Times, they are a-changing! Every year we learn a little bit more about the cities around us and each year our awareness grows in terms of finding opportunity. Nowadays people aren’t as content growing up where they are born and many folks are looking for greener pastures. In order to cater to the needs of these individuals we decided to compile a list of the world’s most livable cities. Some of these cities will only be a cheap flight away from where you call home. Others might be clear across the globe. Either way, it’s time to start considering relocating. Listed below are the 11 most livable cities for the year of 2016!
Vancouver, Canada.
Let’s just jump across the boarder and head to the city of Vancouver for some quality time in Canada. Vancouver is one of the most frequently high rated cities in the world thanks to a variety of different reasons. Vancouver is a coastal city that benefits from being a ‘planned city’. That is, the spread of the city’s limits has been carefully cultivated in order to ensure cohesiveness and a lack of urban sprawl. Mixed development of high rise buildings and multi use centers has helped Vancouver to be a condensed and beautiful city. Not only is crime low in Vancouver, but the city is also considered one of the cleanest in the entire world — and that’s really saying something for such a large place. Still, there are some downsides. Your online car insurance will likely be jacked up by car insurance companies and affording real estate in the area is likely to be a bummer. However, Vancouver is a cultivator of arts (often called ‘Little Hollywood’) and jobs (a major tech center) so there is very real potential here for people looking to try something new.
Vancouver, Canada
Rochester, Minnesota.
Do you want to live somewhere where you can get low cost car insurance while also benefiting from strong social programs, affordable living accommodations, and beautiful culture? Say no more and head right down to Rochester, Minnesota. The American Midwest is largely forgotten thanks to the attractions of the various coastal cities in the United States but that honestly has just kept these little gems even more precious. Rochester is currently in the midst of an economic boom thanks to a surplus in new businesses and new jobs being provided. All of this comes back to a city infrastructure that focuses on taking care of the local residents. Houses are ultra affordable, the Rochester school system borders on elite, and most citizens of the area agree that the healthcare in the area is top notch. You will have to deal with some heavy duty winters but that might just be a price worth paying in order to land in such a sweet spot.
Rochester, Minnesota
Boulder, Colorado.
Do you love mountainous views, progressive politics, and a strong sense of local pride? Then consider heading off to Boulder, Colorado. Boulder is considered one of the most liberal cities in the world and it is filled with creative artists and a community that prides itself on its talented inhabitants. You’ll see a slew of restaurants that focus on local production only and you’ll never run out of stuff outside to do in order to work off those high calorie meals. Boulder has a little something exciting to do in every season: hiking, rock climbing, skiing, fishing, cycling and so much more. A solid school system and productive social infrastructure only furthers our adoration of Colorado’s ‘other’ city.
Boulder, Colorado
San Francisco, California.
San Francisco is a gorgeous city set on the bay and it is home to a variety of cultural and social progressive values. While the real estate prices are rightfully scored in San Francisco, the city still manages to be one of the most livable locations in all of the United States. San Francisco is well regarded for its exceptionally pleasing seasons: mild summers, warm winters, and more sunny days than you can shake a stick at. San Francisco has a ton of city pride and residents who end up in the city will soon fall in love with it as if it were their own.
San Francisco
Fargo, North Dakota.
Fargo isn’t just the name of an incredible movie. Nope, Fargo is actually one of the most underrated cities to live in — especially for recent college graduates. Fargo has a diverse economy, a low cost of living, and the benefit of small town serenity to keep things calm. There are tons of things to do in the city: museums, theaters, night life, and sports and you’ll never have to worry about beating rush hour traffic at any time. You can get a decent one or two bedroom apartment for under $1,000, here.
Fargo, North Dakota
Singapore
Now we are heading overseas to Asia to bask in the joy that Singapore is rapidly becoming. The Republic of Singapore has turned into one of Asia’s most progressive and livable city’s and for good reason. Singapore has an extensive ‘green policy’ that has kept the city flush with gorgeous plants, parks, and gardens. Singapore ranks 11th in the world for its ‘Human Development Index’ which focuses on education, healthcare, quality of life, safety, and life expectancy. Singapore offers incredibly low taxes and has the highest per capita income in the country. Almost 90% of residents outright own their own homes. These number are impossible to fathom in just about any other city on earth. Singapore also has one of the most well respected governments in the world, being labeled ‘incorrupt’ in several different places.
Singapore
Geneva, Switzerland.
Geneva is the first city to be represented by Switzerland on our list and certainly not the last. Geneva is considered a center for diplomacy amongst the world thanks to how many international companies have offices in the area. This is also the place where the historic Geneva Conventions were put in place. The compact nature of the city makes traveling a breeze and the lack of crime has helped it to garner the nickname of the ‘Peace Capital’. These are great features to look for within a city.
Geneva, Switzerland
Houston, Texas.
The Lone Star State makes its appearance on our list with the city of Houston. Houston is the highest populated city in all of Texas and the fourth most populated city in the United States. Houston is a hub of innovation and technology with NASA calling the city its home. Houston also is considered one of the most diverse cities on the planet. Tech oriented folks should check out Houston if they need a job and an affordable place to live.
Houston, Texas
Auckland, New Zealand.
Now we are going to give some Kiwi Pride to the North Island of New Zealand which hosts the city of Auckland. Auckland is the largest urban area in the entire country with a population of 1.4 million people — good for 32% of New Zealand’s entire population. Auckland routinely lands in the top 5 spot in the world’s most livable cities and this is due to a variety of reasons, most of which relating to the city’s business acumen. Most large international companies will have an office in Auckland as it is considered the largest economic capital in the nation. The average New Zealand resident also makes fantastic money which helps keep crime low, unemployment low, and happiness high.
Auckland, new Zealand
Zurich, Switzerland.
Zurich is a city with a long and noble history. The lineage of the city can be traced back for over 2,000 years back to 15 BC when the Romans founded the location. Zurich is one of the largest financial centers in the entire world despite having only a population of 1.3 million people in the urban area. The Zurich Airport as well as their various rail systems are amongst the busiest in all of Switzerland and this is a testament to how truly busy they are. The quality of life in Zurich has placed the city at the top of lists for the past decade, peaking from 2006 to 2008. Low tax rates and easy transportation will keep Zurich as a hustling, bustling and profitable city.
Zurich, Switzerland
Vienna, Austria.
For years we have seen Vienna sort of lurk in the background as one of the hidden gems in the world but now the largest city in Austria, as well as the country’s capital, is finally getting the notice that it deserves. Take a look at ‘liveable city’ rankings for the better part of the last decade and you will see that the sprawling metropolitan area continually ranks in the top two or three spots in terms of quality of life. A big reason for Vienna’s continued success is its central location in Europe coupled with the falling of the Berlin Wall. This made Vienna the perfect spot for companies to land if they wanted ease of access to other European countries all from a fairly moderate location. Vienna is well regarded for its low crime, high wages, and stable public service offerings all over the city. There is a population of over 1.8 million people in the city alone with over 2.6 million being listed in the entire metro area. Tourists even flock to the location in order to see any of the more than 100 art museums in the metro area.
Vienna, Austria
