France No. 1 in Quality of Life

International Living crunches the numbers on everything from cost of living to health care to climate to find the nations with the best quality of life. France tops the list, with the US at No. 7. A sampling:

• France (No. 1): "Tiresome bureaucracy and high taxes" can't trump the "world's best health care," the "joy of lingering for hours over dinner and a bottle of red wine in a Parisian brasserie," or "antique streets paved with poetry."

• Australia (2): Good health care and infrastructure, and dividends from the booms in Asia and China. Plus, "sandy, sunny, and safe beaches."
• Switzerland (3): A "super-efficient, high-tech society."
• Germany (4): Great average salary—$61,433—monster health benefits, "and their legendary autobahns are still mostly without speed limits." Good thing for that health insurance.
• New Zealand (5) : "A wonderful place to relocate and raise a family," but be forewarned. It's tough to emigrate.
• US (7): The "land of convenience" has something for everyone. The editors say it's safe, comfortable, and "can even be affordable."

For the full list, click here. (More France stories.)