World's happiest cities (home, live, rich)

[Candle]

That article is idiotic. For example, they say Melbourne made the list simply because it's in Australia or some kind of BS like that.

[Thomas R.]

I think their article's title is misleading. They say it's about where people imagine they'd be happy, which to me clearly means "cities associated with happiness" not "happiest cities." So it's largely going to be places tourists go to have a good time.

I would guess Copenhagen, Zurich, Geneva, and Sydney as happiest. People who are employed and married tend to be happier so in the US I might go for San Jose

http://www.city-data.com/city/San-Jose-California.html

Another possibility is Honolulu based on Sperling et alia.

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
http://www.city-data.com/city/Honolulu-Hawaii.html

[BRAZILIAN]

Originally Posted by Rexor

I don't know, aren't there many people living in slums in Rio? And how about gang violence and overall
crime rate (four times higher than in the similar sized U.S. cities as far as I know)?

"aren't there many people living in slums in Rio??" Yes, there are. And what about: L.A., NYC., Detroit, Rome, Paris, etc... and etc... aren't??

"...and how about gang and overall crime rate...?" Where has not violence, drugs in the cities from USA or Europe??

[Rexor]

Look, my point is that the Forbes list is focused on stuff like carnivals, salsa, Copacabana etc. While these things may be great fun for rich American or European tourists you'd have a hard time proving that they enhance the lives of those impoverished citizens of Rio in any way (and I'm fairly sure there's a larger percentage of these people in Rio than in the cities you've mentioned).

Don't take me wrong, I have no doubt that Rio is a great city and I'd love to visit it someday. It seems to me as quite insensitive though to focus solely on the fancy features for tourists and rich people and ignore all the vast social issues that affect
a substantial number of Rio inhabitants.

[danielsa1775]

Reading the article it looks like the people in the survey have never actually being to the cities on the list and its all about perception! Sydney is 2nd on the list and melbourne 5th, the article essentially said it was happy becuase it was full of fun loving Aussies and we sit around barbeques drinking all the time! I can assure you the reality is entirly different!

[Amazonas]

Rio de Janeiro is one the most dangerous cities in the world, and I will leave it at that

[jtur88]

The most laid back big city Ive ever been in is Seoul. People in the city are friendly, and unhurried. People stuck in traffic jams just put on some nice relaxing music and wait it out.

[Thomas R.]

Originally Posted by BRAZILIAN

"aren't there many people living in slums in Rio??" Yes, there are. And what about: L.A., NYC., Detroit, Rome, Paris, etc

Personally I'm not sure I'd think of any of those cities as particularly happy either.

[Derfele]

I`m from Rio and living in Annapolis Md USA. I love travel, went in many cities in the world. I can say don`t have place like Rio. You don`t need to be rich for enjoy the city. People is helpfull and smiling. Good talkers. But to me, I mean the happiness come from the enviromental. Rio de Janeiro is beauty like anywhere. Mountains, ocean, forest, lake and people. So sorry if you don`t know Rio de Janeiro. Take care your self and walk in Rio`s street. You will love that city!

[northsider]

Oh dear oh dear! The writer(s) of that magazine article have obviously never came here to dear old Dublin where the craic is just mighty.