Brussels drops in annual expat quality-of-life index

Brussels has dropped from 36th to 40th place in a list of cities with the best quality of life for expats, according to an annual ranking by US consultancy Mercer.

Five years ago, the capital was ranked 28th.

“This year, Zurich, Switzerland, takes the top position, fuelled by its outstanding public services, low crime rates and a lively cultural scene, all backed by efficient infrastructure and a dedication to sustainability,” Mercer said in its report.

“Additionally, for 2024, Zurich has enhanced its airport connections, increasing the number of flights to and from other continents. Following closely behind is Vienna, Austria. Meanwhile, Geneva has climbed to third place, improving by two places since last year.”

Other cities in the top five are Copenhagen in Denmark and Auckland in New Zealand.

Brussels remains an attractive destination thanks to “its good relations with almost all countries, its exclusive international schools, freedom of speech and excellent healthcare system”, according to the report.

But negative factors such as daily traffic jams and the weather brought the overall score down.

In 40th place, Brussels lags behind many other Western European cities, where eight of the 10 best-rated cities are located.

Mercer’s 2024 index ranked 241 cities from five continents with the aim of helping “multinational companies and governments determine compensation strategies for their international assignees”.