Vienna to Baghdad: Auckland 'top 3' as world's best and worst cities for quality of life revealed

Auckland made it into the top 3 cities this year, with Wellington at 15 for quality of life. Photo / Smith Collection, Getty Images

Austria's capital Vienna once again defended its position as the city offering the best quality of life in the world, while Iraq's capital Baghdad remains the worst in an annual survey from consulting firm Mercer.

However, New Zealand cities have also ranked highly this year. Auckland is tied for third place, alongside Munich in Germany, and Wellington close behind at 15.

Mercer's survey of 231 cities helps companies and organisations determine compensation and hardship allowances for international staff. Its criteria include political stability, health care, education, crime, recreation and transport, analysis of the table in a report by the Daily Mail and Reuters.

Europe has eight of the world's top 10 most pleasant cities: Germany and Switzerland each have three cities in the top 10, while New Zealand, Canada and Australia each have one. However, London is down from 40th to 41st.

With a population of 1.8 million, Vienna topped the survey for the ninth year in a row, boasting a vibrant cultural scene, comprehensive healthcare and moderate housing costs.

Vancouver, ranked fifth, offers the best quality of living in North America.

Austrian capital, Vienna, topped the survey for the ninth year in a row. Photo / Omar Marques, Getty Images

San Francisco (30) is the highest ranking US city, followed by Boston (35), Honolulu (36), Seattle (44), and New York (45). Increasing crime rates cause Los Angeles (64) to drop six places.

Singapore at 25 and Montevideo at 77 topped the Asian and Latin American places. The best African entry on the list was South Africa's Durban in 89th place.

A year before Britain is expected to leave the European Union, its highest ranked city, London, fell one rank to 41 in an annual comparison.

Over the past 20 years, living standards increased the most in some eastern European cities such as Sarajevo, now at 159, and Bratislava, at 80, the report said.

'As a result of increased living standards, a competitive labour market and talent availability, many of these cities have started attracting multinational businesses setting up new operations,' said Martine Ferland, President Europe and Pacific.

Baghdad has been at the bottom of the list since the American-led invasion in 2003. Photo /John Moore, Getty

Baghdad has been at the bottom of the list for a decade now. Waves of sectarian violence have swept through the city since the American-led invasion in 2003.

Yemen's capital Sanaa, devastated by conflict, ranked two places above Baghdad, and Syria's Damascus, seven years into a civil war, ranked six places above Iraq's capital.