City and region domains (geoTLDs)

GeoTLDs explained: city and regional endings like .nyc, .london, .miami and .ist, why businesses use them, their rules, SEO effects and resale value.

GeoTLDs are endings for cities, regions and cultures, like .nyc, .london, .berlin, .tokyo, .paris, .miami and .ist (Istanbul). Most arrived through ICANN's New gTLD Program.

Why use a city or region ending?

• Local identity: pizza.nyc tells people exactly where you are.
• Availability: good local names are often free compared with .com.
• Civic pride: many are backed by city governments to promote local business.

Rules vary

Some city endings require a local address or business presence. Others are open to anyone. Check the registry's rules before you register.

Regional and cultural endings

• .eu for the European Union, a special country-code-style ending.
• .asia and .africa for whole regions.
• .cat for the Catalan language and culture.

Do geoTLDs help local SEO?

Google treats city endings like other generic endings, not as a location signal. Local ranking comes from your Google Business Profile, your address, reviews and local content. A city ending can still help people remember you and understand where you are.

A note for investors

Resale demand for city endings is usually limited to local businesses in that city, so they tend to sell slowly. The best ones pair the city with a high-value local service.