Methodology
Each category consists of the latest data available from reputable sources. This data is standardised
using minmax normalisation:
NB: where lower numbers in the initial data correspond to a better score (for example, the time taken
to learn the language), the numerator was adjusted to max(x)-x_i to ensure the normalised data is
consistent across all categories – a score of 10 is always the best result.
This value is then multiplied by 10 to create a score (between 0-10). Each city is then ranked based
on their overall average score across the key categories below, including both city-level and
country-level data, to create the global city index.
In the instance of country-level data, the country score is applied to each city within that country.
For example, if Australia has a score of 8.81 for Happiness then Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and
Adelaide all receive 8.81.
City Level Data |
Country Level Data |
Sunshine Hours |
Easy Language to Learn |
Average Vacation Days |
Happiness Score |
House Price to Income Ratio |
Peacefulness Index |
Quality of Living Score |
Migrant Acceptance Score |
Price of a Pint |
Education System Rating |
In order to further refine the list, cities that are missing more than 2 data points (due to no data
available) have been filtered out, leaving a list of 105 cities.
Peacefulness Index
Ranks countries’ peacefulness using the level of Societal Safety and Security, the extent
of
Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict and the degree of Militarisation.
Institute for Economics & Peace Global Peace Index
Quality of Living Score
Ranks cities by quality of living factors affecting expatriates in popular destinations.
Mercer Quality of Living Rankings
Happiness Score
Ranks countries’ happiness and well-being levels using data from the Gallup World Poll.
World Happiness Report 2019
Price of a Pint
Crowdsourced data on the average price of one beer in a neighbourhood pub (500 mL or 1
pt.)
Expatistan Cost of Living
Sunshine Hours
The average annual duration of sunshine in each city.
Local
Government Sites / Weather Hubs
Education System Rating
This ranks the impact each nation’s education system has had in stabilising their economy
and developing their social environment.
International Education Database
House Price to Income Ratio
Crowdsourced data on the ratio of median apartment prices to median familial disposable
income.
Numbeo Property Prices Index
Migrant Acceptance Score
Ranks how accepting different countries are for migrants using data from the Gallup World
Poll.
Migrant Acceptance Index
Easy Language to Learn
Ranks languages by the average time required for a student to reach “Professional Working
Proficiency”.
US State Department School of Language Studies
Vacation Days
Vacation days are those considered as paid vacation, excluding legal holidays. Calculated
through survey responses and averaged.
UBS Global Cities Ranking 2018