Dubai: If you’re looking for a place to live in and quality of life is high on your agenda, head down to Vienna, Austria.
The latest survey released on Tuesday by international human resources consultancy Mercer, revealed that the city known for its classical music, art and literature has the world’s best living conditions.
Baghdad has the worst. Paris, New York and London are far behind. Singapore is ranked number one in Asia and higher than many cities worldwide, while Dubai tops the Middle East.
Mercer’s 18th annual Quality of Living survey ranks more than 200 cities based on a number of factors, such as medical care, public services, recreational facilities, political and social environment.
The survey seeks to help companies determine the appropriate allowances and incentives for employees on international assignments.
European cities, especially German-speaking ones, dominate the top 30, despite recent security issues, social unrest and concerns about the region’s economic outlook.
Vienna is followed by Zurich in the second place, Auckland (3), Munich (4) and Vancouver (5).
Rounding up the top ten are Dusseldorf (6) , Frankfurt (7), Geneva (8), Copenhagen (9) and Sydney (10). Singapore, which lands in the 26th spot, is the only Asian city in the top 30.
Other popular destinations on the lower end of the list include Paris (37), London (39) Milan (41) and New York (44). The level of personal safety in London is also rated poorly, ranked 72nd globally.
Mercer looked at several indicators, including safety, when assessing the quality of life in key cities around the world. According to Mercer, safety is a key factor for multinational companies to consider when sending expatriate workers on assignments overseas.
“Heightened domestic and global security threats, population displacement resulting from violence, and social unrest in key business centres around the world are all elements adding to the complex challenge facing multinational companies when analysing the safety and health of their expatriate workforces,” said Ilya Bonic, Senior Partner and president of Mercer’s talent business.
“Multinational companies need accurate data and objective methods to determine the cost implications of deteriorating living standards and personal safety issues when compensating expatriates.”
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Mercer 2016 Quality of Living Survey Worldwide Quality of Living ranking |
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Rank 2015** |
City |
Country |
|
|
|
1 |
VIENNA |
AUSTRIA |
|
|
|
2 |
ZURICH |
SWITZERLAND |
|
|
|
3 |
AUCKLAND |
NEW ZEALAND |
|
|
|
4 |
MUNICH |
GERMANY |
|
|
|
5 |
VANCOUVER |
CANADA |
|
|
|
6 |
DUSSELDORF |
GERMANY |
|
|
|
7 |
FRANKFURT |
GERMANY |
|
|
|
8 |
GENEVA |
SWITZERLAND |
|
|
|
9 |
COPENHAGEN |
DENMARK |
|
|
|
10 |
SYDNEY |
AUSTRALIA |
|
|
|
11 |
AMSTERDAM |
NETHERLANDS |
|
|
|
12 |
WELLINGTON |
NEW ZEALAND |
|
|
|
13 |
BERLIN |
GERMANY |
|
|
|
14 |
BERN |
SWITZERLAND |
|
|
|
15 |
TORONTO |
CANADA |
|
|
|
15 |
MELBOURNE |
AUSTRALIA |
|
|
|
17 |
OTTAWA |
CANADA |
|
|
|
18 |
HAMBURG |
GERMANY |
|
|
|
19 |
LUXEMBOURG |
LUXEMBOURG |
|
|
|
19 |
STOCKHOLM |
SWEDEN |
|
|
|
21 |
BRUSSELS |
BELGIUM |
|
|
|
21 |
PERTH |
AUSTRALIA |
|
|
|
23 |
MONTREAL |
CANADA |
|
|
|
24 |
STUTTGART |
GERMANY |
|
|
|
24 |
NURNBERG |
GERMANY |
|
|
|
26 |
SINGAPORE |
SINGAPORE |
|
|
|
27 |
ADELAIDE |
AUSTRALIA |
|
|
|
28 |
SAN FRANCISCO, CA |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
28 |
CANBERRA |
AUSTRALIA |
|
|
|
30 |
HELSINKI |
FINLAND |
|
|
|
30 |
OSLO |
NORWAY |
|
|
|
32 |
CALGARY |
CANADA |
|
|
|
33 |
DUBLIN |
IRELAND |
|
|
|
34 |
BOSTON, MA |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
35 |
HONOLULU, HI |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
36 |
BRISBANE |
AUSTRALIA |
|
|
|
37 |
PARIS |
FRANCE |
|
|
|
38 |
LYON |
FRANCE |
|
|
|
39 |
BARCELONA |
SPAIN |
|
|
|
39 |
LONDON |
UNITED KINGDOM |
|
|
|
41 |
MILAN |
ITALY |
|
|
|
42 |
LISBON |
PORTUGAL |
|
|
|
43 |
CHICAGO, IL |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
44 |
NEW YORK CITY, NY |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
44 |
TOKYO |
JAPAN |
|
|
|
46 |
SEATTLE, WA |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
46 |
KOBE |
JAPAN |
|
|
|
46 |
EDINBURGH |
UNITED KINGDOM |
|
|
|
49 |
LOS ANGELES, CA |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
49 |
YOKOHAMA |
JAPAN |
|
|
|
51 |
WASHINGTON, DC |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
52 |
MADRID |
SPAIN |
|
|
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53 |
BIRMINGHAM |
UNITED KINGDOM |
|
|
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53 |
ROME |
ITALY |
|
|
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55 |
GLASGOW |
UNITED KINGDOM |
|
|
|
56 |
PITTSBURGH, PA |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
57 |
PHILADELPHIA, PA |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
58 |
OSAKA |
JAPAN |
|
|
|
59 |
ABERDEEN |
UNITED KINGDOM |
|
|
|
60 |
LEIPZIG |
GERMANY |
|
|
|
61 |
MINNEAPOLIS, MN |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
62 |
NAGOYA |
JAPAN |
|
|
|
63 |
DALLAS, TX |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
64 |
BELFAST |
UNITED KINGDOM |
|
|
|
65 |
HOUSTON, TX |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
66 |
MIAMI, FL |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
67 |
ATLANTA, GA |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
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68 |
ST. LOUIS, MO |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
69 |
PRAGUE |
CZECH REPUBLIC |
|
|
|
70 |
DETROIT, MI |
UNITED STATES |
|
|
|
70 |
HONG KONG |
HONG KONG |
|
|
|
72 |
POINTE-A-PITRE |
GUADELOUPE |
|
|
|
73 |
SEOUL |
SOUTH KOREA |
|
|
|
74 |
SAN JUAN |
PUERTO RICO |
|
|
|
75 |
DUBAI |
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
|
|
|
76 |
LJUBLJANA |
SLOVENIA |
|
|
|
77 |
BUDAPEST |
HUNGARY |
|
|
|
78 |
MONTEVIDEO |
URUGUAY |
|
|
|
79 |
VILNIUS |
LITHUANIA |
|
|
|
79 |
WARSAW |
POLAND |
|
|
|
81 |
ABU DHABI |
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
|
|
|
82 |
BRATISLAVA |
SLOVAKIA |
|
|
|
83 |
PORT LOUIS |
MAURITIUS |
|
|
|
84 |
TAIPEI |
TAIWAN |
|
|
|
85 |
DURBAN |
SOUTH AFRICA |
|
|
|
86 |
KUALA LUMPUR |
MALAYSIA |
|
|
|
87 |
ATHENS |
GREECE |
|
|
|
88 |
LIMASSOL |
CYPRUS |
|
|
|
89 |
TALLINN |
ESTONIA |
|
|
|
90 |
RIGA |
LATVIA |
|
|
|
91 |
BUSAN |
SOUTH KOREA |
|
|
|
92 |
CAPE TOWN |
SOUTH AFRICA |
|
|
|
93 |
BUENOS AIRES |
ARGENTINA |
|
|
|
94 |
SANTIAGO |
CHILE |
|
|
|
95 |
JOHANNESBURG |
SOUTH AFRICA |
|
|
|
96 |
PANAMA CITY |
PANAMA |
|
|
|
97 |
VICTORIA |
SEYCHELLES |
|
|
|
98 |
ZAGREB |
CROATIA |
|
|
|
99 |
WROCLAW |
POLAND |
|
|
|
100 |
TAICHUNG |
TAIWAN |
|
|
|
101 |
SHANGHAI |
CHINA |
|
|
|
102 |
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN |
BRUNEI |
|
|
|
103 |
JOHOR BAHRU |
MALAYSIA |
|
|
|
104 |
TEL AVIV |
ISRAEL |
|
|
|
105 |
SAN JOSE |
COSTA RICA |
|
|
|
106 |
BRASILIA |
BRAZIL |
|
|
|
107 |
MUSCAT |
OMAN |
|
|
|
108 |
MONTERREY |
MEXICO |
|
|
|
109 |
BUCHAREST |
ROMANIA |
|
|
|
110 |
DOHA |
QATAR |
|
|
|
111 |
NOUMEA |
NEW CALEDONIA |
|
|
|
112 |
NASSAU |
BAHAMAS |
|
|
|
113 |
TUNIS |
TUNISIA |
|
|
|
114 |
ASUNCION |
PARAGUAY |
|
|
|
115 |
SOFIA |
BULGARIA |
|
|
|
116 |
RABAT |
MOROCCO |
|
|
|
117 |
RIO DE JANEIRO |
BRAZIL |
|
|
|
118 |
BEIJING |
CHINA |
|
|
|
119 |
GUANGZHOU |
CHINA |
|
|
|
120 |
AMMAN |
JORDAN |
|
|
|
121 |
SAO PAULO |
BRAZIL |
|
|
|
122 |
ISTANBUL |
TURKEY |
|
|
|
123 |
LIMA |
PERU |
|
|
|
124 |
KUWAIT CITY |
KUWAIT |
|
|
|
125 |
MANAUS |
BRAZIL |
|
|
|
126 |
CASABLANCA |
MOROCCO |
|
|
|
127 |
MEXICO CITY |
MEXICO |
|
|
|
128 |
QUITO |
ECUADOR |
|
|
|
129 |
BANGKOK |
THAILAND |
|
|
|
130 |
BOGOTA |
COLOMBIA |
|
|
|
131 |
WINDHOEK |
NAMIBIA |
|
|
|
132 |
COLOMBO |
SRI LANKA |
|
|
|
133 |
MANAMA |
BAHRAIN |
|
|
|
134 |
CHENGDU |
CHINA |
|
|
|
135 |
SANTO DOMINGO |
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC |
|
|
|
136 |
MANILA |
PHILIPPINES |
|
|
|
137 |
NANJING |
CHINA |
|
|
|
137 |
SHENZHEN |
CHINA |
|
|
|
139 |
HYDERABAD |
INDIA |
|
|
|
139 |
XIAN |
CHINA |
|
|
|
141 |
BELGRADE |
SERBIA |
|
|
|
142 |
JAKARTA |
INDONESIA |
|
|
|
142 |
GABORONE |
BOTSWANA |
|
|
|
144 |
PUNE |
INDIA |
|
|
|
145 |
BENGALURU |
INDIA |
|
|
|
146 |
CHONGQING |
CHINA |
|
|
|
147 |
PORT OF SPAIN |
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO |
|
|
|
147 |
QINGDAO |
CHINA |
|
|
|
149 |
LUSAKA |
ZAMBIA |
|
|
|
150 |
CHENNAI |
INDIA |
|
|
|
151 |
KINGSTON |
JAMAICA |
|
|
|
152 |
GUATEMALA CITY |
GUATEMALA |
|
|
|
152 |
MUMBAI |
INDIA |
|
|
|
152 |
HO CHI MINH CITY |
VIETNAM |
|
|
|
155 |
HANOI |
VIETNAM |
|
|
|
156 |
LA PAZ |
BOLIVIA |
|
|
|
157 |
SHENYANG |
CHINA |
|
|
|
158 |
SARAJEVO |
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA |
|
|
|
159 |
SKOPJE |
MACEDONIA |
|
|
|
160 |
KOLKATA |
INDIA |
|
|
|
161 |
NEW DELHI |
INDIA |
|
|
|
162 |
DAKAR |
SENEGAL |
|
|
|
163 |
LIBREVILLE |
GABON |
|
|
|
164 |
RIYADH |
SAUDI ARABIA |
|
|
|
165 |
JEDDAH |
SAUDI ARABIA |
|
|
|
166 |
ACCRA |
GHANA |
|
|
|
167 |
MOSCOW |
RUSSIA |
|
|
|
168 |
JILIN |
CHINA |
|
|
|
169 |
KAMPALA |
UGANDA |
|
|
|
170 |
VIENTIANE |
LAOS, PEOPLE'S DEM. REPUBLIC OF |
|
|
|
171 |
CAIRO |
EGYPT |
|
|
|
172 |
MANAGUA |
NICARAGUA |
|
|
|
173 |
SAN SALVADOR |
EL SALVADOR |
|
|
|
174 |
ST. PETERSBURG |
RUSSIA |
|
|
|
175 |
BLANTYRE |
MALAWI |
|
|
|
176 |
ALMATY |
KAZAKHSTAN |
|
|
|
176 |
KIEV |
UKRAINE |
|
|
|
178 |
MAPUTO |
MOZAMBIQUE |
|
|
|
179 |
TIRANA |
ALBANIA |
|
|
|
180 |
BEIRUT |
LEBANON |
|
|
|
181 |
COTONOU |
BENIN |
|
|
|
182 |
YEREVAN |
ARMENIA |
|
|
|
183 |
BANJUL |
GAMBIA |
|
|
|
184 |
NAIROBI |
KENYA |
|
|
|
185 |
CARACAS |
VENEZUELA |
|
|
|
186 |
TEGUCIGALPA |
HONDURAS |
|
|
|
187 |
ALGIERS |
ALGERIA |
|
|
|
188 |
TBILISI |
GEORGIA |
|
|
|
189 |
DJIBOUTI |
DJIBOUTI |
|
|
|
190 |
MINSK |
BELARUS |
|
|
|
191 |
KIGALI |
RWANDA |
|
|
|
191 |
HAVANA |
CUBA |
|
|
|
193 |
ISLAMABAD |
PAKISTAN |
|
|
|
194 |
YAOUNDE |
CAMEROON |
|
|
|
195 |
PHNOM PENH |
CAMBODIA |
|
|
|
196 |
DOUALA |
CAMEROON |
|
|
|
197 |
BAKU |
AZERBAIJAN |
|
|
|
198 |
DAR ES SALAAM |
TANZANIA |
|
|
|
199 |
LAHORE |
PAKISTAN |
|
|
|
199 |
LUANDA |
ANGOLA |
|
|
|
201 |
YANGON |
MYANMAR |
|
|
|
202 |
KARACHI |
PAKISTAN |
|
|
|
203 |
TEHRAN |
IRAN |
|
|
|
204 |
LOME |
TOGO |
|
|
|
205 |
TASHKENT |
UZBEKISTAN |
|
|
|
206 |
ABIDJAN |
CÔTE D'IVOIRE |
|
|
|
207 |
ADDIS ABABA |
ETHIOPIA |
|
|
|
208 |
ASHGABAT |
TURKMENISTAN |
|
|
|
209 |
HARARE |
ZIMBABWE |
|
|
|
210 |
BISHKEK |
KYRGYZSTAN |
|
|
|
211 |
LAGOS |
NIGERIA |
|
|
|
212 |
ABUJA |
NIGERIA |
|
|
|
212 |
DUSHANBE |
TAJIKISTAN |
|
|
|
214 |
DHAKA |
BANGLADESH |
|
|
|
215 |
OUAGADOUGOU |
BURKINA FASO |
|
|
|
216 |
TRIPOLI |
LIBYA |
|
|
|
217 |
NIAMEY |
NIGER |
|
|
|
218 |
ANTANANARIVO |
MADAGASCAR |
|
|
|
219 |
BAMAKO |
MALI |
|
|
|
220 |
NOUAKCHOTT |
MAURITANIA |
|
|
|
221 |
CONAKRY |
GUINEA REPUBLIC |
|
|
|
222 |
KINSHASA |
DEMOCRATIC REP. OF THE CONGO |
|
|
|
223 |
BRAZZAVILLE |
CONGO |
|
|
|
224 |
DAMASCUS |
SYRIA |
|
|
|
225 |
N'DJAMENA |
CHAD |
|
|
|
226 |
KHARTOUM |
SUDAN |
|
|
|
227 |
PORT AU PRINCE |
HAITI |
|
|
|
228 |
SANA'A |
YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC |
|
|
|
229 |
BANGUI |
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC |
|
|
|
230 |
BAGHDAD |
IRAQ |
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* Based on November 2015 Survey |
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