The 25 Best Cities for Waterfalls in the World (2026)
Waterfalls are seasonal in a way most attractions aren't — the same fall can be a torrent or a trickle depending on the month. This ranking gives the height, the surrounding highlights, and crucially the season when there's actually water.
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Waterfall: Victoria Falls · Height: 354 ft · Highlights: World's largest sheet of falling water, Devil's Pool, bungee · Best season: Feb–May · Cost of living: ~$900/mo
- Niagara Falls, Canada
Waterfall: Niagara Falls · Height: 167 ft · Highlights: Horseshoe Falls, Maid of the Mist, illumination at night · Best season: Jun–Aug · Cost of living: ~$1,700/mo
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Waterfall: Iguaçu Falls (Brazilian side) · Height: 269 ft · Highlights: 275 cascades, panoramic walkways, Macuco Safari boat ride · Best season: Nov–Mar · Cost of living: ~$961/mo
- Reykjavik, Iceland
Waterfall: Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss · Height: 200 ft · Highlights: Golden Circle, walk-behind waterfall, rainbow mist · Best season: Jun–Aug · Cost of living: ~$2,849/mo
- Cusco, Peru
Waterfall: Gocta Falls (access from Cusco region) · Height: 2,530 ft · Highlights: One of world's tallest, jungle trek, cloud forest · Best season: May–Sep · Cost of living: ~$809/mo
- Bergen, Norway
Waterfall: Seven Sisters, Vøringsfossen · Height: 1,049 ft · Highlights: Fjord-fed cascades, Geirangerfjord cruises, viewing platforms · Best season: May–Sep · Cost of living: ~$2,539/mo
- Queenstown, New Zealand
Waterfall: Milford Sound falls (Stirling, Bowen) · Height: 505 ft · Highlights: Fiordland boat cruises, mist showers, Sutherland Falls access · Best season: Oct–Apr · Cost of living: ~$2,578/mo
- San Jose, Costa Rica
Waterfall: La Fortuna Waterfall · Height: 230 ft · Highlights: Swim at base, Arenal Volcano backdrop, hanging bridges · Best season: Dec–Apr · Cost of living: ~$1,449/mo
- Bali (Denpasar), Indonesia
Waterfall: Sekumpul, Gitgit, Tegenungan Falls · Height: 262 ft · Highlights: Jungle cascades, rice terrace settings, swimming holes · Best season: Apr–Oct · Cost of living: ~$1,311/mo
- Luang Prabang, Laos
Waterfall: Kuang Si Falls · Height: 200 ft · Highlights: Turquoise pools, jungle trail, bear rescue centre · Best season: Nov–Apr · Cost of living: ~$671/mo
- Honolulu, United States
Waterfall: Waimea Canyon, Akaka Falls · Height: 442 ft · Highlights: Grand Canyon of the Pacific, tropical cascades · Best season: Apr–Sep · Cost of living: ~$3,568/mo
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
Waterfall: Plitvice Lakes access / Krka Falls · Height: 255 ft · Highlights: 16 terraced lakes, UNESCO site, boardwalk trails · Best season: May–Sep · Cost of living: ~$1,700/mo
- Quito, Ecuador
Waterfall: Pailón del Diablo / San Rafael · Height: 262 ft · Highlights: Devil's Cauldron, Route of Waterfalls, cloud forest · Best season: Jun–Sep · Cost of living: ~$871/mo
- Kathmandu, Nepal
Waterfall: Davis Falls / Rupse Falls · Height: 500 ft · Highlights: Himalayan cascades, Pokhara lakeside, Annapurna treks · Best season: Sep–Nov · Cost of living: ~$431/mo
- Anchorage, United States
Waterfall: Mendenhall Ice Falls / Nugget Falls · Height: 377 ft · Highlights: Glacier-fed cascades, Mendenhall Glacier, ice cave access · Best season: Jun–Aug · Cost of living: ~$2,726/mo
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
Waterfall: Bambarakanda, Ravana, Diyaluma Falls · Height: 863 ft · Highlights: Highland tea country, train rides, jungle pools · Best season: Jan–Apr · Cost of living: ~$750/mo
- Bogota, Colombia
Waterfall: Tequendama Falls / La Chorrera access · Height: 515 ft · Highlights: Colombia's tallest waterfall system, cloud forest · Best season: Dec–Mar · Cost of living: ~$880/mo
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
Waterfall: Bua Tong (Sticky Waterfalls) / Mae Sa · Height: 330 ft · Highlights: Walk-up limestone cascade, jungle pools, Doi Suthep · Best season: Nov–Feb · Cost of living: ~$870/mo
- Lombok, Indonesia
Waterfall: Tiu Kelep & Sendang Gile Falls · Height: 148 ft · Highlights: Twin jungle waterfalls, Rinjani foothills, swimming · Best season: Apr–Oct · Cost of living: ~$740/mo
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
Waterfall: Kulen Mountain Waterfalls / Phnom Kulen · Height: 66 ft · Highlights: Sacred river carvings, jungle pools, temple ruins · Best season: Nov–Mar · Cost of living: ~$756/mo
- Athens, Greece
Waterfall: Edessa Waterfalls (day trip) · Height: 230 ft · Highlights: Greece's tallest waterfalls, behind-the-falls cave · Best season: Mar–Jun · Cost of living: ~$1,489/mo
- Manaus, Brazil
Waterfall: Cachoeira do Paricatuba / Amazon falls · Height: 49 ft · Highlights: Amazon jungle setting, Meeting of the Waters nearby · Best season: Jun–Nov · Cost of living: ~$775/mo
- Dalat, Vietnam
Waterfall: Datanla, Elephant, Pongour Falls · Height: 66 ft · Highlights: Alpine canyoning, jungle slides, highland coffee country · Best season: Oct–Mar · Cost of living: ~$520/mo
- Sedona, United States
Waterfall: Oak Creek / Slide Rock access (Sedona) · Height: 80 ft · Highlights: Red rock canyon swimming holes, Slide Rock State Park · Best season: Mar–Oct · Cost of living: ~$2,220/mo
- Ubud, Indonesia
Waterfall: Tegenungan & Kanto Lampo Falls · Height: 49 ft · Highlights: Rice terrace cascades, jungle walks, Instagrammable pools · Best season: Apr–Oct · Cost of living: ~$700/mo
Waterfall Cities FAQ
What is the best city for waterfalls in the world?
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe ranks #1 in Voyica's 2026 ranking of the 25 best cities for waterfalls. Waterfall: Victoria Falls. Height: 354 ft. Highlights: World's largest sheet of falling water, Devil's Pool, bungee. Best season: Feb–May. Living costs there run about $900 per month for one person including rent.
How much does it cost to live in the best cities for waterfalls?
Across the 25 ranked cities for waterfalls with cost data, the median cost of living is about $900 per month for one person including rent. The range runs from $431 in Kathmandu to $3,568 in Honolulu — a spread of roughly 8×, so the ranking position matters far less to your budget than which entry you pick.
Which are the most affordable cities for waterfalls?
The three cheapest ranked cities for waterfalls are Kathmandu, Nepal (~$431/mo); Dalat, Vietnam (~$520/mo); Luang Prabang, Laos (~$671/mo). Each figure is the estimated monthly cost for one person including rent.
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