Lifestyle / Travel

And the best city in the world to move to is…

Vienna offers the best quality of life of any city in the world according to the latest global survey from the consulting firm Mercer.

Feb 21, 2014 | By AFPRelaxnews

Vienna has emerged as the city with the highest quality of living in a ranking that looks at everything from political stability, social and economic environments, housing and public transportation.

Ritz-Carlton Vienna Atmosphere rooftop bar

According to Mercer’s annual Quality of Living report, the Austrian capital boasts the best living conditions in the world for expats. Vienna outranked 223 cities, and is followed by Zurich, Auckland, Munich and Vancouver.

vienna opera

The survey will help multinational companies come up with fair compensation grids for employees who are placed on international assignments.

Zurich Switzerland

Given that Europe enjoys a high overall quality of living — be it health care services, recreational facilities or levels of crime — it’s no surprise that European cities dominate the list.

Vancouver

The report provides a regional breakdown. In North America, Canadian cities dominate the top 5 list with Vancouver leading the charge, followed by Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. The lone American representative is San Francisco.

singapore night

A similar phenomenon is seen in Asia, with Japanese cities Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama and Osaka occupying four of the five top spots. The highest-ranked Asian city, meanwhile, is Singapore, which ranked 25th globally.

Here are the Top-ranked cities in regions around the world:

Top 5 overall
1. Vienna, Austria
2. Zurich, Switzerland
3. Auckland, New Zealand
4. Munich, Germany
5. Vancouver, Canada

North America
1. Vancouver, Canada
2. Ottawa, Canada
3. Toronto, Canada
4. Montreal, Canada
5. San Francisco, USA

Central and South America
1.Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
2. San Juan, Puerto Rico
3. Montevideo, Uruguay
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
5. Santiago, Chile

Europe
1. Vienna, Austria
2. Zurich, Switzerland
3. Munich, Germany
4. Dusseldorf, Germany
5. Frankfurt, Germany

Asia
1. Singapore
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. Kobe, Japan
4. Yokohama, Japan
5. Osaka, Japan

Australasia
1. Auckland, New Zealand
2. Sydney, Australia
3. Wellington, New Zealand

Middle East
1. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
3. Port Louis, Mauritius
4. Durban, South Africa
5. Cape Town, South Africa


 
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