For the second year running, Luxembourg has retained top spot in the global quality of life ranking compiled by the Deutsche Bank Research Institute.
Copenhagen came second, with Amsterdam in third place. Vienna and Munich shared fourth place, followed by Frankfurt, Helsinki, Geneva, Zurich and Edinburgh.
The ranking takes into account the population’s purchasing power, safety, healthcare standards, cost of living, affordability of housing, commute times, environmental pollution and climate.
Cities in Western and Northern Europe dominate the top ten. At the same time, the world’s largest financial centres ranked significantly lower: Paris came 43rd, New York 46th, London 47th and Hong Kong 55th.
Their scores are let down by expensive property, high living costs, long commutes and environmental issues. Consequently, high salaries alone do not guarantee a city’s leadership in terms of quality of life.