Today on The Right Hook, quality of living and where to find it had George thinking. The multinational management consultancy Mercer released its annual poll of the best cities to live in, and George poured over the list with former Irish Times environment editor, and seasoned traveler, Frank McDonald.
While the neighbouring city of Salzburg was making headlines all week in light of the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music, the Austrian capital Vienna can hold its head high, having been ranked as the world’s best city for quality of living.
With cafés on every corner, lots of green spaces, vivid cultural scene and public transportation links, the management consultancy firm Mercer placed Vienna number one on its global survey of the best places to live.
The annual survey takes account of the living conditions in some 440 cities worldwide, running the numbers on 39 factors including political stability, crime, media censorship, medical supplies and services, availability of international schools and public transportation.
The survey’s intent is to help multinational companies to work out the relocation packages for employees when travelling on international assignments, and is dominated by European and German-speaking cities.
Dublin ranked 34th this year, tying with Boston, and polling highest for any city in the British Isles, beating London (which placed 40th).
Check out the gallery of the 10 cities with the best quality of living below, and let us know if you agree, or what cities you think deserve the title? You can send your comments to the show by email (info@newstalk.com), by text message (53106 – texts cost 30c each), on Facebook or by tweeting @newstalkfm or@ghook, using the hashtag #bestcities.
