TBPN city tier list: US cities dominate, European capitals get dunked on
Sep 3, 2025
Key Points
- Guest Mert Helios ranks Moscow and Tokyo in S tier while demoting Paris, Berlin, and Rome to C tier, treating the list as engagement bait rather than serious analysis.
- The hosts acknowledge the tier list deliberately violates conventional hierarchies to trigger disagreement, but neither questions whether the rankings reflect actual quality of life.
- The list privileges startup density and tech talent concentration over cultural institutions, reflecting founder-focused priorities rather than broader city evaluation.
Summary
Mert Helios posted a city tier list ranking Moscow and Tokyo in S tier, New York in A tier, and Paris, Berlin, Lisbon, and Rome in C tier alongside Chicago and Seoul. Los Angeles drops to D tier. Austin, Dubai, and Singapore land in B tier with San Francisco. London does not appear on the list.
One host agrees LA belongs in D tier, calling the city itself "mid" despite living in the county. The other notes the list works because it violates the conventional hierarchy treating Paris and Berlin as premium destinations. Austin above Paris and Berlin reads as deliberately provocative.
Neither host interrogates whether Moscow or Tokyo actually deliver a better day-to-day experience than London or Amsterdam. They treat the tier list as successful engagement bait that generates predictable disagreement. The list privileges startup density and tech worker concentration over cultural institutions or historical significance. For this podcast's audience, founders care about where capital and talent concentrate, not where tourists go.