Middle East region does not fall within the top 50 most expensive places to live in the world, with the UAE, Abu Dhabi coming in at 72nd on the list and Qatar, Doha at The Middle East region does not fall within the top 50 most expensive places to live in the world, with the UAE, Abu Dhabi coming in at 72nd on the list and Qatar, Doha at 131st.

The latest international cost of living rankings are based on data collected during the past 3 months for 780 international locations, covering every country world-wide.

The cost of living (COL) data collected is representative of an expatriate lifestyle. The components of the COL data are local prices for fixed quantities of the same goods and services in each location, local inflation and exchange rates. Prices in each location are affected by availability (i.e. supply & demand) as well as local pricing regulations and taxes on goods and services (e.g.premiums on luxury brands). Local inflation is usually representative of local price increases which in turn impacts an expatriates purchasing power in the host country. The exchange rate impacts both the price of imports to the host country and the expatriate assignment salary calculation between the home and host country. The cost of living has a significant impact on the purchasing power of an expatriate’s salary package.

The top 20 Most expensive places to live in the Middle East – Overall Cost of Living & All Baskets:
1. United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
2. United Arab Emirates, All Areas
3. Qatar, Doha
4. Iran, Tehran
5. Qatar, All Areas
6. United Arab Emirates, Dubai
7. Bahrain, Manama
8. Lebanon, Beirut
9. Israel, Jerusalem
10. Kuwait, Kuwait City
11. Bahrain, All Areas
12. Israel, All Areas
13. Kuwait, All Areas
14. Lebanon, All Areas
15. Palestinian Territories, West Bank
16. Iran, All Areas
17. Syria, Damascus
18. Palestinian Territories, All Areas
19. Oman, Muscat
20. Jordan, Amman

About Xpatulator.com’s Cost of Living Data
Xpatulator.com’s cost of living data is based on prices for the same quantity and quality of goods and services, representative of expatriate lifestyle, in each city. The data is collected and updated on a quarterly basis. The cost of living data is used by Xpatulator.com clients to calculate salary purchasing power parity, cost of living allowances, and customized (i.e. clients can select their own base city) cost of living indexes for expatriate assignments online, using Xpatulator.com’s 3 premium content calculators.

The 13 basket groups do not count equally and are weighted according to expatriate expenditure norms as follows (weighting percentage is in brackets):

1. Alcohol & Tobacco (2%): Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
2. Clothing (2.5%): Clothing and footwear products.
3. Communication (2%): Telephone, Internet, Mobile Contract and Calls.
4. Education (5%): Creche Fees, School Fees, College Fees, and Tertiary Study Fees.
5. Furniture & Appliances (5%): Furniture, household equipment and appliances.
6. Groceries (16.5%): Food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning materials.
7. Healthcare (5%): Doctor Consultation rates, Private Ward Rate, Prescription Medicine, and Private Medical Insurance Contributions.
8. Household (30%): Housing rental, utilities, local rates and residential taxes.
9. Miscellaneous (3%): Stationary, Linen and general goods and services.
10. Personal Care (3%): Personal Care products and services.
11. Recreation & Culture (6%): Books, Camera Film, Cinema Ticket, DVD and CD’s, Sports goods, Theatre Tickets.
12. Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels (2%): Dinner at Restaurant (non fast food), Hotel Rates, Take Away, Drinks & Snacks (fast Food).
13. Transport (18%): Public Transport, Vehicle Costs, Vehicle Fuel, Vehicle Insurance and Vehicle Maintenance.

About Xpatulator.com
Xpatulator.com is the most comprehensive source of international cost of living information. We provide free international cost of living overviews and rank information covering 13 cost of living baskets and every country around the world as well as premium content calculators.

Founded in 2007, Xpatulator.com’s mission is to organize the world’s cost of living indices, exchange rates and relative hardship indices and make it accessible and useful to all
.

The latest international cost of living rankings are based on data collected during the past 3 months for 780 international locations, covering every country world-wide.

The cost of living (COL) data collected is representative of an expatriate lifestyle. The components of the COL data are local prices for fixed quantities of the same goods and services in each location, local inflation and exchange rates. Prices in each location are affected by availability (i.e. supply & demand) as well as local pricing regulations and taxes on goods and services (e.g.premiums on luxury brands). Local inflation is usually representative of local price increases which in turn impacts an expatriates purchasing power in the host country. The exchange rate impacts both the price of imports to the host country and the expatriate assignment salary calculation between the home and host country. The cost of living has a significant impact on the purchasing power of an expatriate’s salary package.

The top 20 Most expensive places to live in the Middle East – Overall Cost of Living & All Baskets:

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates, All Areas

Qatar, Doha

Iran, Tehran

Qatar, All Areas

United Arab Emirates, Dubai

Bahrain, Manama

Lebanon, Beirut

Israel, Jerusalem

Kuwait, Kuwait City

Bahrain, All Areas

Israel, All Areas

Kuwait, All Areas

Lebanon, All Areas

Palestinian Territories, West Bank

Iran, All Areas

Syria, Damascus

Palestinian Territories, All Areas

Oman, Muscat

Jordan, Amman

About Xpatulator.com’s Cost of Living Data

Xpatulator.com’s cost of living data is based on prices for the same quantity and quality of goods and services, representative of expatriate lifestyle, in each city. The data is collected and updated on a quarterly basis. The cost of living data is used by Xpatulator.com clients to calculate salary purchasing power parity, cost of living allowances, and customized (i.e. clients can select their own base city) cost of living indexes for expatriate assignments online, using Xpatulator.com’s 3 premium content calculators.

The 13 basket groups do not count equally and are weighted according to expatriate expenditure norms as follows (weighting percentage is in brackets):

1. Alcohol & Tobacco (2%): Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.

2. Clothing (2.5%): Clothing and footwear products.

3. Communication (2%): Telephone, Internet, Mobile Contract and Calls.

4. Education (5%): Creche Fees, School Fees, College Fees, and Tertiary Study Fees.

5. Furniture & Appliances (5%): Furniture, household equipment and appliances.

6. Groceries (16.5%): Food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning materials.

7. Healthcare (5%): Doctor Consultation rates, Private Ward Rate, Prescription Medicine, and Private Medical Insurance Contributions.

8. Household (30%): Housing rental, utilities, local rates and residential taxes.

9. Miscellaneous (3%): Stationary, Linen and general goods and services.

10. Personal Care (3%): Personal Care products and services.

11. Recreation & Culture (6%): Books, Camera Film, Cinema Ticket, DVD and CD’s, Sports goods, Theatre Tickets.

12. Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels (2%): Dinner at Restaurant (non fast food), Hotel Rates, Take Away, Drinks & Snacks (fast Food).

13. Transport (18%): Public Transport, Vehicle Costs, Vehicle Fuel, Vehicle Insurance and Vehicle Maintenance.

About Xpatulator.com

Xpatulator.com is the most comprehensive source of international cost of living information. We provide free international cost of living overviews and rank information covering 13 cost of living baskets and every country around the world as well as premium content calculators.

Founded in 2007, Xpatulator.com’s mission is to organize the world’s cost of living indices, exchange rates and relative hardship indices and make it accessible and useful to all.