Honolulu Top U.S. City in Global Quality of Life Survey
The highest entry for the United States is Honolulu, appearing at number 28. The rankings are based on a point scoring index, which sees Zurich scoring 108, while Baghdad scores 13.5. Cities are compared to New York as the base city, with an index score of 100.
The quality of living survey covers 215 cities and is conducted to help governments and major companies place employees on international assignments. The survey also identifies those cities with the highest personal safety ranking based on internal stability, crime, effectiveness of law enforcement and relationships with other countries. According to Slagin Parakatil, senior researcher at Mercer, “Businesses face constant challenges in identifying new markets, expanding operations and acquiring and strategically deploying resources. Establishing suitable allowances linked to local costs and quality of living is essential in encouraging expatriate employees with transferable skills to accept international assignments.” He added: “Personal and family safety is of paramount importance when employees consider opportunities overseas. Cities that are, or are perceived as, unsafe may experience difficulties in attracting the best people and skills.”
In the US, after Honolulu (28) comes San Francisco (29), Boston (37) and Chicago (44). Washington, DC, ranks 44, above New York (49).
Mercer’s study is based on detailed assessments and evaluations of 39 key quality of living determinants, grouped in the following categories:
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Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc)
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Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services, etc)
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Socio-cultural environment (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc)
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Health and sanitation (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc)
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Schools and education (standard and availability of international schools, etc)
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Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion, etc)
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Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc)
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Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc)
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Housing (housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc)
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Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)
Top 50 cities: Quality of living
Rank 2008 |
Rank 2007 |
City |
Country |
Index 2008 |
Index 2007 |
1 |
1 |
Zurich |
Switzerland |
108 |
108.1 |
2 |
3 |
Vienna |
Austria |
107.9 |
107.7 |
2 |
2 |
Geneva |
Switzerland |
107.9 |
108.0 |
4 |
3 |
Vancouver |
Canada |
107.6 |
107.7 |
5 |
5 |
Auckland |
New Zealand |
107.3 |
107.3 |
6 |
5 |
Dusseldorf |
Germany |
107.2 |
107.3 |
7 |
8 |
Munich |
Germany |
107 |
106.9 |
7 |
7 |
Frankfurt |
Germany |
107 |
107.1 |
9 |
9 |
Bern |
Switzerland |
106.5 |
106.5 |
10 |
9 |
Sydney |
Australia |
106.3 |
106.5 |
11 |
11 |
Copenhagen |
Denmark |
106.2 |
106.2 |
12 |
12 |
Wellington |
New Zealand |
105.8 |
105.8 |
13 |
13 |
Amsterdam |
The Netherlands |
105.7 |
105.7 |
14 |
14 |
Brussels |
Belgium |
105.4 |
105.6 |
15 |
15 |
Toronto |
Canada |
105.3 |
105.4 |
16 |
16 |
Berlin |
Germany |
105 |
105.2 |
17 |
17 |
Melbourne |
Australia |
104.8 |
105.0 |
17 |
18 |
Luxembourg |
Luxembourg |
104.8 |
104.8 |
19 |
18 |
Ottawa |
Canada |
104.7 |
104.8 |
20 |
20 |
Stockholm |
Sweden |
104.5 |
104.7 |
21 |
21 |
Perth |
Australia |
104.3 |
104.5 |
22 |
22 |
Montreal |
Canada |
104.2 |
104.3 |
23 |
23 |
Nurnberg |
Germany |
104.1 |
104.2 |
24 |
26 |
Oslo |
Norway |
103.7 |
103.5 |
25 |
27 |
Dublin |
Ireland |
103.5 |
103.3 |
25 |
24 |
Calgary |
Canada |
103.5 |
103.6 |
27 |
24 |
Hamburg |
Germany |
103.4 |
103.6 |
28 |
27 |
Honolulu, HI |
United States |
103.1 |
103.3 |
29 |
29 |
San Francisco, CA |
United States |
103 |
103.2 |
29 |
30 |
Helsinki |
Finland |
103 |
103.1 |
29 |
30 |
Adelaide |
Australia |
103 |
103.1 |
32 |
34 |
Singapore |
Singapore |
102.9 |
102.5 |
32 |
33 |
Paris |
France |
102.9 |
102.7 |
34 |
32 |
Brisbane |
Australia |
102.4 |
102.8 |
35 |
35 |
Tokyo |
Japan |
102.2 |
102.3 |
36 |
36 |
Lyon |
France |
101.9 |
101.9 |
37 |
36 |
Boston, MA |
United States |
101.8 |
101.9 |
38 |
38 |
Yokohama |
Japan |
101.6 |
101.7 |
38 |
39 |
London |
United Kingdom |
101.6 |
101.2 |
40 |
40 |
Kobe |
Japan |
100.9 |
101.0 |
41 |
49 |
Milan |
Italy |
100.8 |
99.9 |
42 |
41 |
Barcelona |
Spain |
100.6 |
100.6 |
43 |
42 |
Madrid |
Spain |
100.5 |
100.5 |
44 |
44 |
Washington, DC |
United States |
100.3 |
100.4 |
44 |
42 |
Osaka |
Japan |
100.3 |
100.5 |
44 |
47 |
Lisbon |
Portugal |
100.3 |
100.1 |
44 |
44 |
Chicago, IL |
United States |
100.3 |
100.4 |
48 |
46 |
Portland, OR |
United States |
100.2 |
100.3 |
49 |
48 |
New York City, NY |
United States |
100 |
100.0 |
50 |
49 |
Seattle, WA |
United States |
99.8 |
99.9 |
To view the Mercer article online, click here.
