Featuring at number 25 in the global ranking, Singapore is followed in the top 100 by Japan’s key centres Tokyo (47), Kobe (50), Yokohama (51), Osaka (60), Nagoya (63); then Hong Kong (71), Seoul (South Korea, 76) Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia, 86), and Taipei (Taiwan, 85).Making the top 150 out of 231 cities analysed by the global HR consultants on factors such as socio-political and economic environments, public services and transportation, and housing and the natural environment, are Shanghai (PR China, 102), Beijing (PR China, 119), Bangkok (Thailand, 131), Manila (Philippines, 135) and Jakarta (Indonesia, 143).

City infrastructure rankings add insight into expat life

Given the importance of good data for assessing expatriate allowances, this year Mercer have assessed city infrastructure separately.On this measure, Singapore is world-beating, taking the top spot ahead of mainly European cities.

1. Singapore, Singapore
2. Frankfurt, Germany
3. Munich, Germany
4. Copenhagen, Denmark
5. Dusseldorf, Germany
6. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
7. London, United Kingdom
8. Sydney, Australia
9. =Hamburg, Germany:Vancouver, Canada: Zurich, Switzerland

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Related reading:

• Davos 2017: China president calms stormy economic waters

• Examining international school growth in Asia at the IPSEF conference

• Getting talent moving: APAC-centric strategies

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Commenting on the importance of understanding city infrastructure, Slagin Parakatil, principal at Mercer responsible for its quality of living research, said: “The success of foreign assignments is influenced by issues such as ease of travel and communication, sanitation standards, personal safety, and access to public services.

'Timely and accurate information'

“A city’s infrastructure, or rather the lack thereof, can considerably affect the quality of living that expatriates and their families experience on a daily basis. Access to a variety of transport options, being connected locally and internationally, and access to electricity and drinkable water are among the essential needs of expatriates arriving in a new location on assignment.“Multinational companies need accurate and timely information to help calculate fair and consistent expatriate compensation – a real challenge in locations with a compromised quality of living.”

Look out for the upcoming spring issue of Relocate magazine, which features more insight and analysis from the Mercer Quality of Living index. Reserve your copy here.

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