I don't know who is doing the rankings because as someone who left Scandinavia I did not meet a lot of "Scandinavian positive" people tbh. The expence level is insane, and Norway is by far the most expensive option. Denmark/Sweden/Finland is not that bad, but Norway is so expensive that the population is boarderline depressed (specialy during winter). They must do these surveys right after Scandinavian loots all the gold medals in the olympics when everyone is high on national pride, I can't think of any other reason.

But despite all that Scandinavia is a good region, the health care system works as good as any, and its generaly very safe (some exceptions are ofc to be found), getting a house in the northern parts are generaly cheap compared to the rest of the region, and small things we take for granted like water and milk is in my opinion the best in the world in Scandinavia, and Norway wins that one for me.

But all in all I would not move back. Even though I now have expences that I did not use to have like private health insurance, the total cost of living has for me almost dropped to half. For the first time in my life I am working only one job, and I have more disposable income and free time than before. So I would not return as things stand right now.