Study rates cities’ millennial cred

Auckland is in the middle of the pack for the most millennial-friendly cities in the Asia-Pacific, but ranks highly for quality of life.

Research firm ValueChampion analysed factors that attract young people to 20 Asia-Pacific cities based on employment prospects, cost of living and quality of life, and Auckland came in at number 10.

Singapore’s thriving economy and strong job opportunities earned it first place, followed by Tokyo, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Melbourne.

Auckland ranked third in terms of quality of life, second behind Melbourne for the lowest pollution, ninth for cost of living and 16th in terms of employment prospects, the firm’s senior research analyst, William Hofmann, said.

Melbourne, Sydney and Singapore also scored well for quality of life.

On the important measure of the price of beer, only Singapore and Hong Kong are more expensive than Auckland, where a pint costs $10.45.

The most expensive pint is $13.10 in Hong Kong. A pint costs $8.98 in Sydney and $10 in Melbourne. The cheapest pint is in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, where you can enjoy a pint for $1.27.

The lowest cost of living, after adjusting for per capita gross domestic product (GDP), was in Seoul, South Korea, and Guangzhou, China, where entertainment and rent are relatively inexpensive.

Singapore and Melbourne topped the list for high quality of life, low pollution, strong health indicators and high level of safety.

Melbourne’s very low levels of pollution, great living environment and relative affordability made it a great place to live with one downside: higher unemployment than other cities on the list.

The research firm said many young people were willing to move abroad to pursue personal and career opportunities.

“In fact, the World Economic Forum found that four out of five millennials will be willing to relocate internationally for work,” the research firm said.

Veisinia Maka, who chairs Auckland Council’s youth advisory panel, said she had not seen the survey, but said millennials were travelling more for career opportunities and a change in perspective.

She said young Aucklanders were less interested and engaged in local issues and more focused on global issues.