Not sure where in the UK you want to settle? Well, it seems that Edinburgh is the clear favourite, shooting up 97 places over two years to claim the top spot in 2015 when it comes to affordable living costs, high salaries and fast broadband.
That's right – the Scottish capital came out on top in uSwitch's Best Places to Live in the UK Quality of Life Index for 2015. The survey, which comes out annually and was released in October, assesses over 130 cities for 26 lifestyle factors that include working hours, life expectancy, hours of sunshine, food and energy bills, disposable income and more.
Secret to Scotland's success
So what is the secret to Edinburgh’s success in the quality of life stakes? Well, the reasons are many and include low crimes rates, cheap energy bills, relatively high average salaries (about £29,000, with a disposable income average of £20,000) and super-fast broadband speeds.
This trend is echoed across Scotland, and more than half of its regions claimed improved.
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: “Edinburgh has long been a city that’s inspired; a vibrant city with striking architecture and a world-famous festival, all surrounded by stunning scenery. Now it’s official – Edinburgh is the best place to live in the UK. With low crime rates, high wages and affordable living costs, it’s not just the history and cultural attractions that are drawing people to Scotland’s capital.”
England slips lower
While Scotland's regions climbed ever higher, England's areas fell further down the rankings. Liverpool, for instance, had the lowest employment rate at 59%. West Londoners worked the hardest – 41% work 45 hours per week or more, and Nottingham residents paid the highest council taxes.
uSwitch.com is a UK-based price comparison service and switching website that allows consumers to compare prices for a range of energy, personal finance, insurance and communications services.
