1. Vancouver
Rating: 98.0
In Canada, Vancouver may be known as the place you can't afford to live, but to the world it's the golden standard for cities. Fresh off its dazzling hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver once again claims the top spot in The Economist's annual rankings, scoring no less than 95 in each of the measure's key categories. In addition to its beautiful coastline, British Columbia's most populous town boasts a strong tourism industry, and has also been dubbed "Hollywood North" for being a key player in the North American movie biz.