Singapore climbed up four places this year to number 18 on Monocle magazine’s Top 25 Most Liveable Cities. According to Monocle, this year, it re-looked the criteria that measures over 40 cities based on public transport, education, cultural outlets, crime, hours of sunshine and global flight connections. In addition, the magazine also looked at factors such as chain store pollution (the number of international brand food outlets and retailers versus the total mix), ease of opening a business and major infrastructure improvements currently underway.

The upcoming casinos in Singapore and its reputation for being a business-friendly city definitely score in these new factors and probably  explain this year’s rise. Monocle’s also suggested that one way to fix the city is to allow more media freedom.

Going by comments to the Straits Times (ST) report on this survey, Singaporeans readers seem to agree with Monocle’s view on media freedom as some see ST’s coverage as nothing more than part of a government agenda to make the city look good. As for the actual results, many think that Singapore is more liveable for the rich businessman than ordinary citizens.