Urban　centers　in　the　21st　century　face　significant　challenges　impacting　future　urban　living.　The　numerous　indicators　and　inherent　complexity　involved　in　assessing　urban　performance　in　smart　cities　necessitate　the　application　of　multi-criteria　evaluation　methods,　which　are　frequently　associated　with　fuzziness　and　uncertainties.　Thus,　this　study　introduces　an　innovative　decision　support　approach　that　integrates　complex　spherical　fuzzy　set　to　enhance　decision-making　for　smart　city　evaluation.　By　incorporating　a　consensus　measurement　mechanism　for　judgments,　the　reliability　of　results　is　improved.　The　methodology　assesses　smart　city　performance　by　calculating　a　level　index　using　criteria　of　resilience,　sustainability,　and　urban　livability,　along　with　eighteen　sub-criteria　for　comprehensive　benchmarking.　Results　highlight　pollution　control,　energy　and　environmental　resources,　community　well-being,　eco-friendly　transport,　and　social　cohesion　as　critical　factors　for　smart　city　performance.　Singapore　demonstrates　high-level　performance　due　to　its　integration　of　advanced　technologies　and　community-focused　strategies.　The　evaluated　results　obtained　via　the　developed　approach　offer　valuable　insights　for　urban　planners　aiming　to　promote　sustainable,　resilient,　and　livable　urban　development.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd