Helena Hartlauer, 32, from Vienna, said she was not surprised at her city’s top position. The city’s social democratic government has a long tradition of investing money in high-quality social housing, which makes Vienna less expensive than other major cities. “I live in a 100sq-meter apartment in a good area about 20 minutes’ walk from the city center. But my rent is just €800 (£625) a month.” A similar apartment in London would cost over £2,000 and even more in New York, ranked 44th in the table.
What is one thing Hartlauer lists as a desirable aspect of her apartment?
Its proximity to the center of the city It is a 20 minute walk from her workplace It is owned by Vienna’s government The lack of crime in its surroundings