The Rationale behind the ranking.
Consultants rated each city on a variety of factors including the level of traffic congestion, air quality and personal safety reported by expatriates living in more than 600 cities worldwide. Cities with a high quality of life are not necessarily the most exciting. "There are a lot of 'sleepy' towns that got high ratings."
Cities are compared to 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.
Here's the list. It seems that many cities always tie.
No. 1: Zurich, Switzerland (#1 in 2007)
No. 2 (tie): Vienna, Austria (#3 in 2007)
No. 2 (tie): Geneva, Switzerland (#2 in 2007)
No. 4: Vancouver, Canada (#3 in 2007)
No. 5: Auckland, New Zealand (#5 in 2007)
No. 6: Dusseldorf, Germany (#6 in 2007)
No. 7 (tie): Munich, Germany (#8 in 2007)
No. 7 (tie): Frankfurt, Germany (#7 in 2007)
No. 2 (tie): Vienna, Austria (#3 in 2007)
No. 2 (tie): Geneva, Switzerland (#2 in 2007)
No. 4: Vancouver, Canada (#3 in 2007)
No. 5: Auckland, New Zealand (#5 in 2007)
No. 6: Dusseldorf, Germany (#6 in 2007)
No. 7 (tie): Munich, Germany (#8 in 2007)
No. 7 (tie): Frankfurt, Germany (#7 in 2007)
No. 9: Bern, Switzerland (#9 in 2007)
No. 10: Sydney, Australia (#9 in 2007)
Absolutely agree with number 1...the two 7's on the other hand are a bit weird. Most of us consider Frankfurt to be a horrible city overall, I'm surprised. Munich is a way nicer city overall...ciao
ReplyDeleteMay I cite from last year's report:
ReplyDeleteQuality of Living vs. the quality of life
The Quality of Living index is based on several criteria used to judge whether an expatriate is entitled to a hardship allowance. A city with a high Quality of Living index is a safe and stable one, but it may be lacking the dynamic je ne sais quoi that makes people want to live in world-renowned cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London or New York. Sometimes you need a little spice to make a city exciting. But that "spice" may also give a city a lower ranking.
What makes one person's quality of life better or worse cannot be quantified in an objective index. Therefore, Mercer's Quality of Living report reflects only the tangible aspects of living in a city on expatriate assignments, and leaves the question of the quality of one's life to those living it!
Hello expatraveler!
ReplyDeleteSo, not one city in the USA was included in the top ten. Only one city in North America and it's Vancouver in Canada. Europe, and in these countries Switzerland, Germany, Austria, must really be great to live in. :)
I am proud that three cities in Switzerland are in the top ten although I'm from the canton of Lucerne. Just great!
Have a great week!
Sofie
(sofiehofmann.com - just added, you might not recognize sehdi.com)
I would have put Sydney higher in the list, I just love this city! Auckland is nice too but pretty small...
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have never been to Vancouver, I have a good opinion of it. But housing is said to be very expensive...