People like to think that the place where they live, no matter if we are talking about cities or countries, is the best. Unfortunately, it is not like that, and there are better cities to live in than others. Usually, when we talk about best cities to live in, we consider a lot of criteria, like the income, the unemployment rate, the heath-care system, the transport system, the safety, the pollution, the recreation, the political and economic stability, and the culture.
There are many great places to live around the world, but these are the top 10 cities with the best quality of life in 2014:
10. Sidney, Australia
Sidney, the capital of the New South Wales, is the largest city in Australia, considering the number of inhabitants. It is also the economic hub of the country, and a very wealthy city. The most important landmarks of Australia are also here: the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Around 40% of the first 500 companies in Australia have their offices in Sidney, while the median annual income is about $55.000. As you can see, Sidney is a great city to live in, and a very safe one.
9. Copenhagen, Denmark
The capital of Denmark is also the most populated city in the country. It offers a great quality of life to its inhabitants, with high living standards, advanced infrastructure, clean environment, recreational facilities, and an excellent health care. The people who live in Copenhagen consume mostly organic food, keeping their environment clean through using bikes every day. Actually, Copenhagen is also known as “the City of Cyclists”.
8. Geneva, Switzerland
The second most populated city in Switzerland, was the 9th financial center of the world. More than 20 international organizations have their offices in Geneva, and 44% of its population is formed by foreigners. As an international center for diplomacy, Geneva is a very clean, elegant city, with large parks, and a very clean environment. Unfortunately, all of these have a cost: Geneva is the most expensive city to live in Europe, and also one of the most expensive cities in the world.
7. Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt is only the 5th largest city in Germany, and it is their largest financial center, and a very important transport hub in Europe. Many financial organizations are headquartered in Frankfurt, a city with a low crime rate. It is the 11th safest city in the world, so it is a great place for families and not only. Frankfurt will surprise you with its modern infrastructure, and one of the busiest airports in the world.
6. Dusseldorf, Germany
Dusseldorf, the seventh largest city in Germany is well known for trade fairs and fashion. Many international companies, like Nokia, Siemens, or HP, are located in Dusseldorf, which is considered the center of telecommunications in Germany. There are more than 100 art galleries in the city, which combines in a nice way the art, the culture, with a modern infrastructure.
5. Vancouver, Canada
This is the best city to live in Canada. Located in British Columbia, Vancouver has a temperate climate, being one of the warmest city of the country. It offers its inhabitants several social services, high standards of living, and a very clean environment. Surrounded by large green areas, it is also one of the safest cities in the world. Vancouver plans to be the greenest city in the world until 2020, using a lot of green technologies.
4. Munich, Germany
This is the 3rd German city in our top. The capital of Bavaria, is the 3rd largest city in Germany. It is a major center for economy, and it attracts people from all around the world. Actually, 40% of its inhabitants are foreigners. It is the perfect city to move in if you want a job in IT, medicine, or engineering.
3. Auckland, New Zealand
The largest city in New Zeeland is also the most populated city in the country. With 1.4 million inhabitants, it is one of the best places to live in the world. Also, you should know that 32% of New Zeeland’s population live in Auckland. It is the second safest city in Asia, and a prosperous economic center. The 11 volcanoes in the area are extinct, so there is nothing to worry about. Known as the “city of sails”, you should move to Auckland if you love yachts and boats.
2. Zurich, Switzerland
The largest city in Switzerland is a major transport hub for roads, railways, and air traffic. It is also one of the best tourist places to go, but an important economic and financial center as well. Zurich is famous for research and development, and many companies and institutions are located here. Some years ago, Zurich was the city with the highest quality of life in the world, but another one passed it. However, it is still the third most expensive city in Europe.
1. Vienna, Austria
The best city to live in the world, in 2014, is Vienna. The capital of Austria is an important economic, politic, and cultural center. The United Nations are headquartered here. Known as the “City of Music”, or the “City of Dreams”, the culture is an important part of its inhabitants. Mozart and Freud lived here, in the city of 1000 museums. The pollution is extremely low, while the city is safe, offering a good education system, great heath care, and one of the best public transportation systems in the world.