CITIES WITH THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Somewhere with a good quality of life would be a good place to start. Mercer, a human resources consulting firm, ranks cities around the world with a quality of living report to help companies determine compensation for employees sent to work abroad.

The cities are rated based on 39 factors, grouped into the following 10 categories:

Social environment including politics and crime
Economic environment
Limitations on personal freedoms
Medical and health considerations
Schools and education
Public services and transportation
Recreation and entertainment
Consumer goods
Housing
Natural environment and climate

Did your city make the cut? Let's take a closer look.

60. Leipzig, Germany

Population: 597,493 (city), 1 million (metro area)

Languages: German

Average temperature summer: 66 degrees (19 C)

Average temperature winter: 34 degrees (1 C)

Note: Rankings are based on the Quality of Living Report by Mercer. All initial temperatures are Fahrenheit.

Cultural Highlight: Leipzig

The Leipzig Opera is one of the most well-regarded in the country and cements the city's reputation as a musical center.

59. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Population: 302,205 (city), 2.37 million (metro area)

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 73.2 degrees (22.9 C)

Average temperature winter: 28.8 degrees (-1.8 C)

Cultural Highlight: Pittsburgh

Established in 1895 by Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Museum of Art houses works by artists like Van Gogh, Monet and Gaugin.

It also displays local Pittsburgh artists and has a collection of objects from around the world. These include ancient Greek vases, relics from the Shang dynasty in China and sacred Hindu statues.

58. Osaka, Japan

Population: 2.69 million (city), 19.3 million (metro area)

Languages: Japanese

Average temperature summer: 92 degrees (33.5 C)

Average temperature winter: 49 degrees (9.3 C)

Cultural Highlight: Osaka

Osaka Castle was built in the 16th century and continues to be the city's main cultural landmark.

It is known for its beautiful white, green and gold exterior as well as its impressively tall defensive stone wall.

57. Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom

Population: 200,680 (city), 489,815 (metro area)

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 57 degrees (13.9 C)

Average temperature winter: 40.1 degrees (4.5 C)

Cultural Highlight: Aberdeen

King's College at Aberdeen University was founded in 1495.

It is now one of Scotland's oldest colleges and most important historical buildings.

56. Rome, Italy

Population: 2.87 million (city), 4.34 million (metro area)

Languages: Italian

Average temperature summer: 89.1 degrees (31.7 C)

Average temperature winter: 54.7 degrees (12.6 C)

Cultural Highlight: Rome

Rome's magnificent Colosseum was built in 69 A.D. The amphitheater was famously used to host entertainment, including gladiator fights, chariot races, processions and even mock naval battles where the stage would be completely flooded.

It continues to be one of humanity's most important structures.

55. Yokohama, Japan

Population: 3.7 million (city), 38.3 million (metro area)

Languages: Japanese

Average temperature summer: 78.2 degrees (25.7 C)

Average temperature winter: 41.6 degrees (5.4 C)

Cultural Highlight: Yokohama

The Yokohama Museum of Art has been showcasing contemporary art since 1989. It is known for its surrealist and dadaist collections.

It has works by world-famous artists like Dali, Picasso and Max Ernst as well as Japanese artists like Yasumasa Morimura.

54. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Population: 1.6 million (city), 6.1 million (metro area)

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 88 degrees (31 C)

Average temperature winter: 40 degrees (4 C)

Cultural Highlight: Philadelphia

At Independence Hall, see where both the United States' Declaration of Independence and Constitution were debated and signed.

And, of course, there are the cheesesteaks.

53. Washington, D.C., United States

Population: 694,000 (city), 6.1 million (metro area)

Languages: English (primary), Spanish

Average temperature summer: 88 degrees (31 C)

Average temperature winter: 43 degrees (6 C)

Cultural Highlight: Washington, D.C.

The National Mall has it all, from iconic American monuments to the museums of the Smithsonian Institution.

49. Kobe, Japan (Tied)

Population: 1.5 million (city), 19.3 million (metro area)

Languages: Japanese

Average temperature summer: 87 degrees (31 C)

Average temperature winter: 47 degrees (8 C)

Cultural Highlight: Kobe

Dating to the third century, the exquisite Ikuta Shrine is one of the country's oldest Shintu shrines.

49. Birmingham, England, United Kingdom (Tied)

Population: 1.1 million (city), 4.3 million (metro area)

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 70 degrees (21 C)

Average temperature winter: 44 degrees (7 C)

Cultural Highlight: Birmingham

On the banks of Birmingham's canals, Brindleyplace brims with restaurants, bars, museums and entertainment venues.

49. Tokyo, Japan (Tied)

Population: 13.6 million (city), 38.3 million (metro area)

Languages: Japanese

Average temperature summer: 85 degrees (29 C)

Average temperature winter: 50 degrees (10 C)

Cultural Highlight: Tokyo

The world's tallest observation tower, the Tokyo Skytree soars 2,080 feet above the megalopolis.

49. Chicago, Illinois, United States (Tie)

Population: 2.7 million (city); 9.5 million (metro area)

Language(s): English (primary), Spanish, Polish

Average temperature summer: 84 degrees (29 C)

Average temperature winter: 31 degrees (-1 C)

Cultural Highlight: Chicago

Chicago's skyscrapers set the backdrop for Millennium Park, graced with artsy outdoor sculptures, a music pavilion, a dazzling fountain and an ice skating rink.

48. Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Population: 621,000 (city), 1.8 million (metro area)

Languages: English (primary), Scots

Average temperature summer: 68 degrees (20 C)

Average temperature winter: 44 degrees (7 C)

Cultural Highlight: Glasgow

The impressive Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum displays works by the likes of Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir and Dalí.

46. Madrid, Spain (Tie)

Population: 3.1 million (city), 6.7 million (metro area)

Languages: Spanish

Average temperature summer: 90 degrees (32 C)

Average temperature winter: 50 degrees (10 C)

Cultural Highlight: Madrid

The Golden Triangle of Art consists of three major art museums: the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.

46. Seattle, Washington, United States (Tie)

Population: 725,000 (city), 3.8 million (metro area)

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 76 degrees (24 C)

Average temperature winter: 47 degrees (8 C)

Cultural Highlight: Seattle

Pike Place Market is the go-to place for superb seafood, specialty shops and a sense of Seattle community.

45. Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Population: 465,000 (city), 1.3 million (metro area)

Languages: English (primary), Scots

Average temperature summer: 66 degrees (19 C)

Average temperature winter: 45 degrees (7 C)

Cultural Highlight: Edinburgh

Big, brooding Edinburgh Castle is the city's must-see historic attraction.

44. New York, New York, United States

Population: 8.6 million (city), 20.3 million (metro area)

Languages: English (primary), Spanish, Chinese

Average temperature summer: 84 degrees (29 C)

Average temperature winter: 38 degrees (3 C)

Cultural Highlight: New York City

Gaze out at Manhattan from atop the Empire State Building, visit the Met or indulge in the city's many five-star restaurants.

43. Barcelona, Spain

Population: 1.6 million (city), 4.8 million (metro area)

Languages: Spanish, Catalan (primary languages)

Average temperature summer: 84 degrees (29 C)

Average temperature winter: 59 degrees (15 C)

Cultural Highlight: Barcelona

With its bizarre Gothic/Art Nouveau towers, Sagrada Família basilica stands as the city's signature architectural landmark.

41. Milan, Italy (Tie)

Population: 1.4 million (city), 5.3 million (metro area)

Languages: Italian

Average temperature summer: 85 degrees (29 C)

Average temperature winter: 43 degrees (6 C)

Cultural Highlight: Milan

Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" mural adorns a wall of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

41. London, England, United Kingdom (Tie)

Population: 8.8 million (city), 14 million (metro area)

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 74 degrees (23 C)

Average temperature winter: 47 degrees (8 C)

Cultural Highlight: London

Housing some eight million objects, the British Museum ranks among the world's largest and most comprehensive history museums.

40. Lyon, France

Population: 513,275 (city), 2.2 million (metro area)

Languages: French

Average temperature summer: 82 degrees (28 C)

Average temperature winter: 44 degrees (7 C)

Cultural Highlight: Lyon

Built in 1480, the Gothic-style Lyon Cathedral is among the city's must-see historic churches.

39. Paris, France

Population: 2.2 million (city), 12.4 million (metro area)

Languages: French

Average temperature summer: 77 degrees (25 C)

Average temperature winter: 45 degrees (7 C)

Cultural Highlight: Paris

The world's most-visited art museum, the Louvre is home to the "Mona Lisa."

37. Honolulu, Hawaii, United States (Tie)

Population: 360,000 (city), 953,000 (metro area)

Languages: English (primary); Tagalog, Ilocano, Japanese

Average temperature summer: 88 degrees (31 C)

Average temperature winter: 80 degrees (26 C)

Cultural Highlight: Honolulu

Ogle the world's largest trove of Polynesian cultural artifacts and natural history specimens at the Bishop Museum.

37. Lisbon, Portugal (Tie)

Population: 505,526 (city), 2.8 million (metro area)

Languages: Portuguese

Average temperature summer: 82 degrees (28 C)

Average temperature winter: 59 degrees (15 C)

Cultural Highlight: Lisbon

Visit one of the city's most famed landmarks, the Gothic-style Belém Tower (or Tower of Saint Vincent), which dates to the 16th century.

36. Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Population: 685,094 (city), 4.6 million (metro area)

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 81 degrees (27 C)

Average temperature winter: 36 degrees (1 C)

Cultural Highlight: Boston

Catch a Boston Red Sox game at storied Fenway Park, the oldest stadium in Major League Baseball.

35. Brisbane, Australia

Population: 2.4 million

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 87 degrees (31 C)

Average temperature winter: 71 degrees (22 C)

Cultural Highlight: Brisbane

On the banks of the Brisbane River, the South Bank Parklands feature a riverfront promenade, green spaces, a beach, an outdoor amphitheater, restaurants and a 197-foot-high Ferris wheel.

34. San Francisco, California, United States

Population: 884,363 (city), 4.7 million (metro area)

Languages: English (primary), Spanish, Chinese

Average temperature summer: 67 degrees (19 C)

Average temperature winter: 57 degrees (14 C)

Cultural Highlight: San Francisco

One of the world's great food cities, San Francisco is famed for its Dungeness crab, Mission-style burritos, Italian restaurants, Ghirardelli Chocolate and innovative California cuisine.

34. Dublin, Ireland

Population: 553,165 (city), 1.9 million (metro area)

Languages: English (primary); Irish

Average temperature summer: 68 degrees (20 C)

Average temperature winter: 48 degrees (9 C)

Cultural Highlight: Dublin

Quaff a pint of Guinness at one of the city's countless pubs. The area around St. Stephen's Green is a solid bet.

32. Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Population: 1.2 million (city), 1.4 million (metro area)

Languages: English (primary), French

Average temperature summer: 76 degrees (24 C)

Average temperature winter: 32 degrees (0 C)

Cultural Highlight: Calgary

One of the world's largest rodeos, the annual Calgary Stampede kicks up dust in July.

It also features rides, food booths and attractions.

31. Helsinki, Finland

Population: 642,045 (city), 1.5 million (metro area)

Languages: Finnish (primary), Swedish

Average temperature summer: 71 degrees (22 C)

Average temperature winter: 30 degrees (-1 C)

Cultural Highlight: Helsinki

Among the three museums comprising the Finnish National Gallery is the Ateneum, an art museum displaying works by Cézanne, van Gogh and a wealth of Finnish painters.

30. Canberra, Australia

Population: 403,468

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 84 degrees (29 C)

Average temperature winter: 53 degrees (12 C)

Cultural Highlight: Canberra

See kangaroos, koalas and wallabies at the National Zoo and Aquarium.

29. Adelaide, Australia

Population: 1.3 million

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 82 degrees (28 C)

Average temperature winter: 60 degrees (16 C)

Cultural Highlight: Adelaide

Australian Rules Football fanatics pack Adelaide Oval stadium to root on the city's two pro teams: the Adelaide Crows and the Port Adelaide Power.

28. Brussels, Belgium

Population: 1.2 million (city), 2.1 million (metro area)

Languages: French (primary), Dutch

Average temperature summer: 73 degrees (23 C)

Average temperature winter: 42 degrees (6 C)

Cultural Highlight: Brussels

Considered one of Europe's most beautiful city squares, the Grand Place attracts visitors and locals alike to its outdoor cafes and extensive city history museum.

27. Stuttgart, Germany

Population: 624,000 (city), 5.3 million (metro area)

Languages: German

Average temperature summer: 79 degrees (26 C)

Average temperature winter: 39 degrees (4 C)

Cultural Highlight: Stuggart

Admire works by Dali, Matisse and Picasso at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart museum.

25. Oslo, Norway (Tie)

Population: 673,469 (city), 1.6 million (metro area)

Languages: Norwegian

Average temperature summer: 71 degrees (22 C)

Average temperature winter: 30 degrees (-1 C)

Cultural Highlight: Oslo

The Munch Museum displays Norwegian artist Edvard Munch's famed painting "The Scream."

25. Singapore, Singapore (Tie)

Population: 5.6 million

Languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil (primary languages)

Average temperature summer: 88 degrees (31 C)

Average temperature winter: 87 degrees (30 C)

Cultural Highlight: Singapore

The lotus flower-shaped ArtScience Museum hosts major touring exhibitions from around the world.

23. Nuremberg, Germany (Tied)

Population: 518,000 (city), 3.5 million (metro area)

Languages: German

Average temperature summer: 80 degrees (27 C)

Average temperature winter: 37 degrees (3 C)

Cultural Highlight: Nuremberg

The country's largest museum of cultural history, Germanisches Nationalmuseum displays some 25,000 objects dating from antiquity to the present.

23. Stockholm, Sweden (Tied)

Population: 952,000 (city), 2.3 million (metro area)

Languages: Swedish (primary), Finnish

Average temperature summer: 73 degrees (23 C)

Average temperature winter: 33 degrees (1 C)

Cultural Highlight: Stockholm

Not only is lavish Drottningholm Palace the residence of the Swedish royal family, but it's also a popular tourist attraction with formal gardens, a Chinese-themed pavilion and an opera theater.

21. Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Tied)

Population: 1.7 million (city), 4.1 million (metro area)

Languages: French, English (primary languages)

Average temperature summer: 79 degrees (26 C)

Average temperature winter: 24 degrees (-4 C)

Cultural Highlight: Montreal

Chock-a-block with historic buildings — some dating to the 17th and 18th centuries — the downtown area boasts 50 designated National Historic Sites of Canada.

21. Perth, Australia (Tied)

Population: 2 million

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 90 degrees (32 C)

Average temperature winter: 65 degrees (18 C)

Cultural Highlight: Perth

The Perth Cultural Centre hosts four major museums, including the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

19. Hamburg, Germany (Tie)

Population: 1.8 million (city); 5.1 million (metro area)

Languages: German

Average temperature summer: 72 degrees (22 C)

Average temperature winter: 38 degrees (3 C)

Cultural Highlight: Hamburg

Hamburg's central urban park, the 116-acre Planten un Blomen, offers a botanical garden, public theater, roller/ice skating rink, and an evening fountain/light show on the park's lake.

19. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Tie)

Population: 964,743 (city); 1.3 million (metro area)

Languages: English, French (primary languages)

Average temperature summer: 80 degrees (27 C)

Average temperature winter: 22 degrees (-6 C)

Cultural Highlight: Ottawa

The ByWard Market bustles with shoppers browsing stalls selling specialty foods, fresh produce, flowers and souvenirs.

18. Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Population: 116,323

Languages: Luxembourgish, a mix of German and French

Average temperature summer: 74 degrees (23 C)

Average temperature winter: 38 degrees (3 C)

Cultural Highlight: Luxembourg

The fully restored 18th-century Fort Thüngen houses the city's history museum, Musée Dräi Eechelen.

17. Melbourne, Australia

Population: 4.9 million

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 79 degrees (26 C)

Average temperature winter: 58 degrees (14 C)

Cultural Highlight: Melbourne

Concert halls, live performance theaters and art galleries attract culture mavens to the Arts Centre Melbourne complex.

16. Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Population: 2.7 million (city); 6 million (metro area)

Languages: English (primary), Chinese, Spanish, Italian, French

Average temperature summer: 81 degrees (27 C)

Average temperature winter: 31 degrees (-1 C)

Cultural Highlight: Toronto

The city's pro sports teams include the NHL's Maple Leafs, MLB's Blue Jays and NBA's Raptors.

15. Wellington, New Zealand

Population: 412,500

Languages: English (primary), Maori

Average temperature summer: 68 degrees (20 C)

Average temperature winter: 52 degrees (11 C)

Cultural Highlight: Wellington

The waterfront Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa) houses a wealth of the country's cultural treasures.

14. Bern, Switzerland

Population: 142,656 (city), 660,000 (metro area)

Languages: Swiss German

Average temperature summer: 76 degrees (24 C)

Average temperature winter: 37 degrees (3 C)

Cultural Highlight: Bern

Flush with medieval architecture, Bern's Old City area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

13. Berlin, Germany

Population: 3.7 million (city), 6 million (metro area)

Languages: German (primary), Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Polish, Kurdish, Serbo-Croatian

Average temperature summer: 77 degrees (25 C)

Average temperature winter: 38 degrees (3 C)

Cultural Highlight: Berlin

The city's nightclub scene is perhaps Europe's most varied and vibrant.

11. Amsterdam, Netherlands (Tie)

Population: 851,573 (city), 2.4 million (metro area)

Languages: Dutch

Average temperature summer: 72 degrees (22 C)

Average temperature winter: 42 degrees (6 C)

Cultural Highlight: Amsterdam

The Van Gogh Museum holds the globe's largest collection of works by the Post-Impressionist master.

11. Sydney, Australia (Tie)

Population: 5.1 million

Languages: English

Average temperature summer: 80 degrees (27 C)

Average temperature winter: 63 degrees (17 C)

Cultural Highlight: Sydney

On the shore of Sydney Harbour, catch a concert or play at the iconic Sydney Opera House.

10. Basel, Switzerland

Population: 175,940

Languages: Swiss German (primary), French

Average temperature summer: 78 degrees (26 C)

Average temperature winter: 40 degrees (4 C)

Cultural Highlight: Basel

Home to more than three dozen museums, Basel calls itself the "Cultural Capital of Switzerland."

9. Geneva, Switzerland

Population: 198,979 (city), 489,524 (metro area)

Languages: French (primary), Spanish, Italian, German

Average temperature summer: 80 degrees (27 C)

Average temperature winter: 40 degrees (4 C)

Cultural Highlight: Geneva

The winding, walkable streets of Geneva's Old Town are lined with museums, shops and outdoor cafes.

8. Copenhagen, Denmark

Population: 613,288 (city), 1.3 million (metro area)

Languages: Danish

Average temperature summer: 72 degrees (22 C)

Average temperature winter: 38 degrees (3 C)

Cultural Highlight: Copenhagen

Historic buildings, monuments, statues and formal gardens fill the gorgeous Rosenborg Castle Gardens (aka King's Garden), which dates to the 17th century.

7. Frankfurt, Germany

Population: 732,688 (city), 5.6 million (metro area)

Languages: German

Average temperature summer: 78 degrees (26 C)

Average temperature winter: 40 degrees (4 C)

Cultural Highlight: Frankfurt

Museumsufer is a collection of 20 museums on the banks of the city's Main River.

6. Dusseldorf, Germany

Population: 639,407 (city), 10.6 million (metro area)

Languages: German

Average temperature summer: 76 degrees (24 C)

Average temperature winter: 42 degrees (6 C)

Cultural Highlight: Dusseldorf

Get a lay of the land from the observation deck of the 789-foot-tall Rheinturm, or Rhine Tower.

3. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Tied)

Population: 631,486 (city), 2.4 million (metro area)

Languages: English (primary), Cantonese, Chinese, Mandarin, Punjabi

Average temperature summer: 72 degrees (22 C)

Average temperature winter: 44 degrees (7 C)

Cultural Highlight: Vancouver

The city's outdoor playground is forested Stanley Park, home to the excellent Vancouver Aquarium.

3. Munich, Germany (Tied)

Population: 1.5 million (city), 6 million (metro area)

Languages: German

Average temperature summer: 76 degrees (24 C)

Average temperature winter: 38 degrees (3 C)

Cultural Highlight: Munich

Head to the city center and hoist a brew at Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, one of the world's most famous beer halls.

3. Auckland, New Zealand (Tied)

Population: 1.5 million

Languages: English (primary), Maori

Average temperature summer: 66 degrees (19 C)

Average temperature winter: 52 degrees (11 C)

Cultural Highlight: Auckland

The Auckland Art Gallery holds an impressive collection of national and international art

2. Zurich, Switzerland

Population: 400,000 (city), 1.83 million (metro area)

Languages: German

Average temperature summer: 75 degrees (24 C)

Average temperature winter: 37 degrees (3 C)

Cultural Highlight: Zurich

Zurich's old town area brims with historic churches, museums and shops.

1. Vienna, Austria

Population: 1.8 million (city), 2.6 million (metro area)

Languages: German

Average temperature summer: 80 degrees (27 C)

Average temperature winter: 39 degrees (4 C)

Cultural Highlight: Vienna

The lavish, Baroque-style Schönbrunn Palace boasts exquisite gardens and architecture.

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