Thread: Melbourne is the worlds most liveable city

Melbourne has trumped Vancouver to become the best city in the world in which to live, according to the latest Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Survey.

In a ranking of 140 cities around the world, Melbourne was given a score of 97.5 per cent. Other Australian cities in the top 10 are Sydney (96.1 per cent), which ranked sixth best, up from seventh a year ago, and Perth and Adelaide (95.9 per cent), which were unchanged in joint eighth position


"Australia, with a low population density and relatively low crime rates, continues to supply some of the world's most liveable cities," said Jon Copestake, editor of the survey. Vancouver's score slipped after a lower rating for infrastructure.

It seems residents have to pay for what they get, though, with another recent report ranking Sydney as the sixth-most expensive city in the world, with Melbourne coming at No.7. Both cities topped New York and London, mostly because of steep housing costs in Australia.

Residents of Perth boasted the strongest purchasing power in Australia, aided by the fattest pay packets in the land.

On the skids

Not surprisingly, the debt-ridden eurozone countries ranked poorly in the liveability rankings. Greece's capital Athens dropped from 62 to 67th. That ranking put it below Uruguay's capital, Montevideo.

Civil unrest in the Middle East has also contributed to a low score in cities of that region, with Tripoli in Libya diving to 135.

The Economist Intelligence Unit surveys 140 locations around the world to assess the best or the worst living conditions.

In a statement accompanying today's release, the unit said the survey's original purpose had been to supply guidelines to human resources departments worldwide as to when they should provide hardship allowances as part of expatriate relocation packages.

"It has since evolved as a broad benchmarking tool used by city councils, organisations or corporate entities looking to test locations against one another," it said in a statement.

Cities are scored on political and social stability, crime rates and access to quality health care. They are also measured by the diversity and standard of cultural events and the natural environment; education (school and university); and the standard of infrastructure, including public transport.

Every city is assigned a rating of relative comfort for more than 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories: stability; healthcare; culture and environment; education; and infrastructure.

Each factor in a city is rated as acceptable, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable or intolerable. For qualitative indicators, a rating is awarded based on the judgment of in-house analysts and in-city contributors. For quantitative indicators, a rating is calculated based on the relative performance of a number of external data points.

The scores are then compiled and weighted to provide a score of 1–100, where 1 is considered intolerable and 100 is considered ideal. The liveability rating is provided both as an overall score and as a score for each category.

To provide points of reference, the score is also given for each category relative to New York and an overall position in the ranking of 140 cities is provided.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/business/me...#ixzz1WTbDtL00

I loved the comments after the story by people who actually live here.
'Either the cities are changing dramatically every month or the surveys are just being manipulated by interested parties every month! Have always wondered about the practicality of these surveys and the target audience and purpose! I'm trying to figure out how to move cities and/or countries every few months to try and keep up with living in the best city in the world! There is a message in there somewhere.'#
I suppose these 'surveys' are great for massaging the egos of those who live in this weeks most liveable city. Melbourne

What have you done?
Jim will be walking around with a stiffy for weeks after reading that.

Melbourne deserves the title although I prefer Cairns.

I cant see why it deserves the title to be honest.

Well that's just you, it's a good job we are all not the same.

Actually as we are talking about Melbourne I doubt it is JUST me

Don't push your luck, my fingers keeps hovering over the infract button today

Like I said on the other thread, you aren't petty.