[loreldan]

I've not been to Vancouver, but I hear it's beautiful. I guess it's a plus that an American city was not included in the worst cities, being a UN study and all.

[newgeezer]

When I visited Vancouver back in '96, I got the impression it was Canada's San Francisco (a would-be beautiful spot infested with fruits and nuts).

[MadIvan]

My father would spit out his tea if he sees this list - he has spent more time in Zurich than he would care to mention and he positively despises the place.

Regards, Ivan

[William Terrell]

Jon Copestake, editor of the Economist Intelligence Unit, which commissioned the research, said: "There are hardly any problems in Canada and even less in Vancouver."

Then winter comes.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Go downtown to Hastings at night...Try to get a job in North Van if you don't speak Mandarine or Cantonese...

Looks nice on the outside...just don't look too deep...

[wideawake]

Beaches, ski resorts, mountains, great weather and friendly people are just some of the ingredients of the best place to live in the world.

But where is this heaven on earth, where can you have a great standard of living and healthcare, get your hands on the world's best goods and experience some of the best services?

Let's comp it to NYC.

Beaches - NYC has more and nicer beaches.

Ski resorts - NYC is close to decent ski resorts but if one is a truly top-notch skier, BC is better. For most people's purposes, NYC is just as good.

Mountains - NYC is located near several nice ranges.

Great weather - NYC isn't as rainy and has much warmer summers.

Friendly people - neither city is really known for friendly people. This category is kind of a joke.

Great standard of living - NYC incomes are much, much higher than Vancouver's and Vancouver still has the highest real estate prices in Canada.

Best goods - there is nothing available for sale in Vancouver that cannot be obtained in NYC, and it's probably cheaper. There are tons of quality goods for sale in NYC that are not available in Vancouver.

Health care - there is no rationing in NYC and the best medical personnel and facilties are there.

Best services - for the discerning consumer there is a level and variety of services available in NYC unimaginable in Vancouver.

Additionally, Vancouver has one of the highest percentages of drug addicts in the Western world, far higher than NYC. Vancouver has a higher crime rate than NYC.

[dakine]

Victoria seemed much nicer...

[manwiththehands]

What? No Albuquerque on the top ten? No Sheboygan? No Topeka?

[Atlas Sneezed]

Talking about the best cities to live in is like talking about the best ox-carts for commuting.

I'd take many nice rural or suburban areas over the best of these cities for my primary residence.

[GOP_1900AD]

The UN seems to be biased against the traditional Great Cities of the world. Certainly, some of them are a challenge but some are still quite nice places. Quality of life is more than kayaking and skiing one hour away. Cultural opportunities also impact quality of life. To be sure, Vancouver is no cow town. But it sure ain't anything close to Paris, London, NYC or Tokyo either.

[Black Tooth]

Vancouver in British Columbia.

Too cold, too icy, too wet, too rainy... They can have it.

[devane617]

With all the New Yorkers in Florida, I was certain Miami/Tampa/Palm Beach/Ft Lauderale would be at the top of the list.

[Lorraine]

They have the best topless bars,thats for sure.

[wolfcreek]

Vancouver has often been called "The Amsterdam of N. America"

[airborne]

Then why not let the UN move there?

[jbloedow]

But where is this heaven on earth, where can you have a great standard of living and healthcare?

That's true. You're only an hour and a half drive from the US border if you get sick.

[jbloedow]

The 10 best cities to live in are:
Vancouver, Canada
Melbourne, Australia
Vienna, Austria
Geneva, Switzerland
Perth, Australia
Adelaide, Australia
Sydney, Australia
Zurich, Switzerland
Toronto, Canada
Calgary, Canada

Do you think maybe, just maybe, this list was put together by a couple of Aussies and a Canuck who like skiing and smoking pot?

Seriously, Vancouver is a great city, makes Seattle (where I live) look like a turd-pile. But we chose Seattle over Vancouver because of job opportunities and taxes, and because real-estate is even more nuts in 'couver than here. Oh, and because we like liberty and democracy. Not sure if the list took that into account.

Calgary is fantastic, should be higher. Toronto used to be top-ten material, but shouldn't be anywhere near the top ten anymore. It's going downhill fast.

[Revolting cat!]

Thank goodness my city wasn't mentioned or all you monkeys (and those evolved from them) would be moving here spoiling the cat's paradise!

[Steve_Seattle]

When people ask me what there is to see in Seattle, I say, "Vancouver."

[Verginius Rufus]

I've been in Vancouver a few times, always in the spring or summer, and thought it was a nice place to visit, except that the lanes on some of the major highways are too narrow. There's an excellent museum on the UBC campus with lots of totem poles and other material on the "First Nations" of the area.

I don't see Detroit on the ten best list.

[billnaz]

I've been in two of the cities on the Best 10 list. No way would I live in them. And that goes for the rest of the cities on the list.

If the U.N. likes Vancouver, B.C. so much let it move there. I volunteer to help with the packing.