Looking on the internet deeply has found these results:

the city is better than before is the most popular phrase on the web.

the city is better than the past 10 results on the web	the city is better than before 13 results on the web More popular!
Some examples and use cases from the internet:	Some examples and use cases from the internet:
It doesn't look like this phrase is very popular! The search could not find any examples on the internet.	Katrina / Rita recovery of New Orleans is a long and drawn out ... Feb 19, 2013 ... It is true that there has been progress and that the city is better than before. However, this doesn't mean that there are no problems. Other thing ... Nov 1, 2011 ... Some say the city is better than before. That is for history to decide, but the post 2011年5月5日 ... 相貌、容貌” 例：The look of the city is better than before. ﹙5﹚ like ①. v.“喜欢” “like doing”表示习惯； “like to do”强调具体活动。 ②．prep. “像…

the city is better than the past

10 results on the web

the city is better than before

13 results on the web

More popular!

It doesn't look like this phrase is very popular! The search could not find any examples on the internet.

Katrina / Rita recovery of New Orleans is a long and drawn out ...
Feb 19, 2013 ... It is true that there has been progress and that the city is better than before. However, this doesn't mean that there are no problems. Other thing ...
Nov 1, 2011 ... Some say the city is better than before. That is for history to decide, but the post
2011年5月5日 ... 相貌、容貌” 例：The look of the city is better than before. ﹙5﹚ like ①. v.“喜欢” “like doing”表示习惯； “like to do”强调具体活动。 ②．prep. “像…