This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive.

Vancouver's Quality Of Life Tops Canadian Cities: Mercer Survey

Vancouver Tops In Quality Of Life
** FOR USE AS DESIRED WITH VANCOUVER OLYMPICS PREVIEW STORIES ** FILE - In this April 14, 2009 file photo, the snow capped mountains are seen behind downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancouver will be hosting the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward, File)
AP
** FOR USE AS DESIRED WITH VANCOUVER OLYMPICS PREVIEW STORIES ** FILE - In this April 14, 2009 file photo, the snow capped mountains are seen behind downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancouver will be hosting the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward, File)

Vancouver's quality of life is tops among Canadian cities, says an international survey released Tuesday.

Vancouver tops all other Canadian cities on Mercer's 2012 Quality of Life Worldwide City Rankings and ranks fifth in the world behind Vienna, Zurich, Auckland and Munich.

Mercer, an international consulting firm, conducts the survey to help companies pay employees fairly when they're on international assignments.

"In order for multinational companies to ensure their expatriates are compensated appropriately and an adequate hardship allowance is included in compensation packages, they must be aware of current events and local circumstances," Slagan Parakatil, Mercer's senior researcher, said in a news release.

Mercer looks at 39 factors when ranking cities. They include political stability, banking services, climate, recreation and natural environment.

Vancouver held on to the top regional spot from the last survey, followed by Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal in 14th, 15th and 23rd places, respectively. Calgary ranked 32nd, moving up one spot from the last survey.

The survey comes just after research site Numbeo named Edmonton as having Canada's top quality of life. Mercer does not mention Edmonton in its top 50 cities.

Mercer also ranked city infrastructure based on factors such as electrical supply, availability of water, as well as public transportation and communication services.

Vancouver ranked ninth in the world on that list, followed by Toronto (16) and Ottawa (25).

Also on HuffPost

23) Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Mercer's 2012 Quality of Life Rankings

Close
This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.