Low crime rates and a thriving cultural scene helped Zurich dethrone Vienna. Dobrina Zhekova is a writer with over a decade of editorial experience in Europe and the U. She covers luxury travel, art, architecture, and design. Her writing has appeared on InStyle. Over 87 million people are estimated to live as expats across the globe , and many of them have moved overseas in search of a better quality of life.
International consulting firm Mercer recently ranked Zurich as the best location for expats based on economic, social, and environmental factors. The company released its annual Quality of Living City Ranking, evaluating cities with the best living conditions for international workers. Mercer considers factors such as political stability, health care, education, infrastructure, and cultural environment.
Switzerland's largest city serves as a global financial hub where over , people, or about 28 percent of its population , are foreign-born. It is divided into 12 districts, with the Old Town dating back over 2, years at its heart. Earlier this year, Zurich was also named the world's smartest city for its innovative integration of new technologies, which improves urban life.
The prestigious Economist Intelligence Unit highlighted it as the third most livable city in , with perfect scores in the education and healthcare categories.
However, if you're considering moving there, keep in mind that it has also repeatedly ranked as one of the priciest cities in the world. Mercer identifies it as the third most expensive place to live, behind Hong Kong and Singapore. Switzerland has the most cities β four β among the top ten in Mercer's report. Geneva climbed two spots this year to third place, while Bern and Basel improved their standing by four and are now ninth and tenth, respectively.
