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World's 10 best cities to live in

August 27, 2015 10:40 IST

Melbourne is the world's best city to live in.

Cities in Australia and Canada have dominated the list of most livable places in the world. 

The survey has ranked cities in the areas of health care, education, stability, culture and environment and infrastructure.

The survey finds that mid-sized cities in richer countries with a relatively low population density scored highly in the ranking. 

“Civil unrest, acts of terror and violence have triggered stability declines around the world. High profile terrorist shootings in France and Tunisia, and the ongoing actions of Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East have created a further heightened threat of terrorism in many countries,” states the study.

Take a look at the world’s most livable cities…

Image: Melbourne, Australia, is the most livable city in the world. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Melbourne (Australia)

Rank: 1

It’s once again Melbourne topping the charts of the world's most liveable cities.

For the fifth year in a row, Melbourne has received a near perfect score on the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) liveability survey of 140 cities.

The ranking, which considers 30 factors related to things like safety, healthcare, educational resources, infrastructure and environment in 140 cities, shows that since 2010 average liveability across the world has fallen by 1 per cent due to fall in stability and safety.


Image: Vienna ranks second. Photograph: Herwig Prammer/Reuters

Vienna (Austria)

Rank: 2

A paradise for tourists, Vienna is the capital and largest city in Austria.

The city designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site has consistently performed on a number of parameters to rank high among most livable cities. 

Image: Vancouver is ranked third. Photograph: Ben Nelms/Reuters

Vancover (Canada)

Rank: 3

Vancouver is consistently ranked one of the top five cities for quality of life.

Forbes magazine has also ranked Vancouver as the tenth cleanest city in the world. 

Vancouver has become a preferred destination for software development, biotechnology, aerospace, video animation and film industry. 



Image: Toronto is the 4th best city to live in. Photograph: Mark Blinch/Reuters

Toronto (Canada)

Rank: 4 

Consistently rated as one of the best cities to live in, by Economist Intelligence Unit and the Mercer Quality of Living, Canada's commercial capital, Toronto, houses headquarters of many multinational corporations.

The city is a hub for technology, design, financial services, life sciences, education, arts, fashion, business and tourism. 

Image: Calgary, Canada. Photograph: Todd Korol/Reuters

Calgary (Canada)

Rank: 5

Calgary is the second city from Canada to figure in the list of most livable cities.

Calgary is a hub of energy, financial services, film and television, transportation and logistics, technology, manufacturing, aerospace, health and wellness, retail, and tourism sectors. 

Image: Adelaide, Australia. Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

Adelaide (Australia)

Rank: 6 

Continuing the dominance of Australian cities, Adelaide ranks high in offering a high quality of life to its citizens. 

Fifth-largest city in Australia, Adelaide is home to many governmental and financial institutions.

The city is also famous for festivals and sporting events, food, wine and beautiful beaches. 

Image: Sydney, Australia. Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

Sydney (Australia)

Rank: 7 

A leading financial hub of the Asia pacific region, Sydney boasts of two renowned attractions - Sydney Opera House and the SydneyHarbourBridge.

Sydney has also been ranked as one of the best places to work in. Residents of the city have a high purchasing power. 

Image: Perth, Australia. Photograph: Rebekah KebedeReuters

Perth (Australia)

Rank: 8 

Perth is the fourth city from Australia to figure in the list of most livable cities.

The city is an education and cultural hub and a tourism hotspot. 



Image: Auckland. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Auckland (New Zealand)

Rank: 9

Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand is the second city from the country to figure among the top 10 cities.

The country’s largest commercial capital also boasts of offering high median personal incomes. 


Image: Helsinki, Finland. Photograph: Jarno Mela/Lehtikuva/Reuters

Helsinki (Finland)

Rank: 10

A major educational, financial, cultural, and research hub, Helsinki has been ranked across various surveys as one of the best cities to live in.

Image: Zurich, Switzerland. Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Zurich (Switzerland)

Rank: 10

A global city, Zurich is ranked among the world's largest financial centres.

The city houses a large number of financial institutions and banking companies.

Rediff Business Desk