I enjoy a good a good ranking, especially when it gives me some sort of bragging rights to hold over other people (I’m not competitive, you’re competitive).
There are plenty of ways that people rank cities — from their beauty, to the cost of living there, to how friendly the people who live there are. The ultimate ranking however, is an overall liveability ranking.
Economist Intelligence Unit’s “Global Liveability Report,” ranks the best cities to live in the world, by comparing the stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure of 140 cities to form an overall score.
I’m pleased to inform you that three Australian cities made the top 10 list, which you can check out below.
#10 Adelaide, Australia
Overall rating (out of 100): 96.6
Stability: 95.0
Healthcare: 100.0
Culture and environment: 94.2
Education: 100.0
Infrastructure: 96.4
From wineries to pristine beaches, we already knew there were so many reasons to visit South Australia. The fact that Adelaide is the 10th best city in the world to live in is just one more. Luckily for the rest of us, South Australia has opened up to (nearly) all states and territories.
#9 Copenhagen
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Overall rating (out of 100): 96.8
Stability: 95.0
Healthcare: 95.8
Culture and environment: 95.4
Education: 100.0
Infrastructure: 100.0
It’s long been considered one of the best cities for expats, so there’s no surprise Copenhagen has made the list. This effortlessly cool city with its stylish locals might have a fairly high cost of living, but all its other system in place make it a solid place to call home.
#8 Toronto (tie)
Overall rating (out of 100): 97.2
Stability: 100.0
Healthcare: 100.0
Culture and environment: 97.2
Education: 100.0
Infrastructure: 89.3
Everyone I speak to who is, or has ever, lived in Toronto cannot speak highly enough about it. So I’m not really surprised it makes the list, and you’ve got to love those stability, healthcare, and education marks. In fact, Canada is the only other countries with three cities in the top 10.
#7 Tokyo (tie)
Overall rating (out of 100): 97.2
Stability: 100.0
Healthcare: 100.0
Culture and environment: 94.4
Education: 100.0
Infrastructure: 92.9
Tokyo tied with Toronto, with almost identical marks except for a little less in culture and environment, and a little more in infrastructure. This city is just a world of its own with the quirky hotels, bright lights and delish food. They’re even getting their own Harry Potter world, so you know, it’s basically a giant theme park.
#6 Vancouver, Canada
Overall rating (out of 100): 97.3
Stability: 95.0
Healthcare: 100.0
Culture and environment: 100.0
Education: 100.0
Infrastructure: 92.9
Having lived in Vancouver myself (like many other Aussies), it’s no surprise to me it’s in the top 10. There is something almost magical about having beaches and snow-capped mountains in the same place. Sure, the city has dropped form its top ranking in 2010, but six is still pretty good.
#5 Calgary, Canada
Overall rating (out of 100): 97.5
Stability: 100.0
Healthcare: 100.0
Culture and environment: 90.0
Education: 100.0
Infrastructure: 100.0
Whether you like country music or not, being in town during Calgary Stampede is one of the best things you’ll ever do in life. That alone would rank Calgary for me, but being so close to the stunning Rocky Mountains, as well a thriving restaurant scene tip it over the edge.
#4 Osaka, Japan
Overall rating (out of 100): 97.7
Stability: 100.0
Healthcare: 100.0
Culture and environment: 93.5
Education: 100.0
Infrastructure: 96.4
The third-largest city in Japan actually ranked higher than the country’s capital. Osaka is considered one of the best food cities in the whole nation, so that’s probably a very good start. Oh and, um, did we mention a whole Super Nintendo theme park is opening up?
#3 Sydney
Overall rating: 98.1
Stability: 95
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 97.2
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 100
Sydney was actually the only city to improve its score this year, bumping a few others down a rung. The improvement comes thanks to its new culture and environment score, which has been credited to the “Sustainable Sydney 2030” plans to make the city more eco-friendly.
#2 Melbourne
Overall rating: 98.4
Stability: 95
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 98.6
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 100
Here we go Australia, just over here crushing it. While it’s often made top spot on the liveability list, number two in the world is nothing to scoff at. As we know, it makes the list for it’s trendy yet sophisticated personality and myriad of cool things to do (in better times of course, we can’t blame Melbourne for COVID-19).
#1 Vienna
Overall rating: 99.1
Stability: 100
Healthcare: 100
Culture & Environment: 96.3
Education: 100
Infrastructure: 100
With a near perfect score, this European city did manage to take out top spot for 2020. Vienna is very affordable, without giving up on adventure and culture. Considered a front runner in foodie culture generally, it’s also considered one of the best cities for vegetarians.
(Lead Image: Unsplash / Laura Cros)
Kassia Byrnes
Kassia is the Editor of AWOL, and a straight-up travel addict. She was born without a sense of direction, yet an intense desire to explore the world. As such, she's lost 90% of the time but she's learned to roll with it. You can catch her latest adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
