Looking for a fresh start? Like, abroad and that? It can pretty difficult to know where to start when looking for somewhere new to call home. So much so that we wouldn’t blame you for giving up after a few cursory Google searches – there are simply too many great options out there.
Handily, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has just released its annual ‘liveability’ study of 173 cities, ranking them according to things like healthcare, political stability, infrastructure and access to green space.
And the best place to move in 2022? It’s... Vienna, which was praised for its notably good infrastructure, excellent healthcare and culture and entertainment options. Europe actually dominates the top of the list, with Copenhagen and Zurich in second and third place (political stability and strong education systems apparently contributed in both cases). Geneva, Frankfurt and Amsterdam also make the top ten.
Canada does particularly well in the rankings, too, with Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto all in the top ten. The report’s authors cited the rising cost of living for the absence of Paris and London. They also cited the UK’s decision to leave the EU as a source of political instability. As for the bottom of the list, Damascus, Lagos and Tripoli were penalised for ongoing conflict, while Kyiv wasn’t included this year due to the war in Ukraine.
Want to know where else is hot right now? Here are the ten most liveable cities in the world, according to the EIU:
1. Vienna, Austria
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Calgary, Canada
5. Vancouver, Canada
6. Geneva, Switzerland
7. Frankfurt, Germany
8. Toronto, Canada
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
10. Osaka, Japan and Melbourne, Australia (tie)
ICYMI: can you guess the happiest city in the world?
Plus: these are officially the world’s best cities for dating.