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VIENNA STILL BEST, BAGHDAD WORST

Manila slips in global quality of living 2018 index


Austria’s capital Vienna once again defended its position as the city offering the best quality of life in the world, while Iraq’s capital Baghdad remains the worst in an annual survey from consulting firm Mercer.

Manila, previously at 135, now ranks 137, tied with Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Singapore (25) remains the most liveable city in the region.

Manila ranks below the following Southeast Asian countries:

  • Singapore (25, previously 25)
  • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (85, previously 86)
  • Johor Bahru, Malaysia (101, previously 103)
  • Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei (106, previously 104)
  • Bangkok, Thailand (132, previously 131)

The Philippine capital ranks above the following Southeast Asian countries:

  • Jakarta, Indonesia (142, previously 143)
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (152, previously 152)
  • Hanoi, Vietnam (155, previously 156)
  • Vientiane, Laos (170, previously 171)
  • Phnom Penh, Cambodia (197, previously 198)
  • Yangon, Myanmar (203, previously 203)

Five Japanese cities top the ranking for East Asia: Tokyo (50), Kobe (50), Yokohama (55), Osaka (59), and Nagoya (64).

Dhaka, Bangladesh (230) in South Asia ranks the lowest for the region.

Mercer’s survey of 231 cities helps companies and organizations determine compensation and hardship allowances for international staff. Its criteria include political stability, health care, education, crime, recreation and transport.

Europe has eight of the world’s top 10 most pleasant cities: Germany and Switzerland each have three cities in the top 10, while New Zealand, Canada and Australia each have one.

With a population of 1.8 million, Vienna topped the survey for the ninth year in a row, boasting a vibrant cultural scene, comprehensive healthcare and moderate housing costs.

Vienna is followed by Switzerland’s Zurich and then New Zealand’s Auckland and Germany’s Munich in joint third.

Vancouver, ranked fifth, offers the best quality of living in North America. Montevideo at 77 topped the Latin American places. The best African entry on the list was South Africa’s Durban in 89th place.

Over the past 20 years, living standards increased the most in some eastern European cities such as Sarajevo, now at 159, and Bratislava, at 80, the report said.

“As a result of increased living standards, a competitive labor market and talent availability, many of these cities have started attracting multinational businesses setting up new operations,” said Martine Ferland, Mercer's EuroPac and International Health president.

Baghdad has been at the bottom of the list for a decade now. Waves of sectarian violence have swept through the city since the American-led invasion in 2003.

Yemen’s capital Sanaa, devastated by conflict, ranked two places above Baghdad, and Syria’s Damascus, seven years into a civil war, ranked six places above Iraq’s capital. —with a report from Reuters

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