Viennese-born Helena Hartlauer, 32, said she was not surprised at her city’s top position. The municipality’s social democratic government has a long tradition of investing in high-quality social housing, making Vienna almost uniquely affordable among major cities. “I live in a 100sq-meter turn-of-the-century apartment in a good area about 20 minutes’ walk from the city center. But my rent is just €800 (£625) a month.” An equivalent apartment in London would cost upwards of £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