Uploaded on 2016-08-15 by Samantha Suppiah

I have lived in three cities -- Singapore, Edinburgh and York. I was born in Singapore but quickly found it to be unliveable -- not due to economic or political reasons but rather because of its population's stiflingly conservative attitudes. I moved to Edinburgh to study in a field that was not available in Singapore, and in that time I lived for a long summer in York where my then-partner was based. I have had the great fortune of parental foresight and economic ability to be able to afford my cost of living -- wherever in the world I may be, as long as I can secure employment on the basis of my education and experience. I have travelled around various parts of Europe, Asia and North America. With each trip my knowledge of human beings increases ever more profoundly, with greater appreciation of how our species organizes itself and its structures in response. In sharing my thoughts within this exercise, I have had to re-evaluate my basic needs for "liveability", which is related to but not dependent on "satisfaction" with urban life. Most Liveable Cities 1. Edinburgh, Scotland 2. Krakow, Poland 3. Berlin, Germany 4. Copenhagen, Denmark 5. Penang, Malaysia Factors for Liveability 1. Cost of living 2. Population density 3. Infrastructure / Public services 4. Safety / Crime 5. Culture (tolerance / diversity) I currently live in Edinburgh, which is my "Most Liveable City". The cost of living is relatively higher than that in most other cities of the world, however the average wage is also comparatively high. Its population density is relatively low, except in tourist season when the influx is so great that the population of the city doubles. The city has a compact size, and is generally walkable, with longer journeys made convenient by ubiquitous buses. This is a valuable characteristic of small, compact cities. The infrastructure strains under population fluctuations but generally holds up and is very well maintained. As with any other first-world tourist and university cities, crime is generally petty or fraudulent in nature. Given its international nature, Edinburgh has a culture of inclusiveness and diversity, a true representation of the Scots. In this historic city, population density has a significant impact on infrastructure and public services. This has been an issue of late, though it is hoped that with better management and more informed urban planning, the city will be able to balance new development with infrastructure and public services needs more effectively.