, strict enforcement and a first-world police response are the whole story. The trade-off is cost (~$2500/mo, the highest on this site) and a dating scene score of 7/10 that's more "efficient" than exciting.
Where to base yourself: Marina Bay, Orchard, Clarke Quay, Tiong Bahru. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Coffee Meets Bagel, CMB.
Watch out for: Strict law enforcement (Low severity).
Dubai, UAE
Middle East · safety score 9.0/10
Photo: Norlando Pobre · CC BY 2.0
Why Dubai ranks #2
Dubai's safety score of 9/10 reflects strict law enforcement and very low street crime, but the trade-off is cost (~$2000/mo) and a more restrictive, conservative dating culture (score 7/10) than almost anywhere else on this list.
Where to base yourself: Dubai Marina, JBR, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Happn, OkCupid.
Watch out for: Strict morality laws (Moderate severity).
Taipei, Taiwan
East Asia · safety score 9.0/10
Photo: 毛貓大少爺 · CC BY-SA 2.0
Why Taipei ranks #3
Taipei matches Seoul at 9/10 for safety, with low violent crime and an easy night-market culture. English (7/10) is solid among younger residents; the dating scene score (7/10) rewards a longer-term, relationship-first approach over quick turnarounds.
Where to base yourself: Da'an, Xinyi, Zhongshan, Songshan. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Pairs, Coffee Meets Bagel.
Watch out for: Typhoon season (Moderate severity).
Seoul, South Korea
East Asia · safety score 9.0/10
Photo: Eunmi Park · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why Seoul ranks #4
Seoul scores 9/10 on safety — walking home late at night is genuinely unremarkable there. Dating culture (6.5/10) moves through apps like Amanda and couple-culture norms that reward patience; English (6.5/10) is workable in the center but weaker outside it.
Where to base yourself: Gangnam, Hongdae, Itaewon, Myeongdong. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Amanda, GLAM.
Watch out for: Drink spiking in Itaewon (Low severity).
Krakow, Poland
Eastern Europe · safety score 8.5/10
Photo: Andrzej Otrębski · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why Krakow ranks #5
Kraków ties Prague at 8.5/10 for safety and is meaningfully cheaper (~$700/mo). English (7/10) is strong, especially around the university-heavy Old Town and Kazimierz.
Where to base yourself: Old Town, Kazimierz, Podgórze, Krowodrza. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Badoo, Sympatia.
Watch out for: Drink spiking in clubs (Low severity).
Lisbon, Portugal
Western Europe · safety score 8.5/10
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL · CC BY-SA 2.0
Why Lisbon ranks #6
Lisbon posts a safety score of 8.5/10, among the highest in Western Europe on this list, alongside English at 8/10 — nearly everyone under 40 speaks it. The dating scene score (7.5/10) is good but not the top pick if that's your only priority.
Where to base yourself: Príncipe Real, Chiado, Bairro Alto, Santos. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Happn, Inner Circle.
Watch out for: Pickpocketing on tram 28 (Moderate severity).
Prague, Czech Republic
Eastern Europe · safety score 8.5/10
Photo: Moyan Brenn from Italy · CC BY 2.0
Why Prague ranks #7
Prague scores 8.5/10 on safety, tied for the highest in Europe on this list, with English at 7/10 in the center. The dating scene score (7.5/10) is solid without the intensity of Warsaw or Budapest.
Where to base yourself: Prague 1, Prague 2, Vinohrady, Karlín. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Badoo, Happn.
Watch out for: Pickpocketing on public transport (Low severity).
Bali, Indonesia
Southeast Asia · safety score 8.0/10
Photo: Grayswoodsurrey · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why Bali ranks #8
Bali scores 8/10 on safety, the highest of any Southeast Asian city on this list — petty theft and scooter accidents are the real risks, not violent crime. Dating scene score (8.5/10) is strong, and English (7/10) is solid in nomad hubs like Canggu and Ubud.
Where to base yourself: Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, Sanur. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Indonesia Cupid, Badoo.
Watch out for: Motorbike accidents (High severity).
Barcelona, Spain
Western Europe · safety score 8.0/10
Why Barcelona ranks #9
Barcelona scores 8/10 on safety — petty theft (pickpocketing, phone snatching) is the real risk category here, not violent crime. English (7.5/10) and dating scene score (8/10) are both strong, at a higher cost (~$1500/mo) than most of this list.
Where to base yourself: Eixample, Gràcia, El Born, Poblenou. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Happn, OkCupid.
Watch out for: Pickpocketing on Las Ramblas (High severity).
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Southeast Asia · safety score 8.0/10
Photo: Nawit science · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why Chiang Mai ranks #10
Chiang Mai scores 8/10 on safety, higher than Bangkok or Pattaya, with a slower pace and a large long-term expat community. Dating scene score (8/10) is solid but smaller in absolute numbers than Thailand's bigger cities.
Where to base yourself: Nimman, Old City, Santitham, Chang Phueak. Apps that work: Tinder, Thai Friendly, ThaiCupid, Bumble.
Watch out for: Air pollution in burning season (Moderate severity).
Honorable mentions
Just outside the top 10. Each is a strong pick if its trade-offs suit you.
How we ranked this list
Cities are filtered to a dating scene score of 6/10 or higher, then ranked purely by safety score, highest first — no blending with cost, English or anything else. Safety scores in our database are compiled from government travel advisories, crime indices and reported incidents; where two cities tie, order between them isn't meaningful.
Cities under an active government "do not travel" advisory (Kyiv, currently) are excluded from every ranked list on this site regardless of score — see the Kyiv city page for why. Nothing on this list is sponsored; see the full method, and the safety ratings page for every city's score side by side.
Frequently asked questions
How is safety scored?+
Each city carries a 1–10 safety score in our database, compiled from government travel advisories, crime indices and reported incidents, then cross-checked against our safety-concerns data for specific, named risks. This list sorts every city that also clears a dating scene score of 6/10 by that safety score, highest first.
Does a high safety score mean zero risk?+
No. Treat it as a floor, not a guarantee. Every city on this list still has its own scam patterns — read the 'Watch out for' note and the full city guide's safety section before you go, and take the same basic precautions (public first dates, watch your drink, don't flash cash) everywhere.
Why is Singapore ranked so far above cities with similar dating scene scores?+
Singapore's safety score is the highest of any city in our database by a wide margin, which this ranking weights on its own — it isn't blended with cost or dating culture. If overall value matters more to you than safety specifically, see our best cities for single men ranking instead.
Are any cities excluded from this list for safety reasons?+
Yes. Cities under an active government do-not-travel advisory, currently Kyiv (for the war), are excluded from every ranked list on this site regardless of their underlying score.
How often is this list updated?+
The underlying safety and dating scene scores are reviewed periodically; this page reflects the database as of the date shown at the top.
More rankings
See how the same cities stack up on a different priority.
Compare all 41 cities
Filter by budget, region, safety or English level, or see everything on one map.