Many dream of finding and living in a top city. The Global Liveability Index by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) checks cities every year. It looks at things like safety, health care, and education. Also, the environment and how good the roads and buildings are. The study found that cities are better to live in now than in the past 15 years. This is because COVID-19 rules are getting easier, and cities are improving their health care, culture, education, and roads.
The best places to live are in different parts of the world. This year, no U.S. cities made the top 10. Cities like Amsterdam and Frankfurt are now behind Australian places. Vienna in Austria is still the best city to live, with Zurich in Switzerland and Vancouver in Canada close behind. These cities do great at providing quality of life. Here are some cities known for taking good care of their people:
Key Takeaways
- The Global Liveability Index scores 173 cities worldwide.
- Evaluation is based on stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
- Melbourne, Australia, and Osaka, Japan, share the 10th spot with a rating of 95.1.
- Toronto, Canada, ranks 8th with a score of 95.4.
- Vienna, Austria, consistently tops the list of the world’s most livable cities.
Understanding Livability Rankings
Livability rankings tell us about the quality of life in different cities. They look at things like safety, healthcare, and schools, showing us how good life is in these places.
Criteria for Ranking
The system looks at about 100 things, from job rates to air quality. These factors help score how livable a city is.
Livability Scores are given based on this data. They help show which cities are the best to live in. Only cities with homes under $500,000 were in this part of the ranking.
Recent Trends and Changes
Things are getting better in a lot of cities, according to the latest scores. This is thanks to getting past COVID-19 rules and improving in areas like healthcare.
In Europe, 7 of the top 10 cities on the list are doing great. London is in the middle, while cities like Prague and Warsaw are rising fast. Places facing conflicts, like Kyiv, are finding it harder to stay high on the list.
| City | Ranking | Region |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 37 | North America |
| Singapore | 29 | Asia |
| Auckland | 3 | Oceania |
| Vancouver | 8 | Canada |
| London | 45 | Europe |
The Livability list helps us find great places to live, from beaches to big cities. It also shares special lists, like for food lovers and music fans, making it more fun to explore.
The Most Livable Cities According to the EIU
The EIU Global Liveability Index checks 172 cities to find the best to live in. It looks at things like safety, healthcare, culture, and more. Vienna, Austria is 2023’s top city. It’s been the best since 2022. It scores 100 for safety. Copenhagen, Denmark, is the second-best city, also with a top safety score.
Melbourne and Sydney in Australia are now third and fourth. They shine in many areas like healthcare and culture. Then there’s Vancouver, Canada, at fifth. It’s known for its great living from 2002 to 2010.
Western cities mostly fill the top spots. Melbourne was the best for seven years. Calgary and Toronto often rank well, too. It’s because of their good living conditions.
The most improved cities are in Asia-Pacific. Wellington, New Zealand, got 23rd, up by 35 places. Cities in Saudi Arabia are doing better, too.
But some European cities are falling. For example, Edinburgh went from 35th to 58th place.
Cities are getting better overall, with an average score of 76.2. Healthcare got a lot better. But safety didn’t do as well.
Zurich, Geneva, Toronto, Osaka, and Auckland are in the top ten, too. They offer well-rounded good living.
The EIU index shows how cities’ quality of life changes. American cities are absent in the top, showing global competition to be better.
Expat Features: Best Cities in the World
Each year, InterNations finds the top cities for people living away from their home country. This list includes things expats really care about. These are like quality of life, how easy it is to settle in, and if they’re happy there.
Top Picks by Expats
In top spots are places like Malaga, Spain, because it’s warm, has lots of culture, and a good work and life mix. Alicante and Valencia in Spain are also loved. They show Spain’s pull with its low cost, friendly vibe, and deep culture. These places are great for a balanced life for those moving from other countries.
Common Factors for Expats
For big favorites among expats, think of Vienna, Zurich, and Auckland. They rank high for their good living, easy to fit in, and nice areas. European spots like Munich and Frankfurt are big too, showing what draws many to Europe’s great living styles.
| City | Country | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Vienna | Austria | 1st |
| Zurich | Switzerland | 2nd |
| Auckland | New Zealand | 3rd |
| Vancouver | Canada | 5th |
| Singapore | Singapore | 29th |
| Dubai | UAE | 79th |
| Port Louis | Mauritius | 88th |
Vancouver, Canada stands out in North America for its city life and outdoor fun. It’s the only North American spot in the top-tier. But, some places in the U.S. like Miami and New York City have seen happier expats because of high costs and stress.
Exploring the Unique Traits of Top Cities
Cities on the Global Cities Index have special features that make them top. These unique traits make them great places to live.
Many top cities have lots of public green spaces. Berlin and Dubai are good examples. They have big areas for people to relax. Also, this green space helps make the cities look better. It helps the environment too.
Cities also have strong communities. In Copenhagen, many people use bikes instead of cars. This makes people closer and helps the planet. San Francisco is working on making more places to charge electric cars.
New York and Paris are big on the Global Cities lists. They are doing well because they have good healthcare and jobs. The people there are smart and creative. Both cities are working hard to be greener.
Here’s a quick look at some of the best cities’ cool features:
| City | Unique Characteristics | Public Green Spaces | Vibrant Communities |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Advanced infrastructure, Economic opportunities, Sustainability programs | Central Park, High Line | Zero Waste project, Carbon Challenge |
| Berlin | Investment in green spaces, Over 400 EV charging stations | Tiergarten, Tempelhofer Feld | Historical and cultural inclusion |
| Copenhagen | First carbon-neutral city by 2025, Bicycle culture | Kongens Have, Ørstedsparken | Inclusion through bike commuting |
| Dubai | Self-sustainable via renewable energy, Ban on single-use plastics | 60% green space irrigated with gray wastewater | Recycling initiatives, Renewable energy adoption |
These unique features show us what makes cities great. Places like green areas and strong communities matter a lot. They help make cities better.
Conclusion
Many things come together to make some cities great to live in. Things like good healthcare and schools, and a rich cultural scene. According to the EIU’s Global Liveability Index, places such as Mexico City and London stand out. They do well in different parts of city life. For example, Mexico City is very busy and hard-working. But, Buenos Aires is the most rested city in the world. Its people sleep around ten hours every night.
When planning cities for the future, we should learn from these studies. Cape Town, for example, is praised for its beauty and happy residents. It also has a great cultural life. This shows how important these things are for people’s well-being. Yet, places like New Delhi face big problems. Its long commutes cause a lot of traffic. These issues need fixing too.
The best cities are always working to get better. Cities such as Berlin and London are leading in fun and happiness. They show how cities can compete to be the best places to live. Knowing about these changes can help us pick where to live. It also guides leaders in making cities better for us. So, making cities people love is an endless journey. It’s all about changing and creating new ways for cities to thrive.
