Curious about the coldest city in the world?

If you're seeking a place to call home and you don’t mind enduring bitterly cold winters, there are numerous cities to consider. Yet, some endure frigid months far beyond ordinary, where no amount of winter gear can truly make you comfortable. These cities are top contenders for the title of the coldest city in the world.

7 Coldest Cities in the World

Remember, these are cities; there are smaller, permanently inhabited settlements that experience even colder temperatures, but 'city' doesn't equate to 'remote village.' We're focusing on locations officially recognized as cities.

Now, without further delay, here's the list of the coldest cities in the world, ranked by their average January temperature (we'll delve into this more at the end of the list).

1. Yakutsk, Russia: -37°F (-38°C)

Situated in northern Russia, Yakutsk, with a population of approximately 300,000, stands out as a leading contender for the title of the world's coldest city. Despite being located roughly 280 miles (450 km) south of the Arctic Circle, it has a booming mining industry and a robust economy.

2. Norilsk, Russia: -16°F (-27°C)

In addition to Yakutsk, Norilsk is the only other major city located on continuous permafrost. Situated 186 miles (299 km) north of the Arctic Circle, it holds the title of the northernmost city on our list. Much like Yakutsk, Norilsk thrives as a mining town, but this industrial activity has contributed to significant pollution problems.

3. Yellowknife, Canada: -15°F (-26°C)

Yellowknife, the capital and only major city in Canada's Northwest Territories, is a place defined by extremes. In addition to its frigid winters, where temperatures can plummet to -60°F (-51°C), a record low set in 1947, Yellowknife boasts the sunniest spring and summer seasons of any Canadian city [source: CBC].

4. Fairbanks, Alaska: -8°F (-22°C)

Though Fairbanks is famous for its bitterly cold winters, it's surprisingly populous. With a metro area population nearing 100,000, it stands as the second-largest city in Alaska. Gold discovery in 1901 was the initial draw for settlers, setting off a gold rush in the region.

5. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: -6°F (-23°C)

Ulaanbaatar holds the title of the coldest national capital in the world. Situated at both a high latitude and a high altitude, it rests 4,300 feet (1,300 m) above sea level. In January 1957, the temperature plummeted to a chilling -47°F (-44°C), marking the city's record low.

6. Harbin, China: 1°F (-17°C)

Harbin, located in northeast China, is a large city known for its European and Russian influences on both its culture and architecture. With a population ranging from 9 to 10 million in the city and surrounding metro areas, Harbin also enjoys a booming tourism industry, particularly during its famous ice sculpture festival every winter.

7. International Falls, Minnesota: 5°F (-15°C)

A border city adjacent to Canada, International Falls has earned the nickname "Icebox of the Nation" due to its harshly cold winters. Although much smaller than other cities on this list, it is officially recognized as a city, with a population of 5,802 as per the 2020 census.

How We Measured the Coldest Cities

For this article, we focused on cities with the lowest average temperature in January, the coldest month in the Northern Hemisphere.

While you could consider the average temperatures across all winter months or the overall annual average temperature, we chose to measure based on the typical January low, as this is the standard metric used for such rankings.

In addition, we've included the lowest recorded temperatures in these cities to provide a glimpse of just how extreme the cold can get. As you'll notice, these places routinely experience bitterly cold winters, even as global temperatures rise due to human-driven climate change.

Why January? And Why the Northern Hemisphere?

Great question! After all, Antarctica is the coldest continent. But in the Southern Hemisphere, the coldest months are typically June or July. So, why are we focusing on the northern regions?

The primary reason is that the Northern Hemisphere has more inhabited landmass closer to the North Pole. When it comes to human settlements that can be classified as "cities," there simply aren't many in the Southern Hemisphere that are large and cold enough to make this list.

While Antarctica does indeed experience some of the most extreme cold on Earth and has permanent research stations, these aren't typically considered "cities" in the traditional sense. Therefore, we focused on cities in the Northern Hemisphere and their average January temperatures.