Dublin and Belfast feature in quality of life survey

Dublin has been named one of the best cities in the world to live, according to a recent quality of life survey.

The results are from Mercer’s Quality of Living Survey which ranks 230 of the world’s cities on a variety of different criteria.

According to Mercer the aim of the survey is to “help multinational companies and other employers fairly compensate employees when placing them on international assignments”.

Ireland’s capital finished a respectable 33rd out of 230 in the list – putting it higher than New York, London, Paris and Barcelona.

Mercer’s results are reached by analysing 39 separate factors which are grouped into ten categories;

• Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc.).
• Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services).
• Socio-cultural environment (media availability and censorship, limitations on personal freedom).
• Medical and health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc.).
• Schools and education (standards and availability of international schools).
• Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transportation, traffic congestion, etc.).
• Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc.).
• Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc.).
• Housing (rental housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services).
• Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters).

Austrian capital Vienna finished in the number one spot in the list, which saw most of the highest places taken up by European cities.

The top 10 cities to live, according to Mercer

1 – Vienna, Austria
2 – Zurich, Switzerland
3 – Auckland, New Zealand
4 – Munich, Germany
5 – Vancouver, Canada
6 – Düsseldorf, Germany
7 – Frankfurt, Germany
8 – Geneva, Switzerland
9 – Copenhagen, Denmark
10 – Sydney, Australia

To find out more visit Mercer’s website.

While Dublin was the only city in the Republic to make the list, Northern Ireland’s capital Belfast was not far behind, finishing 64th – putting it ahead of great American cities such as Houston, Miami and Atlanta.

It’s great to see the two Irish capital cities finishing in respectable positions in the quality of life survey.

Both have a wealth of history and culture and are fantastic cities to visit as well as being great places to live.

Find out more about Dublin.
Find out more about Belfast.

Take a look at Mercer’s video.