Note that surveys are subject to great variation depending on the criteria used. Western media publications typically tend to favor Anglophone cities outside of the U.S. and Western European ones, as well as those places where well-paid expats are pampered.
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2015/06/11/tokyo-tops-monocles-most-livable-city-ranking/
http://monocle.com/#
*edit/add: Interesting comments by the editor of Monocle magazine, about Australia (which cities are highly ranked btw):
http://www.pedestrian.tv/news/entertainment/monocles-tyler-brule-says-australia-risks-becoming/1b7f5516-6c29-4cbf-aad9-e5fe0ac688ef.htm