Zurich in Switzerland is ranked as the overall most expensive city to live in, world-wide, according to Xpatulator.com’s October 2013 international cost of living rankings. While Angola is the most expensive country.

Hong Kong has moved up one place to become the second most expensive place for expatriates to live. The major contributor is the cost of accommodation in Hong Kong. If the housing, education, medical and transport cost of living baskets are excluded, Hong Kong drops to 135th most expensive place in the world. In other words, if these expenses are excluded, Hong Kong is not a particularly expensive place to live.

Luanda has dropped one place to become the third most expensive place in the world for expat’s to live. While accommodation is fifth most expensive in the world, the major contributors to Launda being so expensive is the cost of groceries, restaurants, meals out, hotels, and clothing.  If the housing, education, medical and transport cost of living baskets are excluded, Luanda is the most expensive place in the world.

Tokyo has dropped a further 3 places in October, having dropped 2 places in April, and 3 places in July to become the ninth most expensive place to live, while Geneva remains the fourth most expensive location in the world.

Thimphu in Bhutan, is ranked the cheapest.

Key Highlights:

Africa:
The most expensive countries in Africa are: Angola; Nigeria; Mozambique; Democratic Republic of Congo; and Ghana.  The most expensive cities to live in are: Luanda (3rd most expensive in the world) Abuja; Lagos; Kano; and Ibadan. The cheapest city for expatriates to live in is Tunis in Tunisia (18th cheapest in the world).  The biggest mover down the rankings is Windhoek in Namibia, which has dropped from 596th in July to become the 703rd most expensive location in the world.  The biggest mover up the rankings is Antananarivo in Madagascar. Antananarivo has risen from 571st in July to become the 343rd most expensive location in the world.

America:
The most expensive countries in America for expatriates to live in are: Venezuela; Bermuda; Cayman Islands;Montserrat; and Aruba.  The most expensive cities for expatriates to live in are: Caracas (8th most expensive in the world); New York (Manhattan); Hamilton (Bermuda); George Town (Cayman Islands); and Sao Paulo.  The cheapest city for expatriates to live in is: Managua in Nicaragua (20th cheapest in the world).  The biggest mover down the rankings is Asuncion in Paraguay which has dropped from 459th in July to become the 520h most expensive location in the world.  The biggest mover up the rankings is San Jose in Costa Rica, which has risen from 427th in July to become the 393rd most expensive location in the world.

Asia-Pacific:
The most expensive countries in Asia Pacific for expatriates to live in are: Japan; Australia; New Caledonia; Micronesia and French Polynesia.  The most expensive cities for expatriates to live in are: Hong Kong (the second most expensive in the world); Tokyo; Singapore; Sydney and Yokohama.  The cheapest city for expatriates to live in is Medan in Indonesia (23rd cheapest in the world).  The biggest mover down the rankings is Pyongyang in North Korea, which has dropped from 41st in July to become the 155th most expensive location in the world.  The biggest mover up the rankings is Port Vila in Vanuatu, which has risen from 175th in July to become the 153rd most expensive location in the world.

Europe:
The most expensive countries in Europe for expatriates to live in are Switzerland;  Norway;  Liechtenstein; Denmark; and Jersey.  The most expensive cities in Europe for expatriates to live in: Zurich (most expensive in the world); Geneva; Monaco; Oslo; and Moscow.  The cheapest city in Europe for expatriates to live in is Sofia in Bulgaria (19th cheapest in the world).  The biggest mover down the rankings is Konya in Turkey, which has dropped from 156th in July to become the 194th most expensive location in the world.

Middle East:
The most expensive countries in the Middle East for expatriates to live in are: Qatar; United Arab Emirates; Israel;Lebanon and Bahrain.  The most expensive cities in the Middle East for expatriates to live in: Doha (113th most expensive in the world); Abu Dhabi; Dubai; Jerusalem; and Beirut.  The cheapest country and city in the Middle East for expatriates to live in is Damascus (765th cheapest in the world).  The biggest mover down the rankings is also Damascus, which has dropped from 513th in July.  The biggest mover up the rankings is Muscat, which has risen from 555th in July to become the 461st most expensive location in the world.

South Asia:
The most expensive countries in South Asia are: Maldives; Sri Lanka; and Bangladesh.  The most expensive cities in South Asia in are: Male in the Maldives (349th most expensive in the world); Colombo; and Mumbai.  The cheapest city in South Asia is Thimphu in Bhutan (the cheapest city in the world).  The biggest mover down the rankings is Kathmandu, which has dropped 54 places since July to become the 739th most expensive location in the world.  The biggest mover up the rankings is Kabul, which has risen from 742nd in July to become the 735th most expensive (and therefore 45th cheapest) location in the world.

For the Top 100 listing go here

The cost of living rankings, released every quarter, measure the comparative cost of living for expatriates in 780 locations, covering every country worldwide. The cost of living comparison uses local prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services, converted to a single currency. Sources include local service providers in each location, international service providers, official governmental statistics and global agency data. The data is quality assured and manually checked by Xpatulator Analysts. The prices of similar related items have been grouped together into 13 basket groups and the cost of living index calculated for each basket in each location. The 13 basket groups are the result of extensive research of actual spending habits ensuring the cost of living indexes reflect a reality-based international expenditure pattern.

Reference
The cost of living ranking information contained in this article is updated quarterly using data collected by Xpatulator.com over the past 12 months. The international cost of living indexes, on which the rankings are based, is only available using Xpatulator.com’s online expatriate calculators that enable users to create personalized cost of living comparison reports which include:

• Salary Purchasing Power Parity Calculator
• Cost of Living Allowance Calculator
• Cost of Living Index Calculator

Published by Xpatulator.com on 1 October 2013

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