Over 87 million individuals are estimated to reside as expats throughout the globe, and lots of of them have moved abroad seeking a greater high quality of life.
Worldwide consulting agency Mercer lately ranked Zurich as the most effective location for expats based mostly on financial, social, and environmental elements.
The corporate launched its annual High quality of Dwelling Metropolis Rating, evaluating cities with the most effective residing circumstances for worldwide staff. Mercer considers elements similar to political stability, well being care, schooling, infrastructure, and cultural setting.
“This yr, Zurich, Switzerland, takes the highest place, fueled by its excellent public companies, low crime charges, and a vigorous cultural scene, all backed by environment friendly infrastructure and a dedication to sustainability,” the report reads, mentioning that the Swiss metropolis has added a number of new direct flight routes to and from different continents bettering its connectivity.
Switzerland’s largest metropolis serves as a world monetary hub the place over 400,000 individuals, or about 28 % of its inhabitants, are foreign-born. It’s divided into 12 districts, with the Previous City relationship again over 2,000 years at its coronary heart.
Earlier this yr, Zurich was additionally named the world’s smartest metropolis for its progressive integration of latest applied sciences, which improves city life. The distinguished Economist Intelligence Unit highlighted it because the third most livable metropolis in 2024, with excellent scores within the schooling and healthcare classes.
Nonetheless, for those who’re contemplating shifting there, needless to say it has additionally repeatedly ranked as one among the priciest cities on this planet. Mercer identifies it because the third costliest place to reside, behind Hong Kong and Singapore.
Switzerland has essentially the most cities — 4 — among the many high ten in Mercer’s 2024 report. Geneva climbed two spots this yr to 3rd place, whereas Bern and Basel improved their standing by 4 and are actually ninth and tenth, respectively.
Vienna, which topped the rating final yr, dropped to second place in 2024. Nonetheless, the Austrian capital affords stability of high quality of life and affordability, because it ranked twenty fourth for value of residing.
Auckland (fifth) and Vancouver (seventh) are the one non-European cities within the high ten. Boston (thirty second) is the highest-ranking American metropolis on the listing, which highlights 241 cities worldwide.
The worst cities for expats this yr are Bangui, Central African Republic (239th), Baghdad, Iraq (240th), and Khartoum, Sudan (241st).
You’ll be able to learn the entire report and its findings on mercer.com.