Savills ranks cities across the world for their livable qualities.
As a result of globalisation there is a fluid movement of people across the world. Relocating to new countries and cities for a better job prospect or an improved way of life in a more livable city. There is also a shift in working habits. Employers are offering less rigid structured working conditions, and many can work from home or anywhere in the world.
Should you fall into this category then the world is your peril. But where it the most livable city to choose from? Real estate firm Savills have carried out extensive research to help answer this for you.
They have rated cities for their ‘buzz’ by looking looking at nightlife, entertainment and cultural offerings. Additionally, they have also ranked cities on their ‘wellness’ by assessing pollution levels, quality of parks, healthcare and commuting times. By combining these with the cost of living for each location, has enabled them to formulate each city’s ‘buzz and wellness index’.
Berlin topped Savill’s ‘buzz and wellness index’, followed by Berlin, London and Tokyo. In fact Berlin ranked as one of the top five cities for buzz, wellness and the cost of living. Whereas London and Tokyo ranked lower for wellness but their positions were boasted due to their buzz.
One city that Savills have said is one to watch is Copenhagen. More and more people are prioritising wellness and the Danish capital is the world’s leading tech city for wellness. Its high cost of living is what pushes it down the overall chart.
Paul Tostevin, associate director at Savills World Research, has said, “Smaller cities tend to fare well as ‘healthy’ cities, whilst crowded megalopolises such as London, New York and Tokyo offer a rich variety of retail, nightlife and cultural experiences which will always be attractive to some workers. But in the middle there are cities such as Amsterdam, Toronto and Berlin which score well on both. These cities tend to mean shorter commutes, easier access to amenities and a better work/life balance, and we suspect they may move up the rankings as they drive the economy in a digital age”.
Tech cities.
Savills have also concluded that Austin has topped the ranks as the world’s leading ‘tech city’. Sitting at the top of the chart due to its mix of the right business environment, talent pool, infrastructure and business environment that ensure tech companies succeed. San Francisco is second in the ranking, followed by New York and then London.
American cities have taken the first three places due to their access to venture capital. Whilst Austin also benefits from low real estate costs. Copenhagen, Toronto and Amsterdam all sit in the top ten charts due to their ‘liveable’ qualities. Savills put down these city’s ‘buzz and wellness’ as winning attributes that will continue to lure in tech industries.
Nicky Wightman, director at Savills Worldwide Occupier Services, commented, “Cities attract young tech talent who increasingly want to live in dynamic, healthy neighbourhoods within walking or cycling distance of the office. For the first time we’ve therefore looked to specifically identify the cities that deliver what this demographic desires. While there’s often a trade-off between ‘buzz’ and ‘wellness’, Amsterdam and Toronto balance the two. Copenhagen, meanwhile, may not currently offer the breadth of nightlife and entertainment as larger cities, but with the next generation of talent increasingly making decisions based on the potential impact on their physical and mental wellbeing, it may well see its global appeal grow. Occupiers looking to attract such talent therefore need to pay close attention to such factors when looking for new locations.”
