As it turns out, Balthier originates from the grande Archadian Empire, ruled by House Solidor. Presumably he was raised in the Imperial City of Archades, a beautiful metropolis where skyscrapers stand tall and airships constantly circulate the sky.

The imperial City of Archades has an orangelike, almost golden, glow about it. In the center of and high above the other buildings lies the Royale Palace.
There are many levels in the city, some places can only be accessed by those who have a particular amount of Wood- or Sandalchops, which are the symbols of wealth. To get from one level to another you have to use Air Cabes.
At the outshirt of the Imperial City lies Old Archades, where the underprivileged, many once wealthy, live.

More than half of the population in the capital are of high class and to the majority, money is everything. Both the people who have it and the folk who have lost it are obsessed with fortune. Many aristocrats, with access to the higher levels of the city, look down on those of lower class. The differences in class from Old Archades and the Imperial City are vast. Information is said to be the key to success and the rich people will reward you with a chop if you help them.
Archades is full of well educated people, like academics and researchers.