According to the Global Liveability Index 2021, have a read on to find out which of these 10 liveable cities have been providing the best living conditions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic so far.
1. Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland is dedicated to the people who prefer a milder climate and an amicable mix of Western with Maori culture.
What does Auckland have to offer?
- Auckland’s lifestyle is influenced by the fact that while it is 70% rural in land area, 90% of Aucklanders are urban dwellers.
- Positive aspects of life here are its plentiful employment and educational opportunities, and numerous leisure facilities.
- Public transport includes buses and trains. People here are largely dependent on private transport to get to places.
2. Osaka, Japan
Osaka was traditionally considered Japan’s economic hub and a major port. It flourished as the cultural hub around the 18th century. Following the Meiji Restoration, Osaka underwent heavy industrialization and is currently a major financial centre.
What does Osaka have to offer?
- Well-connected by railways similar to the capital. It also has two airports – Kansai International for international and Osaka International for domestic flights and cargo.
- Well-connected domestically and internationally by the ferry system.
- Osaka is renowned for its electronic market in both innovativeness and variety.
- It has many theatres catering to traditional Japanese and modern tastes, such as ballet, opera and western plays.
- There are plenty of museums, galleries and musical sites in and around the city.
- The educational system is much like that in Tokyo and is catered to by a wide range of universities in the district. Foreigners prefer to stay within the Kobe area, and it is one of the most expensive places as per living costs.
3. Adelaide, Australia
The fifth most populous city in Australia and the capital of South Australia, Adelaide, was named in honour of Queen Adelaide and founded in 1836. Known as the city of churches due to its diversity of faiths and religious freedom.
What does Adelaide have to offer?
- Following the invention of electricity, the city saw a massive expansion and was consistently the second largest for decades.
- Currently, healthcare and social welfare employ the largest number of people.
- The current prime minister of Australia has planned a future space research centre.
- An emerging leader of global education, Adelaide hosts international students both at secondary and tertiary levels. The University of Adelaide is among the top 150 best universities worldwide.
- It was dubbed the City of Music by UNESCO. It is also home to the Oval Stadium, one of the most renowned in the world of Cricket.
- Transport is mainly by roads- other means include trains, buses and planes.
- Median house prices by 2020 were approximately 500,000 dollars.
4. Wellington, New Zealand
This city is named after Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington and victor of Waterloo.
Wellington is home to many famous cultural institutions in the nation, such as the National Archives, the National Library and many theatres.
What does Wellington have to offer?
- The economy of Wellington is primarily service-based, with an emphasis on finance, business services, and government.
- It is the centre of New Zealand’s film industry and an emerging hub for information technology and innovation, with two public research universities.
- Wellington is one of NZ’s major seaports for both domestic and international shipping.
- Described by Lonely Planet as “the coolest little capital in the world” in 2013. Also the world’s windiest city.
- Temperate marine climate, hilly terrain and well-developed cycle tracks make it a biker’s dream. The economy is mainly service-based, and tourism is one of its strongest contributors.
- Adequately connected through roads, buses, trains and waterways.
- Prone to earthquakes and its inhabitants are used to seismic activity now and then.
5. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is charms of the orient, with a well-balanced mix of the contemporary in the Japanese capital.
It is an eco-friendly and sustainability-driven city with dedicated emission laws working towards Project Green Tokyo.
What does Tokyo have to offer?
- Tokyo is the largest urban economy globally by gross domestic product, the most densely populated city and is categorized as an Alpha+ city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.
- Tourism and electronics are the mainstays of its economy. Others include fisheries, agriculture and forestry.
- It boasts of an excellent rail transport network connecting all over the country.
- The educational system is fully developed, with regional public and private universities catering to all walks.
- Museums, theatres and festivals occupy the cultural and traditional limelight. Tokyo, along with Osaka, is the most popular destination during the spring cherry blossom festival.
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6. Perth, Australia
The capital of Western Australia and its largest city, Perth, was founded by Cpt. James Stirling in 1829, though its aborigine presence traces back 40,000 years.
What does Perth have to offer?
- It houses all the 5 universities of Western Australia.
- Once a major attraction due to its “Gold Rush” years, it has since developed into a major ore mining and natural gas extraction centre.
- Perth is majorly a wetland with rivers running through and a sandy coastline for beachgoers.
- Transport features are akin to that of Adelaide, with Perth International airport handling air traffic and Fremantle Outer Harbour handling a major cargo bulk.
7. Zürich, Switzerland
The largest city in Switzerland and 3rd most expensive city in the world, Zürich is among the world’s largest financial centres despite having a relatively small population. The city is home to many financial institutions and banking companies.
What does Zurich have to offer?
- With warm oceanic summers and snowy cold winters, Zurich has vast parks and forests acting as its “green lungs”. Zurichers are eco-conscious and closely monitor their CO2 emissions.
- Zurich is the 11th most powerful financial centre and 2nd most powerful in Europe.
- Public transport is viral, the Swiss national rail being at the helm.
- Zurich Airport is located 10 km away from the city centre and is the hub of Swiss International Airlines.
- It has well-known museums, art galleries, and theatres. The scenic attractions are plenty and world-famous, as such needing no further mention.
- A notable aspect of Zurich is its educational quality. It has the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the University of Zurich, both among the top 50 world universities. Approximately 70,000 students come from all over the world to attend universities in Zurich.
8. Geneva, Switzerland
Since there are numerous international organizations, Geneva is a global city, a financial centre, and a worldwide centre for diplomacy, including the headquarters of many agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross. It hosts the highest number of international organizations in the world. It is also where the Geneva Conventions were signed.
What does Geneva have to offer?
- Commodity trading, trade finance, and wealth management – these three main sectors dominate the financial sector of Geneva.
- Around a third of the world’s free traded oil, sugar, grains and oilseeds are traded in Geneva. About 1/4th of the world’s cotton is traded in the Lake Geneva region.
- Large trading companies have their regional or global headquarters here, such as Cargill, in addition to being home to the world’s second-largest shippers, the Mediterranean Shipping Company.
- Wealth management is done largely by private banks such as Banque SYZ and Rothschilds.
- A major economic source is a watchmaking. Luxury brands such as Patek Philippe and Rolex have their manufacturing base here. Transport infrastructure is very similar to that of Zürich with its airport maintaining centrality in the whole region.
9. Melbourne, Australia
Once the de facto capital of Australia and 2nd most populous city in Australia and Oceania, Melbourne is a city with consistent high liveability rankings. Its mild climate and it is one of the safest cities make it a major attraction for travellers.
What does Melbourne have to offer?
- It houses many of Australia’s largest corporations, including five of the ten largest in the country.
- It is also the Australian base for many significant manufacturers, including Boeing, truck-makers Kenworth and Iveco, Cadbury, and Bombardier Transportation and Jayco. Car manufacturing and tourism are important sources of income.
- Education remains one of the highlights of the Melbournian scene, with the University of Melbourne being ranked 32nd worldwide. Five of the top 20 Australian Universities are located in the city.
- Transport facilities to and from Melbourne remain the same in Australia, with Melbourne International serving as a gateway to international passengers.
10. Brisbane, Australia
Nicknamed Brissy and “River City”, the most populous city of Queensland, Brisbane owes its name to its first governor, Thomas Brisbane. It was a major army transit point during the 2nd world war.
What does Brisbane have to offer?
- Centred along the Brisbane river and shores of the Coral Sea, an entity of the Pacific Ocean, it is desirable for its idyllic location and warm climates like the rest of Australia.
- Brisbane is iconic for its skyscrapers and ranks among the top skyscraper cities.
- The transportation network is through cars, buses and railways, with the Brisbane airport being the 3rd busiest in the country.
- It is one of the major business hubs in Australia, with strengths in mining, banking, insurance, transportation, information technology, real estate and food. The Australian headquarters of many multinational companies like Boeing are stationed here.
- Tourism remains an important feature of the city.
- Education is one of the mainstays of this city, with the University of Queensland ranking among the top 50 of the world’s most desired student destinations. Biotech and research is a major focus of the educational landscape.
- Healthcare is heavily subsidized in all Australian cities.
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