42. Bratislava, Slovakia

The capital of Slovakia may not be as well known as the surrounding major cities of Budapest, Vienna, and Prague, but there is still a lot that this Eastern European city has to offer. Possibly the most famous is the historic Bratislava Old Town district, the Devin and Bratislava castles, the bright blue Catholic church called Modry Kostol, and the UFO observation deck on the New Bridge Tower over the city. However, the city places well behind some of its neighbors, so it’s important to understand why.

Happiness: 29th — World Happiness Report survey for the contentment of their citizens

Historical Landmarks: 41st — No UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Sports: 39th — Slovan Bratislava only club in Slovakian Super Liga, below-average league

Schools and Education: 24th — Comenius University Bratislava, in the top 700 national universities

Government Stability: 38th

Crime: 23rd — 30.69 rating on crime index, low in every category except bribery levels

Healthcare: 37th

Affordability: 20th — 47.3 rating on the cost of living index, more reasonable than many cities

Food: 40th

Innovation: 48th

Pollution: 22nd — 39.9 score on pollution index, slightly above average

Climate: 26th — Mid 30s in terms of Fahrenheit in the winter months, 70s in the summer months