News
City life better abroad
Brits looking to move to any number of key cities in the emigration hotspots of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and America should experience a marked improvement in their 'quality of living'
This is according to 2007 'Quality of Living' survey conducted by Mercer HR, released this week, which is designed to help governments and major companies place employees on international assignments. The survey compares 215 cities worldwide on the basis of the political, social, cultural and natural environments, as well as health and sanitation, education, public services, transportation, recreation, consumer goods and housing.
Judged on these factors, Vancouver was once again the top-ranking city in our four emigration hotspots, finishing in third place behind Geneva and Zurich, both in Switzerland. Other popular emigration destinations in the top ten were Auckland, in 5th, and Sydney, in 9th; Honolulu and San Francisco were the top two US finishers, in 27th and 28th respectively. Honolulu, in fact, was second for 'health and sanitation', with Calgary showing a clean pair of heels in first place. Overall, five Canadian cities (Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary), three American cities (Honolulu, SF and Boston), five Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane) and two New Zealand cities (Auckland and Wellington) finished ahead of London, which languished in 39th place for the second year running.
Although the Mercer survey is a useful indicator of the quality of life awaiting expats in many cities popular with British emigrants, the report's authors are at pains to point out that 'Quality of Living' should not be confused with 'quality of life'. According to the authors, "[The] report reflects only the tangible aspects of living in a city on expatriate assignments, and leaves the question of the quality of one's life to those living it!"
However, it certainly isn't difficult to find Brits living in the cities surveyed who would agree with Mercer's findings. Take Sue Gerryts who moved to Vancouver with her family in 2003. Although she acknowledges that emigration is "a struggle at times, and it does take a while to settle in," Sue adjudges the British Columbian city to be superior to UK life in most of the ways covered by the 'Quality of Living' survey - transport aside - and adds that both she and her family "are so pleased to be here."
So perhaps the authors of the report are underestimating its value to potential emigrants looking for a measure of quality of life overseas.
For further information:
Mercer HR
Relocation2BC
Register for your FREE emigration starter pack
Subscribe to Emigrate magazine. Read more ...
Paul Beasley 13 April 2007