The survey, by Mercers Human Resource Consulting, is carried out yearly by the consultancy firm, in 144 cities worldwide. Last year, Amsterdam went up 50 places.
Partly, the rise is due to the strength of the Euro currency, which also causes other cities to go up on the list. Clothes also became more expensive in Amsterdam.
Most American cities now occupy a lower place, because of the relative weakness of the dollar against European, Canadian and Asian currencies.