Vienna is incomparable – but if so, then, all vague accolades for most liveable city aside, it’s probably the closest to Hamburg. A direct comparison of the two million metropolises is from the perspective of the residents: game, setting and victory for the federal capital.
Viennese people like to roll their eyes when you ask them about the ‘most livable city in the world’ as their home. Yes, “from outside” perhaps, for tourists or managers from abroad! But what does it look like ‘from the inside’? A comparison with Hamburg is useful: two growing metropolises in their region with two million inhabitants, both ethnically diverse and both with elections approaching.
Fairer, safer, cheaper and greener
Vienna can hardly keep up with the water landscapes in the “Venice of the North”. On the other hand, immigrants on city review portals such as versus.com or numbeu.com are even more surprised at “how close the mountains are!”. But especially in everyday life, it turns out that if we look off the beaten track, we really could do worse: Vienna is one of them; the equal distribution of labor income is among the fairest ten percent in the world; Hamburg only makes it into the top 20;
Vienna also has 0.4 percent lower unemployment and 2.4 percent fewer residents with a foreign passport than the city on the Elbe. Although apartment ownership and rental prices in the city center in Vienna are more expensive, the overall rental level is 117 euros per month cheaper. The monthly ticket for public transport in Vienna is only half as expensive – not to mention the annual ticket -, the green space per inhabitant is almost three times as much and the drinking water is already world famous.
Pole position when it comes to safety issues at risk
Vienna is also at the forefront when it comes to safety issues; statistics show that it has needed increasing efforts recently to maintain its status. But a “gmahte Wiesn” for Vienna is its culture: almost twice as many museums, almost three times as many theaters, opera houses and concert halls. Vienna will underline its status as a cultural capital next year: on Friday, Johann Strauss’s 199th birthday, the city presented the program for the 200th birthday of the Waltz King.
What the Donauwals does to the mayor
In 2025, 65 productions will be shown over 250 days of performances, many of which – from the moment the Pummerin goes extinct at the beginning of this year – will be accessible free of charge in all districts. The program is available at johannstrauss2025.at and ticket sales have already started. After all, according to Mayor Michael Ludwig, the Viennese are characterized as cultural people: “When you land in Vienna with the AUA and hear the Danube Waltz, you know: ‘Yes, we are all back home now.'”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
