Metro Manila gets low rank in most livable cities ranking

Metro Manila (Shutterstock photo)

MANILA – In the latest Quality of Living Rankings, Manila placed 136th among 230 cities included in the list, settling in the lower half portion of the worldwide ranking.

In Asia, Singapore ranked highest as it occupied the 26th spot. It was then followed by Tokyo at the 44th spot, Hong Kong at the 70th spot, Seoul at the 72nd spot, Taipei at the 83rd spot, Shanghai at the 101st spot and Beijing at the 118th spot.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore was followed by Kuala Lumpur at the 84th spot, Bangkok at the 117th spot, and then Manila. Occupying the lowest place in the region was Jakarta at the 140th spot.

Topping the global ranking was Vienna, and dominating the top list were European cities.

The ranking was done by Mercer, an international consultancy firm subsidiary of Marsh and McLennan Companies. The annually conducted survey considered economic, political, social and socio-cultural environment, health and medical services, education, transportation, and residence in its ranking.

“In an increasingly dynamic and competitive global environment, city leaders need a clear understanding of the specific factors that affect their residents’ quality of living,” Mercer said.

“Addressing the issues that lower a city’s overall quality of living can provide a sustainable competitive advantage,” it continued, explaining that their rankings were intended to help international companies fairly compensate employees assigned abroad.

Mercer wanted to help expatriates choose the right city to work in live in.

“Taking a short- or long-term work assignment in a new country is both an exciting and challenging experience for employees and their families,” Mercer principal Slagin Parakatil said.

“Cultures, societies, and comparatively different climates, as well as political instability, high crime rates and poor infrastructure can be difficult to navigate and settle down in for employees and their families. Employers need to assess whether their staff and families will encounter any drop in quality of living when relocating and ensure they are fairly compensated for it,” he continued.