New quality of living study... Vienna = 1st, Baghdad = FAIL

[AussieDodger]

http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.htm?idContent=1173105

Interesting decisions.......

Top ten:

1 VIENNA AUSTRIA 108.6
2 ZURICH SWITZERLAND 108
3 GENEVA SWITZERLAND 107.9
4 VANCOUVER CANADA 107.4
4 AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND 107.4
6 DUSSELDORF GERMANY 107.2
7 FRANKFURT GERMANY 107
7 MUNICH GERMANY 107
9 BERN SWITZERLAND 106.5
10 SYDNEY AUSTRALIA 106.3

Auckland seems to have pulled their socks up in these lists with their new emphasis on public transport. And for a city that routinely whacks themselves off over these lists, Melbourne in 18th place is pretty funny. (P.S Melbourne sucks)

USA:

31. Honolulu
32. San Francisco
37. Boston
45. Chicago
45. Washington
49. New York
55. Philadelphia
61. Dallas

No surprises for me at least, those are the top two places in the U.S that I'd most like to live.

[The Big Train]

http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.htm?idContent=1173105

Interesting decisions.......

Top ten:

1 VIENNA AUSTRIA 108.6
2 ZURICH SWITZERLAND 108
3 GENEVA SWITZERLAND 107.9
4 VANCOUVER CANADA 107.4
4 AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND 107.4
6 DUSSELDORF GERMANY 107.2
7 FRANKFURT GERMANY 107
7 MUNICH GERMANY 107
9 BERN SWITZERLAND 106.5
10 SYDNEY AUSTRALIA 106.3

Auckland seems to have pulled their socks up in these lists with their new emphasis on public transport. And for a city that routinely whacks themselves off over these lists, Melbourne in 18th place is pretty funny. (P.S Melbourne sucks)
USA:

31. Honolulu
32. San Francisco
37. Boston
45. Chicago
45. Washington
49. New York
55. Philadelphia
61. Dallas

No surprises for me at least, those are the top two places in the U.S that I'd most like to live.

You are going to need to write a letter to the editor of The Economist. They did their own list and Melbourne placed third. Sydney, Perth and Adelaide also finished in the top 10.

This list always gets a lot of press coverage here in Vancouver every year and invariably the politicians like to talk it up as if they are personally responsible for the perennial high rankings. I always find it amusing since there is hardly a month that goes by that I don't think about leaving.

[Mookie4ever]

If I had to choose between Honolulu and Munich I don't think that I would be picking Munich. Germany may have a high standard of living but not if you are not German.

[Art Vandelay]

I don't know how people live in Hawaii (or other small islands). I'd go stir-crazy. I like a 3,000-mile landmass to drive across if I feel the need.

[Mookie4ever]

I wonder where Ciudad Juarez rank?

[The Artful Dodger]

The only city I've visited in the top 10 is Vancouver and I enjoyed the place. I've never been to Germany oddly enough, but I've heard very positive things about Munich. Been to Switzerland, but only on day trips to the ski resorts.

I wouldn't live in Honolulu, personally. It's a nice place, but it's like any big city, with its traffic problems (just as frustrating as L.A. at times) and it can be quite pricey there. If I lived in Hawaii, I'd just be there to get away from it all, go hiking and surfing basically. I love Hawaii as a vacation destination, especially when it's Winter, not as a place to live. It ranks high as a place to live because it's easier to land a pretty good job there and of course, you can't beat the surroundings.

As for the city list, I think Lyon, Barcelona, and even Madrid are underrated. I've visited Amsterdam, Dublin, and Montreal once, but I'd love to visit them again.

[Inukchuk]

I wouldn't live in Honolulu, personally. It's a nice place, but it's like any big city, with its traffic problems (just as frustrating as L.A. at times) and it can be quite pricey there. If I lived in Hawaii, I'd just be there to get away from it all, go hiking and surfing basically. I love Hawaii as a vacation destination, especially when it's Winter, not as a place to live. It ranks high as a place to live because it's easier to land a pretty good job there and of course, you can't beat the surroundings.

Never been to Oahu, but I have visited Maui twice. I would move there in a second if teacher salaries were even close to cost of living expenses. Real estate is absolutely through the roof.

[Grounded Polo]

I'm calling BS on Dallas over Austin for TX.

[thedude]

I don't know how people live in Hawaii (or other small islands). I'd go stir-crazy. I like a 3,000-mile landmass to drive across if I feel the need.

It is the cost of living that would get you. 80k in Hawaii is like 45k in Texas.

[Art Vandelay]

I don't know how people live in Hawaii (or other small islands). I'd go stir-crazy. I like a 3,000-mile landmass to drive across if I feel the need.

It is the cost of living that would get you. 80k in Hawaii is like 45k in Texas.

I don't think that would bother me. Before moving to my current location, the last two places I lived were the Bay Area and DC and, while they may not be quite as high as Hawaii, they are both expensive places to live.