New York, Jan 6 : France has been named the best place in the world to live for the fifth year in a row in a new survey by International Living magazine.

United States ranked a lowly seventh in the survey.

The magazine said that France’s health care, safety, leisure and cost of living is what makes it the ideal place to stay.

Life is cheaper in France than in the U. S., despite much higher taxes shelled out for services beyond the excellent medical system, available to everyone.

Streets are spotlessly clean and retirement benefits are generous, reports the New York Daily News.

The magazine claimed that a good infrastructure contributes to the joie de vivre in France. (ANI)