World’s most expensive places in April 2021. Cost of living indexes (New York = 100) :
Top 3
Sample of other places
Singapore is the most expensive city in the world for Expatriate’s to live, with an overall cost of living index of 139.78. Singapore’s education system, which is widely regarded as the best in the world, is also the most expensive for expatriates when priced in US Dollars, the cost of housing is also extremely high due to the limited space and premium on high quality expatriate accommodation, while the complex Certificate of Entitlement system makes car prices excessive, resulting in Singapore’s transport costs being amongst the highest in the world.
International City Cost of Living for Expatriate Professional Migrants
Overall African countries are some of the poorest and least developed in the world, with relatively low local cost of living expenses; however the cost of importing and transporting the international standard of goods that expatriates expect to purchase in the cities in this region makes it extremely expensive to maintain the lifestyle that they are used to.
Overall American countries and cities are extremely diverse ranging from the most developed, wealthy, technologically advanced and urbanised, through to some of the poorest, least developed as well as remote locations in the world, with a corresponding wide range in the cost of living. The cost of living is very high in high density, popular locations where demand for limited space, goods and services (housing, transport, education etc) often exceeds supply such as in San Francisco, Manhattan and San Jose. However in the most remote as well as in the poorest, least developed locations, the cost of importing, transporting and providing the international standard of goods and services that expatriates demand, also make them extremely expensive locations to maintain the lifestyle that they are used to.
Asia Pacific has 2 of the 3 most expensive cities in the world. The cost of living for expats is particularly high in densely populated, popular wealthy locations where the demand for limited space, goods and services (housing, transport, education etc) exceeds supply such as Singapore and Hong Kong.
With a few exceptions, the most expensive cities in Europe are mostly the Non-Euro countries.
The euro is the second most traded currency in the world, managed by one central bank, the European Central Bank. The cost of living is generally more reasonable in the larger countries in Europe who use the euro as their currency. Their larger companies produce more at a lower cost, thus benefiting from economies of scale. They export their cheaper goods to the less-developed eurozone nations. Smaller companies in smaller European countries find it difficult to compete with relatively low prices. On the other hand the euro allows countries with weaker or smaller economies to enjoy lower interest rates because the euro isn’t as risky to investors as a currency with less demand. Over the years, lower interest rates have led to more foreign investment. This has boosted the smaller nations’ economies.
Overall Middle East countries have average local cost of living levels; however the cost of importing and transporting the international standard of goods that expatriates expect to purchase in the cities in this region can make it relatively expensive to maintain the lifestyle that they are used to.
Hong Kong is the most expensive city for Expats in the world with an overall Cost of Living Index (COLI), for all 13 basket groups, of 139.14 (New York =100).
Singapore is the second most expensive city in the world for Expatriate’s to live, with an overall cot of living index of 138.52.
A Cost of Living Index (COLI) is a numerical way of comparing cost of living, either over time, or by comparing the cost of living in different geographical locations. When comparing the cost of living between different locations the difference in the cost of living is expressed as an index by dividing the cost of living in Location A by the cost of living in Location B. The cost of living index indicates the difference in the cost of living between the two locations. In the graphics, the COLI for each location is the result of dividing each locations cost of living by the cost of living in New York NY (USA) using all 13 basket groups. New York therefore has a COLI of 100.
Khartoum in Sudan is the most expensive city for Expatriate’s to live, in the African region as at October 2020, with an overall cot of living index of 92.91.
San Francisco CA is the most expensive city for Expats in America with an overall Cost of Living Index (COLI), for all 13 basket groups, of 114.12.
Monaco is the most expensive city in Europe for Expatriate’s to live with an overall Cost of Living Index (COLI), for all 13 basket groups, of 119.61.
Jerusalem is the most expensive city for Expats in the Middle East with an overall Cost of Living Index (COLI), for all 13 basket groups, of 97.4.
The most expensive place in the world for each of the 13 baskets is as follows.
Furniture and Appliances – Ashgabat
Household Accommodation – Hong Kong
Recreation and Culture – Khartoum
Hong Kong is the most expensive city for Expats in the world as at July 2020, mainly due to extremely high housing costs (which counts for around 30% of the overall cost of living for most Expats), with limited space available making rentals high.
More on global city cost of living.
More on global country cost of living.
The latest international inflation data for every country in the world as reported in July 2020.
Kinshasa in the DRC is the most expensive city to live in the African region as at July 2020.
New York (Manhattan) NY is the most expensive location in the Americas as at July 2020.
Hong Kong is the most expensive city for Expats in Asia-Pacific as at July 2020.
Zurich is Europe‘s most expensive city.
Jerusalem in Israel is the most expensive place for expats in the Middle East as at July 2020.
The world has changed dramatically in the past few months and we will continue to experience rapid change in the months to come. Without a vaccine that works long-term, there is no return to “normal”. There is only life with coronavirus.
Hong Kong is the most expensive place as at May 2020 mainly due to the very high cost of housing and healthcare, followed by Singapore.
Most Expensive Countries – States in 2020. The list includes all countries, including US States for comparative purposes with the cost of living rank (1 most expensive: 265 cheapest).
The top 10 most expensive cities in the world for an Expat as at April 2020 are as follows:
International City Cost of Living. Top 400 City Rankings using the overall cost of living index of all 13 cost of living baskets (1 most expensive: 400 cheapest).
Latest International Inflation Rates.
Personal Income Tax Rates Worldwide.
International Hardship / Quality of Living Premium Locations
Zimbabwe is the most expensive country for Expatriates to live in due to the current economic crisis. Hong Kong is the second most expensive country due to the very high cost of housing and healthcare. Singapore is the third most expensive country. Singapore’s education system, which is widely regarded as the best in the world, is also the most expensive for expatriates when priced in US Dollars.
Asia Pacific has 3 cities in the top 10 most expensive cities in the world. The Cost of Living Index (COLI) for cities in Asia Pacific is the result of dividing each locations cost of living by the cost of living in New York NY (USA) using all 13 basket groups. New York therefore has a COLI of 100 for global comparison purposes.
San Francisco CA is the most expensive location in the Americas as at January 2020. American countries and cities are extremely diverse ranging from the most developed, wealthy and technologically advanced, through to some of the poorest and least developed in the world, with a corresponding wide range in local cost of living.
https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/America-Expat-Cost-of-Living-Comparison_710.cfm
The top 10 most expensive cities in Africa for an Expat as at January 2020. Overall African countries are some of the poorest and least developed in the world, with relatively low local cost of living expenses; however the cost of importing and transporting the international standard of goods that expatriates expect to purchase in the cities in this region makes it extremely expensive to maintain the lifestyle that they are used to.
https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/Africa-Expat-Cost-of-Living-Comparison_711.cfm
Prices are out of control. Wage purchasing power has plummeted due to food and fuel prices soaring. Foreign currency shortages have got even worse than before. Inflation is now over 500%…….it is now the most expensive city in Africa and the world in 2020.
https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/Africa-Expat-Cost-of-Living-Comparison_711.cfm
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