High-Altitude Living
The highest permanent settlements on Earth are often small mining or pastoral communities clinging to mountain slopes. For example:
- La Rinconada, Peru – 5,100 m (16,700 ft) above sea level, it is the world’s highest town . This gold-mining settlement (population ~30,000) lies on steep slopes, and residents endure chronic altitude sickness, freezing temperatures, and severe pollution. It is often described as a “lawless” boomtown with very basic infrastructure .
- Tuiwa (Tibet, China) – ~5,070 m (16,640 ft), population ~160 . A tiny pastoral village on the shore of Lake Puma Yumco, it is cited as the world’s second-highest permanent settlement . Tuiwa has only seasonal livestock herding and very few modern amenities.
- Wenquan (Golmud, China) – up to 4,870 m (15,980 ft) . A remote waystation along the Qinghai–Tibet Highway and railway, Wenquan consists of a cluster of buildings and military outposts at extreme altitude . It is often (incorrectly) listed in Guinness as a “city,” but in reality has just a few dozen residents (construction and road crews) .
- El Alto, Bolivia – ~4,150 m (13,615 ft) . A sprawling city of nearly 1 million people (974,754 in 2011 ) perched above La Paz, it is the world’s highest major metropolis . El Alto is rapidly growing and modernizing (cable cars connect it to La Paz), but life at this elevation involves intense UV exposure, cold nights, and thin air that even visitors feel.
- Santa Bárbara, Bolivia – ~4,774 m (15,660 ft) , population ~2,500 (2001) . This small mining town sits at the foot of Cerro Chorolque, a 5,552 m mountain rich in silver, tin and gold . It was once the highest Incan settlement and today survives on mining and a tiny, isolated community life.
- Komic (Himachal Pradesh, India) – ~4,587 m (15,050 ft) , population 130 (2011) . In the Spiti Valley, Komic is one of the world’s highest motorable villages. Its residents (all Tibetan Buddhists) keep livestock and celebrate a 500-year-old monastery. It is known for spectacular, pared-down Himalayan living and has even been noted as the site of the world’s highest post office .
- Cerro de Pasco, Peru – ~4,330 m (14,210 ft) , population ~59,000 (2017) . This city (the highest city of its size) grew around rich silver and copper mines . Its center is overshadowed by open-pit mines and reservoirs. Despite modern roads and rail to Lima, residents cope with an “intense cold climate” and environmental pollution from decades of mining .
Each of these communities shares challenges: very low oxygen levels, extreme cold/dry climate, and logistical difficulties (food, fuel and medical care are hard to supply). Populations tend to be small or itinerant, and economies revolve around either mining (as in Peru and Bolivia) or subsistence herding (as in Tibet). Yet these “towns on top of the world” are home to schools, markets and even cable-car systems (e.g. El Alto), showing human adaptability at the highest elevations .
Luxury Sky-High Living
At the other extreme are super-luxurious residences perched atop the world’s tallest skyscrapers. Examples include:
- Central Park Tower (New York) – A 1,550 ft tall condominium (the world’s tallest residential building). Its three-story penthouse (floors 129–131) occupies ~17,545 ft² indoors with a 1,433 ft² private terrace . Clad in floor-to-ceiling windows, this “sky mansion” has 7 bedrooms, a grand salon with 27-ft ceilings, and panoramic views over Central Park. It was listed for an eye-popping $250 million – potentially making it the most expensive home ever in the U.S. (The building also features the world’s highest private residential club and amenities.)
- Burj Khalifa (Dubai) – The 2,717 ft tower (tallest in the world) contains a duplex penthouse called the “Sky Palace” on its 107th–108th floors (about 1,300 ft above ground) . This unfinished 21,000 ft² residence includes its own elevator, an indoor lap pool, and 360° Gulf/desert views . It is offered shell-and-core for about $51 million , a record for Dubai (though not the priciest ever in the city). Residents also enjoy the tower’s elite amenities (lounges, spa, infinity pool, etc.), so living here truly means being “on top of the world” in comfort.
- 432 Park Avenue (New York) – A 1,396 ft “supertall” condo tower on Billionaires’ Row. Its entire 96th floor was sold as a single penthouse (~8,255 ft²) with 6 bedrooms and 7+ bathrooms . The interior features include a 93-foot great room and park/sunset views, while the building has full-service luxury amenities. Originally listed at $169 million, the unit’s price was later reduced (recently delisted around $90M) .
- One57 (New York) – A 1,005 ft condo tower overlooking Central Park. A landmark duplex penthouse on the 88th floor (approx. 800+ ft high) spans 6,231 ft² with 5 bedrooms/5 baths . Known as a “sky mansion,” it has a 57-ft Great Room with floor-to-ceiling views of Central Park and both rivers. It was marketed around $45 million . (One57 famously also housed a $100M+ record sale in 2014.)
- The Pinnacle Penthouse, Woolworth Tower (New York) – A historic landmark-turned-condo, 792 ft tall. The crown‐floor penthouse spans ~12,131 ft² across the 50th floor (with potential to combine the 49th) . At 727 ft high it offers 360° skyline views and a private 408 ft² observatory deck. Offered in “white box” condition, it was listed at $59 million .
Each of these luxury sky homes emphasizes height as a selling point – offering residents exhilarating city views from well over a quarter or more of a mile above the street. Amenities like private elevators, huge terraces, pools or “great salons” are standard. Prices run from tens of millions into the hundreds of millions of dollars, reflecting both their bespoke finishes and bragging rights as “the highest residences” in their cities .
Metaphorical/Lifestyle Meaning
Beyond literal height, “living on top of the world” is a common metaphor for feeling euphoric, successful or empowered. In English idiom, it simply means to feel extremely happy or triumphant. For instance, learners are told that “you are on top of the world when you feel wonderful” , and similarly that it means feeling “absolutely thrilled” . This expression appears frequently in pop culture and self-help contexts. Popular songs like Imagine Dragons’ “On Top of the World” and The Carpenters’ “Top of the World” use the phrase to celebrate positive emotions. Lifestyle writers and motivational speakers invoke it to describe “peak experiences”: moments when one’s hard work or goals have paid off. For example, one might say a graduate feels on top of the world after a big achievement, or a traveler feels it upon reaching a mountain summit.
In practical terms, blogs and quotes that mention “living on top of the world” often emphasize themes of personal success, high confidence, and joy. It’s tied to the idea of having one’s best possible life moment – as if literally elevated above problems. Inspirational quotes play on this image: e.g. “I feel like I’m on top of the world” suggests a sense of triumph and boundless possibilities. In lifestyle media, the phrase may also be used aspirationally (for instance, describing the thrill of staying in a high-altitude resort or penthouse as “like living on top of the world”). In all cases, the core meaning remains the same: an emotional peak. (English learners note that it’s akin to “over the moon” or “on cloud nine,” all signaling elation .)
Sources: Verified geographic and real-estate sources provide the data above . These include encyclopedias, news and property listings detailing altitudes, populations, and amenities; idiom dictionaries explain the figurative meaning .