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Canadian, European and Australian cities continue to dominate the rankings this year, which saw little significant movement among the top 50 cities.

Zurich, Geneva, Vienna, Vancouver, and Auckland remain the top scoring cities on the Quality of Living index. One of this year’s biggest improvements has been in Osaka, rising 8 places to 42 from 51. Improvement was also seen in Oslo, which climbed five places from 31 to 26.

The rankings are based on data collected between September and November 2006 and the data is regularly updated to take account of changing circumstances. Only 215 cities have been considered in the Quality of Living 2007 rankings and any assessment will be revised in the case of any new developments.

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The top five cities in Asia were:

• Auckland (tied for 5th)
• Sydney (tied for 9th)
• Wellington (12th)
• Melbourne (17th)
• Perth (21st)

Osaka (tied for 42nd) was the lowest ranking Asian city in the top 50.

The top five cities in Europe were:

• Zurich (1st)
• Geneva (2nd)
• Vienna (tied 3th)
• Dusseldorf (tied for 5th)
• Frankfort (7th)

The lowest ranking European city in the top 50 was Milan (tied for 49th).

The top five cities in the Americas were:

• Vancouver (3rd)
• Toronto (15th)
• Ottawa (tied for 18th)
• Montreal (22nd)
• Calgary (24th)

The lowest ranking Americas city in the top 50 was Seattle (tied for 49th).

Quality of Living Reports include:

A city-to-city index comparison (any city can be selected as a base)

• An evaluation and commentary describing the quality-of-living rating for each of the 39 factors
• The methodology for establishing quality-of-living differentials between cities
• A Quality-of-Living Allowance Grid that allows you to translate the quality-of-living index into hardship allowancesQuality of Living vs. the quality of life

The Quality of Living index is based on several criteria used to judge whether an expatriate is entitled to a hardship allowance. A city with a high Quality of Living index is a safe and stable one, but it may be lacking the dynamic je ne sais quoi that makes people want to live in world-renowned cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London or New York. Sometimes you need a little spice to make a city exciting. But that “spice” may also give a city a lower ranking. What makes one person’s quality of life better or worse cannot be quantified in an objective index. Therefore, Quality of Living report reflects only the tangible aspects of living in a city on expatriate assignments, and leaves the question of the quality of one’s life to those living it!

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Slagin Parakatil
Geneva, Switzerland