Minsk takes the lowest place in the world among European cities regarding the living standards. This conclusion is made as a result of a research conducted by an international company Mercer. The research was held in over 200 cities in the world. The first place is occupied by Zurich second year in a row, the second is shared between Vienna and Geneva. Among Eastern European cities the first place went to Prague (71 place). Vilnius is at 78 place, Warsaw at 85 place and Riga at 89 place. Minsk occupied 183 place, the lowest of all European cities.

While assessing the living standards, the following criteria were taken into account:

* political and social conditions (political stability, rule of law, etc.)

* economic situation (currency exchange rate, banking services, etc.)

* social and cultural environment (censorship, human rights restrictions, etc.)

* healthcare and communal services (medical services, wastes disposal, etc.)

* schooling and education (standards, existence of international schools, etc.)

* transport and services (work of city transport, traffic jams, etc.)

* spare time (restaurants, theatres, etc.)

* goods (variety of groceries, automobiles, etc.)

* housing (furniture, utilities, etc.)

* environment (climate, safety from natural disasters, etc.)

World living standards: