The city’s location on the Danube makes it an excellent place to live, and people love coming here. Other cities envy Vienna for its qualities. Rather than a given, these qualities are made to measure. 

This many people can’t be wrong: Vienna is one of the cities with the world’s best quality of life. Something confirmed time and again by the Mercer study, which is based on data from authorities and independent institutes. Expats are also interviewed for the survey. For a decade Vienna has topped the rankings, which assesses various criteria including healthcare, political stability, the economic situation, the education system, the housing market and environmental preservation. Its public transportation network is also world class. In 2024, Vienna ranked second behind Zurich due to a slight deterioration in the availability of rental properties for expats. Vienna consolidated its first place for the third time in a row in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2024 ranking, and secured second place in the Monocle Quality of Life Survey, having taken top spot in 2023. And things should continue in this vein. But its strong showing is no coincidence.

Focus on Needs

The high quality of life results from a policy that has the needs of everyone living in, working in or visiting Vienna at its center. This standpoint is long established in Vienna and can be seen as part of the city’s DNA. But what does quality mean? Whether it’s the Mountain Spring Pipelines that supply the city’s drinking water, the flood protection provided by the Danube Island (which doubles up as an urban recreational and leisure area), the dense network of parks and green spaces, the healthcare and education infrastructure or the affordable but high-quality housing: Vienna shows exactly how forward-looking investments and effective and universally accessible services pay off. And this is not only confirmed in the rankings, but also by the high level of satisfaction among the residents of the city themselves. 

Qualities set the Standard

Vienna is a pioneer in many different areas, which is something to be proud of. Lots of people visit Vienna because it is such a livable destination. And, in return, tourism fits into the city’s continued evolution and makes its own contribution to the quality of life: in Vienna, the offerings for tourists are also attractive for locals. And to ensure that it stays that way, steps need to be taken so that visitors do not simply “consume” the city. Instead, the Visitor Economy contributes to quality of life, quality of place and quality of experience – which need to be upheld and developed. 

Green City

Climate-friendly transportation and excellent quality of life: sustainability in figures.