NEW YORK – Mercer today released its Quality of Living rankings which assess the practicalities of daily life for expatriates and their families working outside of their home location. One Canadian city not only made it to the top 10 but also was the only one in North America to do so.
Vancouver (8th overall) is the highest-ranked city in North America this year, providing residents with a unique blend of outdoor recreation and cosmopolitan living, contributing to its high-quality lifestyle according to Mercer.
Vienna retained the top spot, followed closely by Zurich in second, with Auckland and Copenhagen claiming the third and fourth positions, respectively. Geneva rounds out the top five rankings, further highlighting Switzerland’s reputation for providing a superior quality of living.
“Mercer’s data shows that countries with a high quality of living provide their citizens and expatriates with access to excellent healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social services as well as affordable housing,” said Yvonne Traber, Partner and Global Mobility Leader, Mercer.
Among the world’s largest metropolitan cities, with populations over ten million, Paris (32nd overall), New York City (40th overall) and London (45th overall) all rank highly in the top 20% of cities overall. Though coveted, popular locations for expats, cities of this size often face some infrastructure challenges.
“The current global landscape is affected by geopolitical turmoil, natural disasters, and other economic challenges, all of which have significant implications for cities and their ability to attract and retain talent. Many employees are reconsidering their priorities and assessing the quality of life provided to them and their families in the places they live and work,” Traber added.
“For many employers and their employees, having clarity on these factors informs decision-making for both when considering international assignments.”
In response to employers’ interest in sustainability, Mercer ranked the world’s most environmentally-friendly cities. Canberra, Oslo, Adelaide, Helsinki, and Ottawa all ranked highly for a range of recent sustainability efforts, including effective measures to reduce air pollution and improve water availability and potability.
San Francisco (37th overall) ranks first in the United States for its well-developed infrastructure, pleasant climate and great air quality. Montevideo (89th overall) is the top ranked city in Latin America.
Dubai (79th overall) and Abu Dhabi (84th overall) in the UAE lead the rankings in the Middle East, both renowned for their modern infrastructure and diverse expatriate communities. Closely following is Port Louis (88th overall) with the best quality of living in Africa.
First among Asian cities and 29th overall is Singapore, offering a clean and safe environment combined with highly efficient infrastructure. The highest-ranking city in the Pacific is Auckland (3rd overall) owing to its robust healthcare and dynamic cultural scene.
Mercer’s Quality of Living research evaluates living conditions in more than 450 cities worldwide to help businesses calculate fair and consistent expatriate allowances. Living conditions are analyzed according to 39 factors, grouped into 10 categories: political and social environment, economic environment, socio-cultural environment, medical and health considerations, schools and education, public services and transportation, recreation, consumer goods, housing, and natural environment.
Data for the 2023 Quality of Living Rankings was analyzed between September and November 2023, and it will be updated regularly to account for changing circumstances. In particular, the assessments will be revised to reflect significant political, economic, and environmental developments. All indices were calculated using New York City as the base city, due to its desirability and popularity for international assignees, and its high scores across the 39 factors.
