Brussels has fallen four places in the 'Quality of Life' for expats report published by Mercer on Tuesday morning. The Belgian capital dropped from 40th to 36th place in the ranking.
The capital of Belgium ranked 36th last year, but dropped several places in 2024, according to research carried out by the US consulting firm. While Brussels remains an attractive destination for internationals, the city was singled out for its daily traffic jams and its bad weather.
"The positive points of the capital are good relations with almost all countries, exclusive international schools, freedom of expression and an exceptional healthcare system," the report said. On the other hand, the city scores lowest on criteria such as daily traffic jams and the weather.
The best city for expats is Zurich (Switzerland), which has overtaken the Austrian capital Vienna as offering the best quality of life for internationals and their families.
Europe is best for expats
Zurich rose to the top because of its excellent public services, low crime rate, dynamic cultural scene and commitment to sustainable development.
These factors, along with the ambition to improve airport connections and increase the number of flights to and from other continents by 2024, make it an ideal location for expats, the reports said.
However, due to the high cost of housing and transport, as well as the total cost of goods and services, Zurich is also one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Completing the top five are Geneva (Switzerland), Copenhagen (Denmark) and Auckland (New Zealand).
Eight of the top ten cities are in Western Europe, including Amsterdam (6th) and Frankfurt (7th), making this region the most attractive for expatriates, according to the US consulting firm.
