The Economic Intelligence Unit ( EIU ) claims its annual Liveability Survey could be used to `` assign a hardship allowance as part of expatriate relocation packages , '' among other things . But that need n't apply to those in Melbourne , which for the fourth year running has been declared the best city in the world to live . The Australian culture hub was buoyed by superlative healthcare , infrastructure and education as well as a murder rate of 3.1 per 100,000 people , half the global average of 6.2 . Melbourne 's total score of 97.5 , assessed on various factors such as `` stability '' and `` culture and environment , '' as well as those mentioned above , was just 0.1 points above Vienna , which scored identically across all categories to Melbourne except culture and environment . The top 10 list has n't changed since 2011 and of the 140 cities surveyed , only 20 changed score in the last year . `` Over half of the changes taking place over the past 12 months have been driven by deteriorating scores , '' said the report , `` with instability re-emerging as a key factor in influencing global scores . `` Events in Ukraine , in particular , have had significant knock-on effects for cities such as Kiev , Moscow and St Petersburg . `` Localized instability has also affected locations like Bangkok . `` The score of Damascus in Syria has continued to decline , although the escalation in Iraq is not reflected in our ranking because Baghdad is not included in the survey . '' Tehran in Iran , Tripoli in Libya and Amman in Jordan saw their scores improve , having `` enjoyed periods of relative stability following significant falls in liveability . '' But over the last five years , global liveability has declined overall , `` highlighting the fact that the last five years have been characterized by heightened unrest in the wake of the global economic crisis . '' Kiev ( Ukraine ) , Tripoli ( Libya ) and Damascus ( Syria ) have seen the biggest falls in liveability over the last five years , says the report . 10 most liveable cities . 1 . Melbourne . 2 . Vienna , Austria . 3 . Vancouver , British Columbia . 4 . Toronto . =5 . Adelaide , Australia . =5 . Calgary , Alberta . 7 . Sydney . 8 . Helsinki , Finland . 9 . Perth , Australia . 10 . Auckland , New Zealand . 10 least liveable cities . 131 . Abidjan , Cote d'Ivoire . 132 . Tripoli , Libya . 133 . Douala , Cameroon . 134 . Harare , Zimbabwe . 135 . Algiers , Algeria . 136 . Karachi , Pakistan . 137 . Lagos , Nigeria . 138 . Port Moresby , Papua New Guinea . 139 . Dhaka , Bangladesh . 140 . Damascus , Syria . Comment below : What 's the best thing about your home city ?
No change in EIU 's top 10 liveable cities since 2011 . Melbourne takes first place for fourth year in a row . Comment: