forbes - 10 best places to live in the world

From Forbes, the 10 best places to live in the world below. The criteria were as follows: basis of the political and social environment (including stability, crime and law enforcement); the strength of the economy; restrictions, such as censorship and limitations on personal freedom; the quality of health care as well as exposure to infectious diseases; and school quality. In addition, it looked at recreation, theaters, sports activities, access to grocery markets, the availability and cost of housing, as well as the climate and susceptibility to natural disasters.

1. Vienna

2. Zürich

3. Geneva

4. Vancouver, Canada

4. (tie) Auckland, New Zealand

6. Düsseldorf, Germany

7. Munich

8. Frankfurt

9. Bern, Switzerland

10. Sydney

For obvious reasons, at the bottom of the list were Baghdad, at 14.4; Bangui, the politically corrupt capital of the Central African Republic, at 29.3; and N'Djamena, Chad, for its constant rebel attacks, at 31.3.

Honolulu, at 29th, was the top-ranked U.S. city, followed by San Francisco, 30th; Boston, 35th; Portland, Ore., 42nd; Washington, 44th; New York, 49th; and Seattle, 50th.