Mercer’s authoritative survey is one of the world’s most comprehensive and is conducted annually to enable multinational companies and other organisations to compensate employees fairly when placing them on international assignments.
For this year, according to the Mercer's 20th Annual Quality of Living Survey, many of world cities still offer the world's highest quality of living and continue to remain attractive destinations for expatriates on assignment.
The survey of 231 cities also helps companies and organisations determine compensation and hardship allowances for international staff.
Its criteria include political stability, health care, education, crime, recreation and transport.
Illustrating the region's great disparity in quality of living, herewith you may spot the highest ranking city in our region:
Within Southeast Asia, you may find following details on their ranks:
| Rank | City | Country |
| 25 | Singapore | Singapore |
| 85 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia |
| 101 | Johor Bharu | Malaysia |
| 132 | Bangkok | Thailand |
| 137 | Manila | Philippines |
| 142 | Jakarta | Indonesia |
| 152 | Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam |
| 170 | Vientiane | Laos |
| 197 | Phnom Penh | Cambodia |
| 203 | Yangon | Myanmar |
Note: This ranking indicates differences in quality of living factors affecting expatriates in popular assignment destinations and should not be used as the basis for determining hardship premiums, as many complex and dynamic factors must be taken into account.
Other highlights mentioned in the report include:
↘ Five Japanese cities top the ranking for East Asia: Tokyo (50), Kobe (50), Yokohama (55), Osaka (59), and Nagoya (64)
↘ Other notable cities in Asia include Hong Kong (71), Seoul (79), Taipei (84), Shanghai (103), and Beijing (119)
↘ The data was largely analysed between September and November 2017, and it will be updated regularly to account for changing circumstances.
Source : Mercer official website
