Same procedure as last year – same procedure as every year?
Each spring, Mercer Consulting publishes the results of their latest Quality of Living study for foreign assignees in over 200 cities around the world. The ranking investigates various factors from ten areas that impact everyday life in an expat destination (e.g. medical and health considerations or housing).
The Mercer Quality of Life Survey 2015
Unfortunately, this year’s top 10 out of 230 destinations worldwide don’t offer any surprises. Again, you’ll find the best quality of life in several German-speaking countries (Austria, Switzerland, and Germany) and Oceania (New Zealand, Australia), with a sprinkling of Canada and Scandinavia in-between.
In comparison to the 2014 results, the global top 5 have even stayed exactly the same: Vienna (1), Zurich (2), Auckland (3), Munich (4), and Vancouver (5) have all successfully defended last year’s rank. Thus, instead of rehashing what makes these cities a comfortable (though sometimes costly) place to live, we’ll look at five very different destinations instead.
For the last few years, Mercer has also singled out ten so-called “emerging centers” across the globe. They aren’t necessarily first-tier destinations for expatriates, but their importance for the regional and world economy is increasing.
In short, these are global cities to watch out for – and we’ll briefly introduce those with the best quality of life among them.
Durban (South Africa, #85)
Overshadowed by Cape Town and Johannesburg, Durban is indeed the second most important manufacturing center in the country. Even more importantly, it features the busiest container port on the African continent: shipping and logistics are key sectors of the urban economy.
Visitors might rather appreciate the costal location for its popular and pretty beaches. Durban has a lively local surfer scene and an expanding tourism industry. The local government is currently working on a marketing strategy to position Durban as a global brand for foreign visitors to South Africa.
Cheonan (South Korea, #98)
Situated fewer than 90 km south of the Korean capital, Cheonan is one of the country’s main transportation hubs. But much of its local and regional industry is primarily based on education and technology.
Students form a sizable part of Cheonan’s population (with its 600,000 residents in total), and institutions such as the Korea University of Technology and Education, with its focus on engineering, have an excellent reputation in their field. Chungcheongnam Province has an international student population of more than 6,000 people, most of whom live in Cheonan.
The universities also serve as an applicant pool for the numerous technology businesses in the area. Of course, the “designated high-tech capital of South Korea” attracts its share of foreign assignees and expat employees as well.
Taichung (Taiwan, #99)
Following right on Cheonan’s heels in the Mercer ranking, there’s another East Asian city with a high-tech bent coming up. Taichung is Taiwan’s third-largest city, with roughly 2.7 million inhabitants. The city’s most famous export in recent years might be zhÄ�nzhū nǎichá – to non-Chinese speakers better known as “bubble tea”.
However, the city has much more in store than a milky beverage so sweet it’ll rot your teeth. Formerly known for its shoe manufacturing industry, Taichung has now lost most of that sector to mainland China. Today, the municipality focuses on activities like precision manufacturing, silicon wafer production, and its various technology incubators and science parks.
Wroclaw (Poland, #100)
This is the only European city featured on the Mercer list of emerging destinations. Coincidentally, Wroclaw is also the designated European Capital of Culture for 2016. Once dominated by heavy industry, it remains a significant manufacturing center for vehicles, electronics, and home appliances.
But the historical capital of Silesia also has a venerable intellectual tradition: its first university opened its doors in the early 18th century. Today, Wroclaw is home to about ten public colleges and universities and circa 140,000 students. No wonder that the city has such a busy nightlife!
Wroclaw is also the seat of many well-known Polish and international businesses, with strong cross-border ties to neighboring Germany and the Czech Republic. Expatriates will appreciate the picturesque stare miasto (historical town center) and the cultural festivals all year round. There’s even a festival dedicated to beer – na zdrowie!
Manaus (Brazil, #127)
Cineastes may recognize one of Manaus’s most famous landmarks from a 1982 Werner Herzog masterpiece: The Teatro Amazonas serves as the inspiration for the obsessive and increasingly unstable protagonist of Fitzcarraldo. The opera house itself does have a slightly surrealist air: a result of the rubber boom in late 19th-century Brazil, it’s a Belle Époque building located, more or less, in the middle of the Amazonian rainforest.
Today, Manaus’s relative affluence is no longer built on rubber. Its river port is the key to the entire Amazonas basin, and its large Free Economic Zone has attracted mobile phone manufacturers, the petrochemical sector, and the electronics industry.
On the one hand, economic development in this geographically isolated boomtown has led to environmental problems like devastating deforestation. On the other hand, the importance of fishing, trading in wild fruits, and eco-tourism might also help to shape awareness of the region’s amazing bio-diversity.
(Image credit: 1, 3-6: iStockphoto 2: Cheonan Station by Wikimedia Commons user NHRHS2010)
Lil ol me says
Nice to see Wroclaw on the list.
Despite the glue sniffing, binge drinking teenage neo-Nazis out at night, Wroclaw was a positive experience just recently. They’ve a good and active train connection to Germany since the close proximity and all, yet the prices are still definitely Polish (aka cheap by European standards). They seem to be trying real hard to invite the glory days on all sectors… Wishing well.
Jorge Brown Segui says
Durban???
You better wear a helmet and a bullet proof vest!
Le Pallavac says
When I read the non-sense blogcomments on Durban, I’m asking myself if people read before writing. @ Margit: nice of you to bring the Mercer report to our attention, don’t waste your time pointing out what has not been read by people having obvious difficulties reading.
@ Dave: I’ve never been in Durban but thank you for putting the record straight.
Best,
Le Pallavac
Dave says
Hi All,
I’m 64, I immigrated to Durban 27 years ago, and I don’t regret the move. I don’t own a gun, and I don’t have electric fencing around my house. Yes we have been victims of crime (burglary – covered by insurance), yes violent crime is a concern and there are areas in Durban where we have to be especially careful. I can only imagine your earlier contributors must have had bad personal experiences, but don’t be so quick to write off a city that has so many positives. I lived in the UK for a year and was a victim of crime there also. I’m glad I live in Durban.
Regards,
Dave
Greg Daniels says
If you live in Durban you will need to take extreme security measures, such as electric security fences around your house with a back up generator. You will need to own and be proficient with a gun and not be scared to use it. It has a high crime rate and racial tension is high. Also they still use shark nets around the beach which kills not only sharks but other marine life. If you don’t like sharks don’t go in the ocean. The diving is excellent especially if you like sharks.
Margit says
Hi Greg,
Thank you for your feedback! As I just pointed out to another commenter above, this list doesn’t include cities with a top quality of life, according to Mercer. It highlights cities that could – due to their local economy – emerge as more popular destinations in the future. The Mercer ranking for Durban (85 out of over 200 cities) actually takes the crime rates into account – they are one important reason why South Africa doesn’t score higher at the moment.
Best,
Margit
Andres says
Ok – I’m Brazilian.
Manaus ?
Really ?
But surely – you jest !
A nice colonial era theater does a grand city make, sire!
I could go on and on….
Regards,
Andres.
Margit says
Hi Andres,
Thanks for your comment! Please note that this list is not supposed to reflect the most popular or most attractive expat destinations in the respective countries. It highlights some of the cities that Mercer has chosen as emerging centers – i.e cities whose economic importance might grow significantly in the future. With a #127 rank out of over 200 cities, the local quality of life in Manuas still needs improving, as the rating shows.
Best,
Margit
Kathryn Bax says
I am appalled that Durban would be considered to be an attractive expat city to live in.
Durban, like the rest of South Africa, is currently riddled with crime, with constant personal danger which does not equate to a high standard of living!
Life behind burglar bars, guard dogs in the back garden and personal security firms to guard your house, both day and night is the norm.
Please do your research before offering up cities like these to those who may not be so well informed.
Margit says
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for your feedback! We decided to highlight these cities (including Durban) because they were singled out by Mercer Consulting as emerging cities that might become more important economic centers in the long run. If you check the actual rank in the quality of living rating, you’ll see that Durban only scores an 85 – and the high crime rates are certainly a reason for that.
Best,
Margit
Md Abdus Salam says
Dear all,
I am Abdus Salam from Bangladesh i need permanently leveing in UK
If possible please informed me,
Thanks and best regards
Truly yours
Md Abdus Salam
Margit says
Hi Abdus,
If you are interested in moving to the UK, please consult the Visas and immigration homepage provided by the UK government, especially the sections on work visas and settling in the UK. Good luck with your plans!
Best,
Margit