Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Angelika Brenner-Cecerle, the partner at Recom Relocation, invites once a month experts, colleagues, and internationals to share their knowledge and experience in Austria.
Recom is a relocation agency in Vienna and offers immigration service, home finding, school and kindergarden search, settling-in-service, car import, change of drivers licenses, intercultural training, and events for expats "Club Melange".
www.recom-relocation.at
www.clubmelange.at
instagram.com/recomrelocation
www.instagram.com/clubmelange
facebook.com/recomrelocationgmbh
www.facebook.com/clubmelangevienna
linkedin.com/company/recom-relocation/
Welcome to „Lets talk Austria“
Our episode today „Vienna is again the most liveable City in the world“
Sabine: For the third time in a row - and if you exclude the COVID period, the fifth time in a row - Vienna has once again been named the most liveable city in the world by the EIU - The Economic Intelligence Unit.
There are several surveys every year in which the most liveable city in the world is chosen. “Internations”, for example, conducts an annual survey and ‘Monocle’ and ‘Mercer’ also publish an annual survey. For many years, Vienna has usually been in first place.
And that's what we want to talk about in this episode.
This time, however, we'll be swapping chairs, because in this episode it's not Angelika asking the questions as usual, but she's answering my questions today. Welcome, dear Angelika, to this episode. I hope you feel comfortable in your role as interviewee.
ABC: Absolutely, dear Sabine, I am delighted not to be asking the questions on this topic, but to be able to answer them, because as a native Viennese I am of course very pleased with the result of this year's evaluation. But you're right, it is a bit unusual for me but I am already looking forward to it and to your questions😊😊
Question: Great, so here is my first question: What does it mean to be named the most liveable city in the world?
Answer: Well, being named the most liveable city in the world means that Vienna has received the highest ratings in various categories. The current survey was conducted by the EIU the “Economic Intelligence Unit” and provides a comprehensive overview of how good a city is for living and working. It compares 173 major cities around the world.
Question: How often has Vienna been awarded this title?
Answer: In the EIU surveys, Vienna has regularly been awarded the title of the most liveable city in the world in recent years. To be precise, Vienna came second in 2015, 2016 and 2017. And from 2018 onwards, we were regularly in first place. In 2018, Vienna became the first European city ever to win 1st place, replacing Melbourne as the most liveable city after seven years.
However, I left out the years 2020 and 2021. There was no survey in 2020 and the year 2021 was the Covid and lockdown year.
Question: Are there any other international surveys in which Vienna has done well?
Answer: Oh yes, there is the “Quality of living” “MERCER” study, for example. This study compares and analyzes 241 cities worldwide. Vienna was named the most liveable city in the world by MERCER 2023 for the eleventh time in a row.
The “Monocle quality of Life Survey” which has just been released ranks Vienna second in the 2024 survey. Monocle is a media publication and uses quantitative data alongside qualitative insights from experts and correspondents living in those cities.
Vienna is also ranked number 1 in the “International congress and convention Association”
In 2019 Vienna was number 1 in the “Smart City Strategy” index (A smart city is a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient through the use of digital solutions, to the benefit of residents and businesses.)
So, I think we can summarize that Vienna is a very liveable city and I have to confess, that I am really proud living in this city with these results.
Question: These figures are quite astounding. Thank you for pointing them out so meticulously. I have to say, hearing this cascade of prizes and distinctions, I realize again what a special place Vienna is.
So, on to the next question: What criteria are used to assess the most liveable city in the world?
Answer: Okay, let me tell you about the criteria that all the surveys tend to look at – the fundamentals, for example, safety, stability, health and education. It’s understandable that they focus on these as they are the backbone that make a city liveable – the basics that people need to feel comfortable and secure in their everyday lives – having access to good healthcare, knowing the city is safe, being able to get around comfortably all contribute to that sense of stability and well-being. Then there are the more “enjoyable” or “fun” aspects such as cultural offerings and environment. These are the elements that make people WANT to live there not just “get by”. It’s that balance between functionality and enjoyment, where a city can be practical but also exciting and positive to live in. EIU takes a more pragmatic, perhaps more analytical assessment. Mercer approaches it from a different angle, focusing more on expat concerns, so that might be how easy it is for international employees and their families to settle and how easy it is to integrate into the community. Monocle puts a bit more focus on lifestyle aspects, for example, the number of restaurants and cultural offerings available in a city, the amount of green space or the price of a cappuccino. So overall, these rankings share a lot in common – because they are trying to measure the fundamentals of good quality of life – but each has its own twist.
I brought the brief results of the “Monocle” magazine survey with me: the Monocle praises Vienna for its mental health services, adding recreational spaces and building new municipal housing to support its growing population.
They also tell that the life expectancy in years is 82,12 and the cost of a cappuccino is 3,88 Euro
Each of these categories is carefully analyzed and evaluated in order to obtain a comprehensive assessment of quality of life.
Question: Why are stability and safety so high in Vienna?
Answer: Vienna stands out with perfect scores in safety and stability, underpinned by its low crime rate and by offering a stable political landscape.
Regarding safety, I did some research, and the statistics show that 528,000 crimes were reported throughout Austria in 2023. This is an increase on the previous year, mainly in the area of property and economic crime. Vienna accounted for 35.3% of this. The clearance rate is 52.3%.
But I can tell you from my own experience that, as a woman, I am very relaxed about walking or using public transport at any time of the day or night. And that in every district of Vienna. I never feel unsafe or anxious. I often come home at night and have never felt uncomfortable in Vienna. I have also lived in other cities and know the difference. What I do know about Vienna, however, is theft and burglary. My car for example has already been stolen once and another time my car was broken into. What is your experience Sabine, in regards of safety in Vienna?
Question: Thank goodness, I have been very lucky and cannot report on anything being stolen from me. The closest I got was a burglary into my neighbour’s flat. I detected it AFTER it had happened and called the police.
On the other hand, I can report that in Vienna, people are incredibly honest and caring. A couple of times, I forgot my wallet – both times in the basket of a Vienna city bike. The first time, after I had panicked and unsuccessfully called the service line and the Lost and Found office, I surrendered and started cancelling my credit cards. A few hours later I got a call from a shoe shop in the 1st district: Someone – presumably a tourist – had walked in and handed them my wallet, asking them to call me. He had found the wallet in the basket but did not speak German. They were able to find my phone number in the wallet and called me.
The 2nd time, I forgot the wallet later in the evening. It was raining all night, and I discovered in the morning that my wallet was missing. I ran to the city bike station – and found my wallet soaking wet in the basket. Someone had taken some banknotes but had left all the documents untouched. To me, this was a fair deal.
Do you have some comments on this, dear Angelika?
Answer: I think you were very lucky but yes, I also think that Austrians in general are rather honest. I left my cell phone in a park last year and got it back the very same day.
Question: Apart from this, it is a VERY common occurrence that people put an item that somebody else lost or was dropped from a pram on a wall’s ledge or some other place where it is clearly visible in case the person comes back looking for it. I even remember people telling me stories of losing something – and panicking – and then going like: “Hold on, relax, this is Vienna. You will get it back or find it around the place you lost or left it”. Sure enough: They went back to the place and saw that the finder had put it on a pole, a fence or some other place where you cannot miss it.
As a last resort, all over the city, you will find red boxes where you can insert lost objects. And if you are the one that has lost something, there is an ingenious system where you can look things up.
Question: Angelika, can you tell us how Vienna manages to be such a safe and stable place?
Answer: Regarding stability, the city government is continuously working to ensure public safety and improve living conditions. This creates a sense of security and well-being for residents. Austria is a very well-functioning constitutional state with a high level of payment morale, which in turn enables stable business processes. Another example that I found in the statistics search: We almost always manage to avoid strikes; Striking has no Tradition in Austria; we only have 1 strike day per year. This is a very important detail for the economy because every strike day is a big financial loss for a country.
Question: Speaking of stability - political stability is also an important factor in the surveys. The National Council elections have just taken place in Austria at the end of September 2024, and the result is unprecedented. Nevertheless, can you please tell us something about political stability in Austria?
Answer: Yes, the results of the National Council elections in September 2024 show the more right-wing party called FPÖ, as the strongest party for the first time in history with 29%. This has never happened before, and the next few months will show which coalition will govern our country in the coming years.
But apart from the last election, I can generally say about political stability that Austria has an extremely democratic structure.
We have - thank God - a long-standing tradition of a politically acceptable tone and perhaps also worth mentioning so far, handovers after lost elections have always been very civilized and orderly. I think that freedom of speech and freedom of expression are also part of political stability as is the acceptance of people with a different political view.
The civilized culture of demonstrations is also worth mentioning here. Austrians like to make their opinions known and they often do so in the form of a demonstration. Almost all demonstrations are duly registered with the relevant authorities at least 48 hours in advance. This registration must state the topic or purpose, the date, the expected duration, the use of e.g. signs or megaphones, the expected number of participants and the name of the leader. The leader of the demonstration is obliged to ensure that order is maintained and that all rules and laws are observed. The police can prepare themselves and accompany the demonstration. there are often demonstrations against a future government, for example, or against planned laws, or there were many protests the corona vaccination or the Fridays for Future Demos. There are always and everywhere enough reasons to organize a demonstration.
Economic stability should not be ignored in this survey either, I see you have brought a few figures with you:
Question:: Yes, I looked up the unemployment figures: the unemployment rate as of September 2024 has risen quite a bit compared to September 2023. As of September 24, the unemployment rate in Austria is 6.6%. In September 2023 the rate was 5.2 % On average in the EU, this means that we are in 10th place.
The production of goods and industry recorded the largest increase. What is very noticeable is unemployment among young people
What is the reason for the increase: according to the job center, the reason for the rise in unemployment is the high level of immigration and the slump in domestic industry. According to the Minister of Labor and Economic Affairs, Martin Kocher, this is not yet a concern, since this is still the third-lowest unemployment rate in the last ten years.
Question: Let me move on to the next category - healthcare. This is always a very important category in the surveys. What is healthcare like in Vienna and Austria?
Answer: Vienna has an excellent healthcare system with numerous first-class hospitals and healthcare facilities. This year´s Monocle survey recognized Vienna’s efforts in addressing mental health particularly for young people – a rising problem before COVID but got even worse after the pandemic.
In principle, healthcare is accessible to all residents and offers high-quality medical services, essential for good quality of life.
Question: When you say, “healthcare is accessible to all residents”, can you please elaborate on this?
Answer: yes, very much so. Compared to many other countries, in Austria the employer registers every employee with the Austrian social insurance fund - called ÖGK - on the very first day of work. This is regulated by law and means that every employee is covered by health and accident insurance from day one of work. The employee can now co-insure his family members with the OGK and so the whole family is insured against accidents and illnesses.
Suppose the employee now loses his job and registers as unemployed. The employee is then immediately covered by accident and health insurance through the AMS - the public unemployment agency - and can immediately co-insure his family again. Another example: Suppose a person is not an employee but self-employed. The self-employed person must immediately take out health and accident insurance for the self-employed. The family members can of course also be co-insured immediately in this example.
Question: These examples show how important it is for all Austrians to always have health and accident insurance. I also looked at the statistics: 99.9% of the Austrian population has health and accident insurance.
I would like to move on to another category of the surveys, namely culture and leisure: what cultural and leisure activities contribute to Vienna's high quality of life?
Answer: Vienna's cultural scene is flourishing, with highlights like the Wien Museum reopening with free entry to its permanent exhibition about Vienna. You can see Vienna before 1700 on the ground floor, Vienna between 1700 – 1900 on the first floor and Vienna after 1900 on the second floor. It is a fantastic museum to see and understand the history of Vienna. Check it out: www.wienmuseum.at
Vienna offers an incredible wealth of cultural events, various museums – I would like to highlight the Jewish Museum, the Albertina, The Leopold Museum and of course the big Art History and the Natural History Museum or the Museum of applied Arts, or some odd museums like the Funeral Museum, or the snow globe museum, the criminal museum or the chocolate museum.
So many theatres are available in Vienna. For example, did you know that you get 10 Euro tickets in the standing area in the State Opera house?
SK: I have heard that you may have to queue up for a little while to get these.
ABC: And of course, we have countless sightseeing places. The city is also known for its vibrant music scene, not only classical music and opera.
I have brought two interesting examples with me – both my examples are free events. Example one that has been running for two months every year for 30 years: the Rathaus Film Festival.
The Rathausplatz - the very large square in front of the town hall on the Ring, vis-à-vis the Burgtheater - is the place where the Filmfestival takes place in July and August. Cultural attractions free of charge!!! The film festival offers a unique combination of major music productions from Opera, Ballet, Jazz, Rock, Blues etc. on a very, very huge screen and offers top quality gastronomy from all over the world - everything under the open sky.
Example 2 is the Donauinselfest – the Danube Island festival - which is the largest open-air music festival in the world. This festival has been held every summer in June since 1984. Every year, around 3 million visitors attend the festival for three days free of charge. On 14 different stages they offer top class pop and rock music, political cabaret, action and fun programs.
Question: What comes to mind is an epic gig by Falco in 1993. Do you have any recollection of this?
Answer: Yes, Falco was one of Austrias most successful pop singers. He even made it into the US charts with his song “Amadeus” in 1986. And yes, I was there on the Danube Island at his legendary concert when it was raining cats and dogs.
Oh, and one more attraction with free entrance: the summer night Open Air Concert on the beautiful grounds of the Schönbrunn palace (which by the way was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO) is one of the great highlights of the Philharmonic Orchestra.
There are also numerous parks and green spaces that invite you to relax and unwind. To explain “green Vienna”, I have brought two examples with me: Firstly, the Danube Island: Originally, the Danube Island was part of the flood protection, a relief channel was built by 1988, and an island was created in the middle. Today, the Danube Island is a 42-kilometer-long beach in the middle of Vienna and invites you to go boating, bathing and swimming, walking and cycling and also to have a barbecue at one of the barbecue stations. I am often on the Danube Island with my dogs, especially in fall and winter when the Danube Island is rather quiet.
And as another example, I brought the Vienna woods - The Wienerwald - with me:
Oh, funny, the two of us were with our dogs in the Wienerwald today before we went to the office.
The Vienna Woods is a forest area measuring 1,300 square kilometers and surrounds the city of Vienna in the northwest and southwest. The Vienna Woods is a huge recreational area for the Viennese and Lower Austrians with many hiking trails and hilly sandstone in the west, rugged limestone cliffs in the east, leaf trees and pine forests with meadows and fields in between. Many years ago, I bought a book called “Rundwanderungen im Wienerwald” (Circular walks in the Vienna Woods) and got to know the huge Vienna Woods, which are exciting at any time of year, very well. With my dogs, of course.
Question: another very exciting and, as we at Recom Relocation know, very complex topic: education. I find that the Austrian school system is very complicated to understand and that's why I'm a big fan of our Recom Relocation workshop “the Austrian school system explained”. It's so helpful for foreign families and even though I've lived in Austria for so long, I've learned a lot from these workshops.
Answer: Yes, you are so right, Sabine, that’s why I have created this workshop for Club Mélange - because in the past 25 years I have seen how difficult it is for foreign families to understand our school system. This workshop is led by Nicole, and she explains the school system very well once a year, usually in spring, so the next workshop is to be expected in spring 2025.
Yeah, Vienna has an excellent education system with numerous schools, universities and research institutions. Vienna also has several international schools such as the Vienna international, the Danube school, the Amadeus international, the Christian international , the Russian school, the Japanese school, the Lycée Francais, The Swedish school, the American international school, and some more. We have our own podcast episode about the Vienna international and the Amadeus school, maybe you want to check out these episodes. These are episodes 13 and 15. But all those schools are of course private schools.
But to come back to the Austrian schools: In summary, it can be said that access to education in Austria is free. Every child in Austria, regardless of their parents' income, has free access to education from kindergarten to university. Although there are tuition fees during the study period, but these are very low - currently the tuition fee for the university is EUR 363 per semester.
Question:I am very interested in the next topic - the infrastructure in Vienna. What can you tell us about this?
Answer: the infrastructure in Vienna is excellent, with an extremely well-developed public transportation network - to be honest, you don't really need a car in Vienna. there are many ways to get around the city: you can use Tram, Bus, Underground, bike – we have many, many bike lanes in Vienna and you can easily rent a bike from one of the city bike stations. Or very modern now is to rent an e-scooter, or you just walk through Vienna – in my opinion that’s the best way to see the city. What do you think?
Question: I agree. You really don't need a car in this city. When I moved to Vienna about 11 years ago, I sold my car. Since then, I haven’t really missed it.
And you are right about walking: I walk most of the time and only take public transport when I have to get to a place in the outer districts, i.e. 10 to 23 … If you do need a car on some days, the best option for you is to use one of the car sharing systems. There are several, for example WienMobil Auto belongs to Wiener Linien, the company that runs most of Vienna’s public transport network. Furthermore, you have “ShareNow” who have just joined “Free2move” recently. And there is “ShareToo”. Lastly, there is also the option of hiring from a private person on the platform “getaround”.
On a slightly different topic: At the moment there is a very big construction site in Vienna, because a new subway line is being built. This will be the U5 and will be Austria's first fully automatic underground line from 2026.
ABC: Yes, in addition to the 83 km subway network – I checked all those numbers – I did not know them by heart, there are 880 km of bus services, 225 km of streetcar services – we call it “Tram” or “Bim” as it is affectionately known by locals, and all public transport is available for one euro per day, because since 2014 the annual ticket has been available for 365 euros thanks to the “Green Party”. Of course, it is heavily subsidized but through this, Vienna was able to reverse the ratio car owners and annual pass holders.
Vienna has a modern and good road network - and what surprises me every year is that all the damage to the roads is repaired so quickly after the winter.
Vienna also has an efficient waste and water management system. This contributes significantly to the quality of life.
A few words about our tap water in Vienna: Vienna's water comes from the Lower Austrian-Styrian Alps and is clear spring water. Fresh spring water is supplied to households in Vienna via high spring pipelines, water tanks and the Vienna pipe network.
I'm sure you can find a few suitable words on the subject of waste separation, dear Sabine, I'm even planning an own podcast episode on this topic, I hope you'll accept my invitation to this episode:
Question: Yes, it will be a pleasure – as my inofficial job title is “Research & Rubbish”. 😊 . We will talk about the topic of waste separation and recycling in more detail in an upcoming episode. For now, just a few short bullet points:
Throughout the city – and close to everyone’s flat – you will find colour-coded containers for bottles and glass, as well as all types of packaging. Sometimes you will also find containers for composting waste.
Vienna right now has recycling rate of about 30 to 40%, aiming for 50%. By 2030, the goal is to surpass the EU’s goal of 60%.
The city constantly runs campaigns to educate residents about proper waste separation and recycling – and quite a few languages.
In addition to containers, there are recycling centres where people can drop off larger items or materials not accepted in curbside bins. There is even a mobile drop-off point for hazardous and electronic waste. As we said, there will be an episode where we will dive deeper into this whole subject.
Another topic that was examined in the surveys is housing initiatives and sustainability. What can you tell us about this?
Answer: Yes, Vienna´s newest Gemeindebau – municipal building – located in the 2nd district, exemplifies the “Vienna Model” of affordable, sustainable and community focused living. The low-energy residential complex, built on a former parking lot, features 188 flats, green spaces, district heating, photovoltaics, and amenities like a doctor’s surgery, bicycle storage, and a children’s playroom. The project underscores Vienna´s commitment to affordable housing, at a time where, globally, house shortages and rising rents are becoming increasingly common. Since 2015, Vienna has completed 10 such projects, reinforcing its status as a leader in livability and social sustainability. There are a total of 1800 municipal buildings in which 500.000 people live.
Question: If I remember correctly, some 60% of Viennese live in subsidized or social housing. This would be another topic we could spend an entire podcase episode on.
Answer: We will do a whole separate episode on just this: The Viennese social housing history, etc.
Here is something I learned from the Monocle survey: it is about an Award-Winning-Food-Initiative: In 2023, Vienna won “Best Organic City” at the EU Organic Awards, with its municipal food brand Wiener Gusto. Building awareness of organic food and bringing affordable, organic food to the city´s residents, it contributes to sustainability and climate protection.
Question: How do you think the residents of Vienna experience this award?
Answer: Interviews with residents show that many appreciate the high quality of life in Vienna, and they are proud of Vienna. They praise the safety, the good healthcare, the cultural offerings and the cleanliness of the city. Some residents also express wishes and suggestions for improvement for the future.
Of course, I also know the downsides of Vienna, as I was born here and live here now again after having lived abroad for several years. For example, I know very well that Vienna has the reputation of being one of the most unfriendly cities.
Question: I think this is official now: There is an InterNations report from 2023 that OFFICIALLY confirms that Vienna is the most unfriendly city in the world. I just looked it up and the city of Vienna is knighted as the worst one in the area of “Local Friendliness” as well as “Culture & Welcome”. It also came in 3rd to last for “Finding Friends”.
In your opinion, what is the cause of this, Angelika?
Answer: I think it has a lot to do with the language. it is not an attempt to find excuses for it but only my attempt to understand it: If you are spoken to in English and don't speak English well yourself, you feel uncomfortable, and the response can sound “unfriendly” because you feel ashamed that your English is so bad.
I also know that the Viennese “Schmäh” – Sabine, please help me out, how would you translate or explain the “Viennese Schmäh”?
Question: Oh, I will try. "Wiener Schmäh" refers to a snide type of humour that’s typical of the Viennese. It’s considered unique and although it comes across as harsh, it is delivered with charm. It is a mixture of sarcasm, wit and irony, puns, a very casual demeanour and a playful approach to more serious topics. Very often, the waiters of the traditional Viennese coffeehouses are experts in delivering Wiener Schmäh.
Answer: Thank you, great explanation: so the Viennese Schmäh is not very easy for people from other countries to understand. I would actually say it is very, very difficult to understand. Especially, when Austrians try to translate the Schmäh.
I know for example, that also Germans, who understand our language, do not very easily understand the Viennese Schmäh, well, maybe after a few years living in Vienna because the Viennese “Schmäh” is also quite sarcastic.
And I can also tell you that the Viennese love to grumble. It's almost a Viennese hobby and it is part of small talk. Sabine, you originally come from Germany. How did you experience and how did you see the Viennese in your early days?
Question: The Schmäh is probably one of the many things that initially DREW me to Vienna. … I used to live in the UK for some years and loved their wry sense of humour. So to me, I see the similarity with the Wiener Schmäh – and I love it.
Ok, on to the next question: How does Vienna compare to other liveable cities?
Answer: A comparison with other liveable cities such as Melbourne, Vancouver or Zurich shows that Vienna performs particularly well in the areas of culture, environment and infrastructure. However, each city has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the comparison helps to identify specific areas for improvement.
In summary, the following cities regularly feature alongside Vienna in the various rankings: Munich, Zurich, Copenhagen, Madrid, Tokyo, Melbourne, Stockholm, Paris, Helsinki, Kyoto, Oslo, Amsterdam, Sydney, Barcelona, Berlin, Singapore and Milan.
Question:thank you very much Angelika, for all the details of these surveys and for the insights into our beautiful city, because Vienna has been my home for many years now. And of course – as with any big city – there are always changes – and therefore always new things to learn!
Answer: I thank you very much, it was a pleasure to chat about my hometown and to explain some things about Vienna and it makes me happy to look a little deeper into these surveys.
Now that we’ve praised and praised Vienna so much, I thought that we should do an episode called "What locals don’t like about Vienna" to balance out this episode. There are a lot of things in our city that aren't going so well or that not many people like, and I think a podcast episode about it would be really funny. Today I couldn't really complain about Vienna, because our topic was the most liveable city in the world, so it would have been inappropriate. What do you think about my idea of this new episode?
Question: Sure, let’s do this! It is always great to hear more side than one.
dear listeners I hope you enjoyed this episode, and I hope you come back to one of our next episodes. This episode was recorded 2024, October 17th.