Zurich? No Thanks, I'll Live in Mérida

Sometimes you just have to shake your head…

Mercer Human Resource Consulting, which advises companies that send executives on international assignment, has just published its annual ranking of the world's most livable cities, based on 39 quality-of-life issues. Only two cities in Mexico made it into Mercer's top 200: Monterrey at number 94, and Mexico City at number 128. (Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland, rank first and second, respectively.)

So why do we point out these unflattering rankings? Because people pay attention to rankings like these-and yet, for many of us, studies like Mercer's measure things that are irrelevant to the lives we want to lead.

To show what I mean, take a look at a similar study done just last month here in Mexico. The Reforma newspaper group asked 7,850 randomly selected Mexicans to rank 36 Mexican cities on their quality of life. The results? Well, Mercer's preferred cities were ranked low by those who know Mexico best…Mexicans. Monterrey placed toward the bottom, and Mexico City came in dead last.

The city Mexicans rank as having the best quality of life in the whole country is Colima, capital of the Pacific Coast state of Colima. Mérida, capital of the Yucatán Peninsula, came in second. And Querétaro and Aguascalientes, both in northern Mexico, came in third and fourth.

The Reforma survey evaluated eight factors: job opportunities, public services, urban infrastructure, air quality, public security and safety, availability of educational institutions, climate, and availability of cultural activities.

These are certainly all factors that Mercer considered, to some degree or another. But Mercer's study is geared toward a specific group: high-ranking expat executives. It therefore evaluates cities where this group is most likely to live-and not necessarily places the rest of us would choose to live, raise our children, or retire. (You can get the complete Mercer list here.)

Keep in mind that Mexico City made the Mercer list. But in the Reforma poll, it came in dead last. It's the least favorite city among those polled-it's a great place to visit, but no one I know, Mexicans or expats alike, wants to live there.

In the many letters we get from readers, we hear of people wanting a slower pace of life, a lower cost of living, a safe, vibrant community that they can feel a part of. Your criteria for happiness, we think, tally well with what the Reforma survey measures-and with the Mexico cities that came out on top.

I am writing you this, of course, from my new home in Mérida-ranked number two in the Reforma survey. It's inexpensive, cosmopolitan, and has an international airport from which I can go anyplace in the world. And as I sip my morning coffee by the pool, smelling the wealth of tropical flowers, or making plans to meet friends for an evening stroll before a concert, I ask myself: Would I trade all this for Zurich?

Not on your life, liebchen.

Best Regards,

Suzan Haskins
Editor, Mexico Insider
International Living

P.S. Mexico is abundant in lovely cities with a great quality of life. Some are colonial jewels in the mountains or along the sea. Others are laid-back beach communities or bustling commercial centers with every modern amenity. We cover a different area of this vibrant, varied country every month in Mexico Insider, our specialized publication designed for people interested in traveling, living, or having a second home in Mexico. If you are considering Mexico, sign up today for this invaluable source of information.