Whereas a move abroad? Or are you asked to move for work? A new ranking of the quality of life of international cities sheds light on which global locations have the greatest appeal to expats.
A new Quality of Living City Ranking from global consultancy Mercer lists more than 240 cities on five continents, ranked by their quality of life. The report took into account living standards, cultural environment, housing, infrastructure, air quality and other characteristics that can make a city an attractive or uninspiring place to live.
Zurich, Switzerland, a global financial center known for its exceptional public services, security and vibrant cultural scene, took the top spot. Vienna, Austria, came in second, while Geneva, Switzerland, came in third.
One factor that helped Zurich to the top of the list is that it has recently improved its airport connections, making it a practical home base for people wanting to travel to or from other continents.
Of the top 10 cities, eight are in Europe. Auckland, New Zealand, ranked fifth, while Vancouver, British Columbia, ranked seventh. Singapore was the only Asian city in the top 50, according to Mercer.
“In an age of digital nomads and flexible working, countries and cities are consistently working to attract global companies, talent and remote workers,” Mercer said in a statement. “Today’s most successful destinations are those that combine flexible governance around mobile talent with a high quality of life and affordable cost of living.”
These are the best and worst cities for international workers. Click here to view the full rankings.
10 best
1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Geneva, Switzerland
4. Copenhagen, Denmark
5. Auckland, New Zealand
6. Amsterdam, Netherlands
7. Frankfurt, Germany (tie)
7. Vancouver, Canada (tie)
9. Bern, Switzerland
10. Basel, Switzerland
10 worst
- (241) Khartoum, Sudan
- (240) Baghdad, Iraq
- (239) Bangui, Central African Republic
- (238) Sanaa, Yemen
- (237) Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
- (236) N’djamena, Chad
- (235) Damascus, Syria
- (234) Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
- (233) Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- (232) Tripoli, Libya
