Five of the Healthiest Big Cities in the World

Are you looking for a change, both in lifestyle and location?  Luckily, there are lots of options available for places to live that are big on healthy living.  What qualifies a location as “healthy”?  There are a number of factors, such as easily accessible healthcare, eco-consciousness, and availability of mass transit to name a few.  Here are a few reasons why the following cities have been ranked overall by various publications as the top cities for healthy citizens and lifestyle.

Singapore, Malaysia

• Singapore is one of the cleanest cities in the world, thanks largely in part to strict littering laws.
• Traffic and car congestion have been greatly reduced since the 1970s through government incentives
• The public transport system, SMRT, efficiently carries about two million citizens daily.
• About 80% of Singaporeans use the public healthcare system, which is affordable thanks to several cost tiers based on need.
• The average lifespan of a Singaporean is 84 years.
• Singapore is known as the “Garden City”, featuring plenty of open space and trails in addition to its beaches.

Tokyo, Japan

• The readily available Asian diet in Tokyo is very healthy and consists largely of fresh vegetables, fish, and rice.
• Life expectancy averages at 84 years.
• Tokyo has lower greenhouse gases than most Asian cities at 4.8 tons of CO2, while cities like Singapore are closer to 8 tons.
• Their mass transit system effectively moves over three million people per day.
• They have universal healthcare for their citizens.

Perth, Australia

• The city is incredibly bicycle friendly, with bike shelters and lock pads easily available.
• Perth is one of the best cities for women based on its infrastructure, culture, stability, and education levels.
• The beaches and climate allow for year around sports and outdoor activities.

Copenhagen, Denmark

• The government is very eco-conscious and aspires for the city to be carbon neutral by 2025.
• Almost 50% of the population only use a bike for transportation, which is easy thanks to the bike lanes designated throughout the city.
• Denmark overall has been ranked one of the happiest countries to live in.

Monaco, France

• Average life expectancy is almost 90 years old.
• It is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, with the most millionaires per capita.
• With the overall wealth of the city, citizens are able to afford world-class healthcare.
• Green incentives, such as fleets of Smart Cars that require no gas, are evident in everyday life.