The price of housing, the availability of schools and hospitals and access to green areas are all factors that make a city ‘liveable’.
A new report from the Economist Intelligence Unit has painstakingly combined 30 factors to determine the world’s ‘most livable’ cities.
The factors – which also include crime rates, road quality and the local economy – fall into five categories that determine a city’s overall score. These five are stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
Vienna in Austria took first place out of 173 cities for the third year in a row with a near-perfect score, missing 100 percent due to a lack of major sporting events.
Western Europe was in fact the most liveable region, with the 30 cities in that area all scoring 92 out of 100.
North America performed less well than Europe.
Canada’s Calgary and Vancouver were the only two North American cities in the top ten. The largest U.S. cities – Los Angeles and New York – ranked 58th and 70th.
Honolulu emerged as the highest-scoring U.S. city for the second year in a row — but it was 23rd overall worldwide. Atlanta was the second-best U.S. city, and Pittsburgh was third.
North America has a high average level of education and can compete with Western Europe in terms of infrastructure and cultural offerings.
1. Honolulu, Haiti
With its sandy beaches and lush rainforests, it’s no wonder Honolulu has once again been named the most livable city in the US.
The coastal city has a tropical climate year-round and the average home price is $650,000.
Unemployment in the city is low (around 3.5 percent) and the job market is flourishing.
Downtown Honolulu is easily walkable and the city also offers several popular public transportation options and a busy international airport.
2. Atlanta, GA
Atlanta ranked second in the US for quality of life.
Georgia’s capital city is home to an abundance of cultural attractions, including the World of Coca-Cola, the Atlanta History Center, and Centennial Olympic Park.
The southern city also has plenty to offer for sports fans who want to follow the Braves (MLB) or the Hawks (NFL).
The average home price in this southern city currently stands at $425,000.
3. Pittsburgh, PA
The third most livable city in the country is the Steel City.
Pittsburgh became an important city during the industrial boom of the Gilded Age and has maintained its position as the heart of the steel industry ever since.
Remnants of the 20th century past can be found in the rich cultural offerings, such as the Carnegie Museum of Art.
The city has a population of about 300,000, with a relatively low unemployment rate of 3.3 percent. The average home price in the city is $274,900.
4. Seattle, WA
Average asking price for a house: $800,000
5. Washington, DC
Average asking price for a home: $614,900
6. Chicago, IL
Average asking price for a home: $389,000
7. Boston, MA
Average asking price for a house: $1,030,000
8. Miami, Florida
Average asking price for a home: $665,000
9. San Francisco, California
Average asking price for a house: $1,200,000
10. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Average asking price for a home: $369,000