A survey of foreign residents has ranked Taipei as the most liveable city in Taiwan, citing ease of commuting and job opportunities as the key deciding factors, according to the Tourism Innovation Association of Taiwan (TTIA).

The survey with 519 valid responses from foreign individuals residing in or visiting Taiwan from Sept. 16 to Oct. 2 found that 96% of respondents consider Taipei to be the most suitable Taiwanese city for living. The runner-ups were Taoyuan at 65.3% and New Taipei at 63.6%.

In the case of Taipei, foreign respondents pointed to specific factors contributing to their preference: commuting convenience (81.4%), employment opportunities (67.4%), cultural diversity (45.3%), educational resources (26.2%), and language services (22.1%).

TTIA Chairman Ringo Lee (李奇嶽) noted that Taipei City is not only the top choice for foreign tourists, but also the city they stay in most often. Foreigners generally praise Taiwan’s transportation, public facilities, healthcare, education, and the social atmosphere, with over 90% responding “satisfied” or “very satisfied,” Lee explained.

The TTIA chair said further strengthening language services, cross-cultural exchange, and international education resources will help Taipei further secure its niche as “Asia’s most liveable city.”