Consultancy firm Mercer has published its annual list of the best cities for expat quality of life. Toronto, Canada comes in at number 15 -- one of only two North American cities to make the top of the list.
Best cities for expats: 15. Toronto (Canada) —
Consultancy firm Mercer has published its annual list of the best cities for expat quality of life. Toronto, Canada comes in at number 15 -- one of only two North American cities to make the top of the list.
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The Swiss capital Bern comes in at 14. Western European cities dominate the top of Mercer's list of 230 global destinations.
14. Bern (Switzerland) —
The Swiss capital Bern comes in at 14. Western European cities dominate the top of Mercer's list of 230 global destinations.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
The list measures factors such as quality of schools, political environment, safety, consumer goods and transport. Berlin's are enough to rank it at 13.
13. Berlin (Germany) —
The list measures factors such as quality of schools, political environment, safety, consumer goods and transport. Berlin's are enough to rank it at 13.
Michael Kappeler/AFP/Getty Images
It's the world's most southerly capital city, and is home to just 200,000 people. Two possible reasons New Zealand ranks in 12th position.
12. Wellington (New Zealand) —
It's the world's most southerly capital city, and is home to just 200,000 people. Two possible reasons New Zealand ranks in 12th position.
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Amsterdam's cycling culture and laid back atmosphere have helped it to the number 11 spot. More than 400 cities were surveyed by Mercer.
11. Amsterdam (Netherlands) —
Amsterdam's cycling culture and laid back atmosphere have helped it to the number 11 spot. More than 400 cities were surveyed by Mercer.
Barry Neild/CNN
Another city with a relaxed reputation, Sydney qualifies at number 10. The city was last year named as one of the world's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F10%2F22%2Ftravel%2Fmost-reputable-cities-2015%2F">most reputable</a>.
10. Sydney (Australia) —
Another city with a relaxed reputation, Sydney qualifies at number 10. The city was last year named as one of the world's most reputable.
Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images
Denmark's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2016%2F01%2F26%2Feurope%2Fdenmark-vote-jewelry-bill-migrants%2F">tough policies</a> towards migrants have raised eyebrows lately, but the city is still seen as a welcoming place for expat workers.
9. Copenhagen (Denmark) —
Denmark's tough policies towards migrants have raised eyebrows lately, but the city is still seen as a welcoming place for expat workers.
Courtesy Nicolai Perjesi/Wonderful Copenhagen
Reclining on a wall overlooking the lake is probably the only thing that doesn't cost a fortune in Geneva, one of the world's most expensive cities. Cost of living doesn't seem to impair quality of living though.
8. Geneva (Switzerland) —
Reclining on a wall overlooking the lake is probably the only thing that doesn't cost a fortune in Geneva, one of the world's most expensive cities. Cost of living doesn't seem to impair quality of living though.
Boris Bunzli/Geneve Tourisme
Frankfurt works hard -- it's Germany's financial powerhouse -- but it also plays hard. The city is known for its lively cultural scene, and knows how to have fun when it snows, apparently.
7. Frankfurt (Germany) —
Frankfurt works hard -- it's Germany's financial powerhouse -- but it also plays hard. The city is known for its lively cultural scene, and knows how to have fun when it snows, apparently.
FRANK RUMPENHORST/AFP/Getty Images
Another German city of commerce takes seventh place in the Mercer list. There are three German cities in the top 10.
6. Dusseldorf (Germany) —
Another German city of commerce takes seventh place in the Mercer list. There are three German cities in the top 10.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
North America's highest entry on the list is the Canadian west coast city of Vancouver. The city is among several on Mercer's list also recently named as the world's most "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2015%2F08%2F17%2Ftravel%2Fmost-liveable-city-2015%2F">livable</a>" destinations.
5. Vancouver (Canada) —
North America's highest entry on the list is the Canadian west coast city of Vancouver. The city is among several on Mercer's list also recently named as the world's most "livable" destinations.
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It's unlikely that hosting the world's biggest beer festival is a major contributing factor to Munich's fourth-place ranking, but it can't hurt.
4. Munich (Germany) —
It's unlikely that hosting the world's biggest beer festival is a major contributing factor to Munich's fourth-place ranking, but it can't hurt.
AFP/Getty Images
New Zealand's largest city is close to about 50 volcanoes. None present a threat to Auckland's quality of life for expats though.
3. Auckland (New Zealand) —
New Zealand's largest city is close to about 50 volcanoes. None present a threat to Auckland's quality of life for expats though.
Dean Tremel/AFP/Getty Images
Switzerland's banking capital is often said to be more of a village than a city.
2. Zurich (Switzerland) —
Switzerland's banking capital is often said to be more of a village than a city.
Courtesy Switzlerand Tourism
Vienna tops Mercer's quality of life list for the seventh year running. It's a far cry from the city at the bottom of the list...
1. Vienna (Austria) —
Vienna tops Mercer's quality of life list for the seventh year running. It's a far cry from the city at the bottom of the list...
Courtesy WienTourismus/Christian Stemper
Security issues have taken their toll on quality of life in the Iraqi capital. The city also comes last in Mercer's personal safety ranking. The Syrian capital Damascus is listed at 229.
230. Baghdad (Iraq) —
Security issues have taken their toll on quality of life in the Iraqi capital. The city also comes last in Mercer's personal safety ranking. The Syrian capital Damascus is listed at 229.
John Moore/Getty Images