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Best & Worst Cities in Which to Live

by Neil Woodburn (RSS feed) on Apr 11th 2006 at 12:10PM

Well it’s that time of year again for some cities to stand up and proudly beat their chests, and for others to cower in shame: The annual Quality of Living Index report has just been released.

The report is compiled to help businesses determine if they need to consider a “hardship allowance” when sending their employees to work abroad. Thirty-nine “living determinants” are analyzed to create the report, varying from censorship, theaters, availability of food, climate, housing, and more.

Interestingly, New York is the “base city” upon which all others are indexed. With this in mind, the very best city according to the report is Zurich with a 108.2 index. Read literally, Zurich is 8% better than New York. Baghdad, at just 14.5 has bagged last place and is 85.5% worse. Ouch.

American cities don’t make an appearance until Honolulu (103.3) pops up at 27th place, followed closely by San Francisco (103.2). Time to start thinking about moving to Europe.

1 ZURICH Switzerland 108.2
2 GENEVA Switzerland 108.1
3 VANCOUVER Canada 107.7
4 VIENNA Austria 107.5
5 AUCKLAND New Zealand 107.3
6 DUSSELDORF Germany 107.2
7 FRANKFURT Germany 107.0
8 MUNICH Germany 106.8
9 BERN Switzerland 106.5
9 SYDNEY Australia 106.5

To Download the Top 50 click here.

Filed under: Europe, Switzerland

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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 5)

tracey Apr 13th 2006 1:02PM

hi evy, it's a shame u have never been to nyc... i have lived in nyc, queens and long island. new york has so much to offer, there is so much culture and diversity. it has something for everyone.. if u'r into fashion and shopping can't beat it, if it's culture and arts your into it has some of the best museums, theatre, galleries , restaurants etc.
and people from anywhere elae may feel new yorkers are rude..but it really is the exact opposite. no matter what happens, new yorkers always pull together and hold each other up...
hope ya get to visit some time..u'd love it!

Sergei Apr 13th 2006 1:06PM

I have also lived in NYC, HNL, London, and Frankfurt when I was working for a major international airline. I agree with the list....The USA has alot to offer but quality of city life it doesn't...Alot to do doesn't always mean quality of life....I honestly believe the quality of life in the USA is slowly slipping away from its citizens....Thank you Mr. Bush and the intolerate homophobic gorvernment.

Calvin B Apr 13th 2006 1:06PM

I'd like to see U.S cities only

Lynn Apr 13th 2006 1:25PM

Oh my gosh...Eugene...tell me you are NOT for real. I feel like I have just stepped back in time. I am from the Midwest, re-located to So. Ca. after I got married many years ago and now have a daughter living in NYC; I've traveled all over Europe AND I married someone from Mexico and NEVER have I EVER heard such bigotry. You are an embarrassment to our society and all that it is SUPPOSED to represent.

Wil Apr 13th 2006 1:49PM

IM sorry but New York is the base of all cities. No if ands or buts about it. The only reason why people trash talk it is one, they have never been there, and two, they are jealous because they can never hold there own to NYC. Anyway dont you think the media portrays everything the wrong way, and crime rates are lower than in other cities. Houston, and San Antonio are in the top 10 for the most dangerous cities so...............booyah

Lynn Apr 13th 2006 1:54PM

New York City is the best place to live. You just cant beat the theatre, restaurants and culture that makes this city #1.
Where else can you get a hot dog at 5AM, let alone the best dam french fries in the world????

rowief Apr 13th 2006 2:13PM

SAN DIEGO hands down!!!

Brian Bresee Apr 13th 2006 2:37PM

Quality is in the eye of the beholder. This list was put together by a ultra liberal elitist. So the list is garbage as a true ranking, which quite be impossible to make one that fits all.

Barbara Apr 13th 2006 2:44PM

I guess if all you care about is the scenery in your life, with all of the us's faults I would prefer it over the Europeans they are disgraceful people

larrybelbotom Apr 13th 2006 2:46PM

you people need to get a life. according to the law most people are slaves. if you don't know that then you are stupid dumb and ignorant. you probably don't know then that there are 2 united states. the u.s. and the united States of the Americas.

larrybelbotom Apr 13th 2006 2:48PM

you see i can't write anything about the united states and it gets taken off the air

Barbara Apr 13th 2006 2:49PM

oh how wonderful, riots and burning down countries and citys is my idea of a good time.....whatever. economys in the gutter, etc yeah, europe is real cool.

larrybelbotom Apr 13th 2006 2:50PM

sergei
you need to thank the stupid dumb public for not using their god given rights in the u.s.

larrybelbotom Apr 13th 2006 2:54PM

the list is made by white people to sucker other people to pay a lot of money for services which you can get everywhere in the world except iraq if you like a m16 in your belly.

Barbara Apr 13th 2006 2:56PM

I have never heard anything but, the French are the rudest people in the world. I care more about my life then the buildings or the scenery the usa has beautiful scenery. some of the best. funny how these things never focus on the down side of these cities does France even have buildings left from all their rioting caused from their racism. ummmm how many are unemployed in France and Germany? Oh, i get it, when they speak of these " so called best cities" they dont show their poverty. I get it. and how about 15 thousand + that died from heat in one week in France. way to take care of your seniors. yeah.....ooooraaaah Europe.....get real

susan kranau Apr 13th 2006 2:57PM

have you heard of blatent communism and noseyness.
thats what I live with everyday. be glad you live anywhere but where I live. everyday is like waking up to a nightmare. and that is a blatent fact.

Barbara Apr 13th 2006 3:05PM

where is it? Switzerland that makes drug use legal, they not only have made it legal they promote it. supplying their " pillars of the community" with tools to make drug addiction easy for them. France and Germany have economys in the gutter very high unemployment. Riots in France I bet is a real " must see" on my list of fun things to do. Some twisted liberal put this together?

Rich Apr 14th 2006 12:05AM

All of you people have way too much time on your hands

Ana C May 9th 2006 5:54PM

I was looking for the list of Cities in America I can move to or have a long proyect in, and to be honest, I would rather go to SAn Diego and maybe loose the opportunity to have "fun" 24 hours than to face the crueless newyorkers...is the fast life which makes you so undesirable? or is just a few of you that has the habit of disrespect other people opinion? I prefer to take second option.

Peace!