Money doesn't buy happiness, goes the adage. The results of a recent survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics prove just that.
The CBS analyzed 16 cities based on their standard of living. The cities were divided into three categories.
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The first category includes the cities with the highest standard of living: Kfar Saba, Ramat Gan, Rehovot, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and Rishon Lezion. The second group included Holon, Beersheba, Petah Tikva, Haifa, Netanya, and Bnei Brak, all ranked as cities with a mid-level quality of life. The third group consisted of Beit Shemesh, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Bat Yam, and Jerusalem, whose living standards the CBS ranked lowest.
The first five cities stand out for employment, housing density, ability to be promoted at work, access to computers, and more possibility of professional advancement for women. The investment in the cities' appearance was evident as well, with an emphasis on parks, sanitation, and the environment.
The research reveals a large gap between these affluent cities and the cities from the third category.
Beit Shemesh was notable for different reasons. Its residents, for example, reported the highest trust in the healthcare system and a sense of belonging, thanks to family members and volunteer work. Ashkelon boasted the most people over age 30 with higher education. Ashdod reported the highest level of security in the cybersphere. Bat Yam had the lowest infant mortality rate, and its residents reported the highest satisfaction with the transportation system and trust in the government. Jerusalem residents reported the lowest levels of loneliness and depression.
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