Best City To Live
In Mercer Consultings annual Quality of Living Survey, Europe once again dominates the list of 215 countries around the world. The top three cities are, by rank, Vienna, Zurich (The World's Best Places To Live 2008 last years winner), and Geneva. Commonwealth nations fare pretty well, too, winning 9 of the top 30 spots—even though London comes in only at 38. The U.S. also fares poorly, barely making it into the top 30 with Honolulu and San Francisco in the bottom two places. The best city to live in Asia is Singapore, at no. 26. No cities from Africa or South America are in the top 30. The bottom? Baghdad once again comes in at 215.
The Best Places To Live - Mercer's 2009 Quality of Living survey highlights - Global
- European cities dominate the top of the ranking
- Vienna scores highest for overall quality of living, Baghdad the lowest
- Singapore ranks top for city infrastructure; London ranks eighth
The quality of living rankings the best places to live are based on a point-scoring index, which sees Vienna score 108.6, and Baghdad 14.4. Cities are ranked against New York as the base city with an index score of 100.
Mercer’s Quality of Living ranking covers 215 cities and is conducted to help governments and major companies place employees on international assignments. In 2008, the quality of living in many regions has been affected. This is demonstrated by serious political turmoil, increasing unrest and instability, health and climatic concerns. The global financial crisis has intensified in 2008, becoming an area of increasing international concern. The effects of various rescue plans being implemented are yet to be known.
This year’s ranking also identifies the cities with the best infrastructure based on electricity supply, water availability, telephone and mail services, public transport provision, traffic congestion and the range of international flights from local airports.
Mr Parakatil commented: “Infrastructure has a significant effect on the quality of living experienced by expatriates. Whilst often taken for granted when functioning to a high standard, a city’s infrastructure can generate severe hardship when it is lacking. Companies need to provide adequate allowances to compensate their international workers for these and other hardships.”
Top 5 quality of living ranking for cities worldwide
Top 5 ranking cities by region
Quality of living
Infrastructure
List Of The Best Places To Live
No. 1: Vienna, Austria
Mercer score: 108.6*
2008 rank: 2
GDP: $325 billion (2008 est.)**
Population: 1,664,146 (total city); 8,210,281 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.5
*The rankings are based on a point scoring index established by Mercer Consultings 2009 Quality of Living Survey, with Vienna scoring 108.6 and Baghdad scoring 14.4. Cities are compared with New York as the base city, with an index score of 100. The quality-of-living survey covers 215 cities and is conducted to help governments and major companies place employees on international assignments. The survey also identifies those cities with the highest personal safety ranking based on internal stability, crime, effectiveness of law enforcement, and relationships with other countries.
**The World Factbook. Gross domestic product is denominated in international dollars, which is based on Purchasing Power Parity.
No. 2: Zurich, Switzerland
Mercer score: 108
2008 rank: 1
GDP: 309.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,307,567 (total city); 7,604,467 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.85
No. 3: Geneva, Switzerland
Mercer score: 107.9
2008 rank: 2
GDP: $309.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 438,177 (total city); 7,604,467 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.85
No. 4 (tie): Vancouver, Canada
Mercer score: 107.4
2008 rank: 4
GDP: $1.3 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 2,285,900 (total city); 33,487,208 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.2
No. 4 (tie): Auckland, New Zealand
Mercer score: 107.4
2008 rank: 5
GDP: $116.6 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,303,068 (total city); 4,213,418 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.36
No. 6: Dusseldorf, Germany
Mercer score: 107.2
2008 rank: 6
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 581,858 (total city); 82,329,758 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.2
No. 7: Munich, Germany
Mercer score: 107
2008 rank: 7
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,300,000 (total city); 82,329,758 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.2
No. 8: Frankfurt, Germany
Mercer score: 106.8
2008 rank: 7
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 662,000 (total city); 82,329,758 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.2
No. 9: Bern, Switzerland
Mercer score: 106.5
2008 rank: 9
GDP: $309.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 962,983 (total city); 7,604,467 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.85
No. 10: Sydney, Australia
Mercer score: 106.3
2008 rank: 10
GDP: $800.5 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 4,336,374 (total city); 21,262,641 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.6
No. 11: Copenhagen, Denmark
Mercer score: 106.2
2008 rank: 11
GDP: $204.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,875,129 (total city); 5,500,510 (total country)
Life expectancy: 78.3
No. 12: Wellington, New Zealand
Mercer score: 105.9
2008 rank: 12
GDP: $116.6 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 448,956 (total city); 4,213,418 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.36
No. 13: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mercer score: 105.7
2008 rank: 13
GDP: $670.2 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 740,000 (total city); 16,715,999 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.4
No. 14: Brussels, Belgium
Mercer score: 105.4
2008 rank: 14
GDP: $390.5 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,451,047 (total city); 10,414,336 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.22
No. 15: Toronto, Canada
Mercer score: 105.3
2008 rank: 15
GDP: $1.307 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 2,503,281 (total city); 33,487,208 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.23
No. 16 (tie): Ottawa, Canada
Mercer score: 105
2008 rank: 19
GDP: $1.307 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 812,129 (total city); 33,487,208 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.23
No. 16 (tie): Berlin, Germany
Mercer score: 105
2008 rank: 16
GDP: $2.863 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 3,398,888 (total city); 82,329,758 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.26
No. 18: Melbourne, Australia
Mercer score: 104.8
2008 rank: 17
GDP: $800.5 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 3,900,000 (total city); 21,262,641 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.63
No. 19 : Luxembourg
Mercer score: 104.6
2008 rank: 17
GDP: $39.42 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 491,775 (total city); 491,775 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.33
No. 20: Stockholm, Sweden
Mercer score: 104.5
2008 rank: 20
GDP: $348.6 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 810,120 (total city); 9,059,651 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.86
No. 21: Perth, Australia
Mercer score: 104.3
2008 rank: 21
GDP: $800.5 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,554,769 (total city); 21,262,641 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.63
No. 22: Montreal, Canada
Mercer score: 104.2
2008 rank: 22
GDP: $1.3 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,620,693 (total city); 33,487,208 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.2
No. 23: Nuremberg, Germany
Mercer score: 104.1
2008 rank: 23
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 500,132 (total city); 82,329,758 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.2
No. 24: Oslo, Norway
Mercer score: 103.7
2008 rank: 24
GDP: $265.5 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 560,484 (total city); 4,660,539 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.9
No. 25: Dublin, Ireland
Mercer score: 103.6
2008 rank: 25
GDP: $191.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 506,211 (total city); 4,203,200 (total country)
Life expectancy: 78.2
No. 26 (tie): Singapore
Mercer score: 103.5
2008 rank: 32
GDP: $240 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 4,657,542 (total city); 4,657,542 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.2
No. 26 (tie): Calgary, Canada
Mercer score: 103.5
2008 rank: 25
GDP: $1.3 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,169,492 (total city); 33,487,208 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.2
No. 28: Hamburg, Germany
Mercer score: 103.4
2008 rank: 27
GDP: $1.3 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,169,492 (total city); 33,487,208 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.2
No. 29: Honolulu, U.S.
Mercer score: 103.1
2008 rank: 28
GDP: $14.29 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 905,601 (total city); 307,212,123 (total country)
Life expectancy: 78.1
No. 30: San Francisco, U.S.
Mercer score: 103
2008 rank: 29
GDP: $14.29 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 808,976 (total city); 307,212,123 (total country)
Life expectancy: 78.1
