List of most expensive cities for expatriate employees

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Top seven expensive cities

These are lists of the world's most expensive cities, according to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting [1] and Economist Intelligence Unit [2] cost-of-living surveys. Various factors enter into a city's cost-of-living for expatriate employees, such as monetary value, consumer confidence, investment, interest rates, exchange rates of the country's currency, and housing costs.

This list does not account for cost-of-living savings accrued to local citizens through government-subsidized housing, health care, and education, differences in taxation, and many other factors irrelevant to expatriates. Cost of living may be much higher for expatriates than for local residents in a developing country, especially if expatriates expect a standard of living similar to a developed country.

Moscow
Tokyo
London
Oslo
Seoul
Hong Kong
Copenhagen
Geneva
Zurich
Milan
Osaka
Paris
Singapore
Tel Aviv
Sydney
Dublin
Rome
Saint Petersburg
Vienna
Beijing
Helsinki
New York City
Istanbul
Shanghai
Amsterdam
Athens
São Paulo

Contents

[edit] Mercer surveys

Surveys are taken in March of each year.

2008 City 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002
1 Flag of Russia Moscow, Russia 1 1 4 3 2 2
2 Flag of Japan Tokyo, Japan 4 3 1 1 1 3
3 Flag of the United Kingdom London, United Kingdom 2 5 3 2 7 10
4 Flag of Norway Oslo, Norway 10 10 10 15 13 40
5 Flag of South Korea Seoul, South Korea 3 2 5 7 8 9
6 Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China 5 4 9 5 4 1
7 Flag of Denmark Copenhagen, Denmark 6 8 8 8 15 62
8 Flag of Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland 7 7 6 6 6 28
9 Flag of Switzerland Zurich, Switzerland 9 9 7 9 9 32
10 Flag of Italy Milan, Italy 11 13 11 13 17 63
11 Flag of Japan Osaka, Japan 8 6 2 4 3 6
12 Flag of France Paris, France 13 16 12 17 23 74
13 Flag of Singapore Singapore 14 17 34 46 32 24
14 Flag of Israel Tel Aviv, Israel 17 24 39 33 40 37
15 Flag of Australia Sydney, Australia 21 19 20 20 67 95
16 Flag of Ireland Dublin, Ireland 16 18 13 14 21 73
16 Flag of Italy Rome, Italy 18 21 17 21 41 99
18 Flag of Russia St. Petersburg, Russia 12 12 15 10 12 8
19 Flag of Austria Vienna, Austria 19 21 16 19 34 77
20 Flag of the People's Republic of China Beijing, People's Republic of China 20 14 19 11 5 4
21 Flag of Finland Helsinki, Finland 22 25 20 23 36 79
22 Flag of the United States New York City, United States 15 10 13 12 10 7
23 Flag of Turkey Istanbul, Turkey 38 15 22 18 42 44
24 Flag of the People's Republic of China Shanghai, People's Republic of China 26 20 30 16 11 5
25 Flag of the Netherlands Amsterdam, The Netherlands 25 41 24 26 52 102
25 Flag of Greece Athens, Greece 29 56 41 50 71 111
25 Flag of Brazil São Paulo, Brazil 62 34 119 128 136
28 Flag of Spain Madrid, Spain 26 53 46 61 86 117
29 Flag of the Czech Republic Prague, Czech Republic 49 50 28 49 49 75
30 Flag of Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria 37 31 96 111 90
31 Flag of Spain Barcelona, Spain 31 56 43 56 81
31 Flag of Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 64 40 124 131 137
31 Flag of Sweden Stockholm, Sweden 23 36 18 22 48 94
34 Flag of Cameroon Douala, Cameroon 24 27 22 25 31 65
35 Flag of Poland Warsaw, Poland 67 62 27 76 54
36 Flag of Australia Melbourne, Australia 74 74 68 67 111 127
37 Flag of Germany Munich, Germany 39 65 37 43 62
38 Flag of Germany Berlin, Germany 45 72 38 28 58 104
39 Flag of Belgium Brussels, Belgium 44 70 41 53 68 112
40 Flag of Germany Frankfurt, Germany 40 61 34 42 65
41 Flag of Senegal Dakar, Senegal 33 45 36 47 56
42 Flag of Ukraine Kiev, Ukraine 28 21 54 54 24 17
43 Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg, Luxembourg 43 56 33 39 66
44 Flag of Kazakhstan Almaty, Kazakhstan 30 52 75 74 72
45 Flag of Slovakia Bratislava, Slovakia 31 49 31 44 56
46 Flag of Germany Dusseldorf, Germany 45 62 32 40 63
46 Flag of Latvia Riga, Latvia 72 81 54 48 27 22
48 Flag of India Mumbai, India 52 68 105 109 114 92
49 Flag of Croatia Zagreb, Croatia 59 79 48 59 75
50 Flag of Germany Hamburg, Germany 57 77 49 58 83
51 Flag of Côte d'Ivoire Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire 35 45 26 24 35 72
52 Flag of the United Arab Emirates Dubai, United Arab Emirates 34 25 73 83 63 45
53 Flag of Australia Perth, Australia 84 93 93 94 126 137
54 Flag of Canada Toronto, Canada 82 47 82 89 104 104
55 Flag of the United States Los Angeles, United States 42 29 44 27 22 19
55 Flag of India New Delhi, India 68 73 110 116 109 91
57 Flag of Algeria Algiers, Algeria 50 51 58 60 72
57 Flag of Australia Brisbane, Australia 86 99 84 87 121
57 Flag of Portugal Lisbon, Portugal 73 88 66 71 94 118
57 Flag of France Lyon, France 71 91 61 69 89
61 Flag of Hungary Budapest, Hungary 65 65 24 34 37 75
61 Flag of the People's Republic of China Shenzhen, People's Republic of China 53 44 63 30 18 13
63 Flag of the Republic of China Taipei, Republic of China 48 28 29 31 29 15
64 Flag of Canada Vancouver, Canada 89 56 87 96 110
65 Flag of the United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 45 30 64 62 39 27
66 Flag of the United Kingdom Birmingham, United Kingdom 41 69 47 51 76 89
66 Flag of Canada Calgary, Canada 92 71 98 114 116
68 Flag of Cyprus Limassol, Cyprus 74 118 100 95 106
69 Flag of the United Kingdom Glasgow, United Kingdom 36 60 40 41 74 80
70 Flag of the People's Republic of China Guangzhou, People's Republic of China 68 54 65 32 18 11
71 Flag of Romania Bucharest, Romania 78 114 103 129 122
72 Flag of Canada Montreal, Canada 98 80 107 113 120
73 Flag of Australia Adelaide, Australia 96 108 89 88 124
74 Flag of Iran Tehran, Iran 118 125 129 122 111
75 Flag of the United States Miami, United States 51 39 57 55 27 25
76 Flag of Estonia Tallinn, Estonia 90 96 60 75 60
77 Flag of the United States Honolulu, United States 64 67 61 57 32 23
78 Flag of New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand 99 100 69 80 115 140
78 Flag of the United States San Francisco, United States 54 34 50 38 30 21
80 Flag of Lebanon Beirut, Lebanon 63 32 52 37 25 18
81 Flag of Morocco Casablanca, Morocco 80 88 59 66 69
82 Flag of Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia 55 48 71 45 38 53
82 Flag of Slovenia Ljubljana, Slovenia 93 106 76 82 100
84 Flag of the United States Chicago, United States 58 38 52 35 25 20
85 Flag of Canada Ottawa, Canada 109 90 122 124 127
85 Flag of Lithuania Vilnius, Lithuania 97 116 91 91 85
87 Flag of Colombia Bogota, Colombia 112 130 133 139 142
88 Flag of Jordan Amman, Jordan 77 62 67 63 46 30
89 Flag of Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela 129 136 138 134 128 55
89 Flag of the United States White Plains, United States 70 43 45 52 20 16
91 Flag of Vietnam Hanoi, Vietnam 56 32 50 29 14 11
92 Flag of Chile Santiago, Chile 102 91 128 123 134
93 Flag of New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand 111 105 76 86 117 142
94 Flag of Kuwait Kuwait City, Kuwait 80 78 72 64 43 32
95 Flag of Germany Leipzig, Germany 107 123 85 93 106
96 Flag of Ghana Accra, Ghana 76 75 91 97 98
97 Flag of Bulgaria Sofia, Bulgaria 108 111 81 79 83
98 Flag of the United States Houston, United States 83 76 70 73 46 36
99 Flag of the United States Boston, United States 79 84 79 70 54
100 Flag of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 60 37 56 36 16 14
101 Flag of Egypt Cairo, Egypt 93 93 97 99 102 51
101 Flag of Zambia Lusaka, Zambia 101 41 123 125 129
103 Flag of Kenya Nairobi, Kenya 102 107 119 121 105
104 Flag of Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico 75 35 42 65 43 35
105 Flag of Thailand Bangkok, Thailand 95 127 125 119 125
106 Flag of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 106 114 117 104 97
107 Flag of the United States Washington, D.C., United States 85 83 78 68 51 41
108 Flag of Mexico Mexico City, Mexico 104 81 95 84 77 28
109 Flag of the United States Atlanta, United States 87 86 83 85 61
110 Flag of the Philippines Manila, Philippines 137 141 143 138 135
111 Flag of the United States Morristown, United States 87 84 80 72 53
112 Flag of Bahrain Manama, Bahrain 91 87 86 78 43 32
113 Flag of the United States Seattle, United States 102 102 103 90 80
114 Flag of Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei 114 118 113 110 103
115 Flag of the United States Denver, United States 115 97 94 100 69
115 Flag of Peru Lima, Peru 117 118 118 118 108
117 Flag of India Chennai (Madras), India 133 137 138 133 132 135
118 Flag of India Bangalore, India 134 139 141 137 138 139
119 Flag of Saudi Arabia Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 110 98 88 77 50 31
120 Flag of Jamaica Kingston, Jamaica 121 109 105 103 77
120 Flag of the United States St. Louis, United States 115 103 102 92 82
122 Flag of Guatemala Guatemala City, Guatemala 107 93 108 108 98
123 Flag of the People's Republic of China Tianjin, People's Republic of China 130 128 131 115 101
124 Flag of Panama Panama City, Panama 124 121 114 106 91
125 Flag of Malawi Blantyre, Malawi 127 129 130 135 140 141
126 Flag of Saudi Arabia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 113 100 89 81 58
127 Flag of the United States Detroit, United States 118 122 101 101 79
128 Flag of the United States Portland, United States 123 111 112 105 92
129 Flag of the United States Cleveland, United States 118 110 109 98 87
130 Flag of Sri Lanka Colombo, Sri Lanka 130 132 132 127 118
131 Flag of Mexico Monterrey, Mexico 122 103 115 102 96 38
132 Flag of Bangladesh Dhaka, Bangladesh 125 131 127 117 94
133 Flag of the United States Pittsburgh, United States 128 113 111 112 88
133 Flag of Tunisia Tunis, Tunisia 135 133 126 120 119
135 Flag of the United States Winston-Salem, United States 126 124 119 107 93
136 Flag of Uruguay Montevideo, Uruguay 140 138 140 143 139
137 Flag of the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 132 126 99 142 122
138 Flag of Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina 139 142 142 141 141 133
139 Flag of Costa Rica San José, Costa Rica 138 134 135 130 113
140 Flag of South Africa Johannesburg, South Africa 136 117 116 126 133 144
141 Flag of Pakistan Karachi, Pakistan 142 140 136 132 130
142 Flag of Ecuador Quito, Ecuador 141 135 137 136 131
143 Flag of Paraguay Asunción, Paraguay 143 144 144 144 144 143
Flag of Zimbabwe Harare, Zimbabwe 143 134 140 143 26

(survey does not include Harare anymore because of severe economic crisis in Zimbabwe)

[edit] Three most expensive cities by region (as of March 2008)

North America

Rank City Cost of Living Index
1 Flag of the United States New York City 100
2 Flag of Canada Toronto 88.1
3 Flag of the United States Los Angeles 87.5

South America

Rank City Cost of Living Index
1 Flag of Brazil São Paulo 97
2 Flag of Brazil Rio de Janeiro 95.2
3 Flag of Colombia Bogota  ?

Europe

Rank City Cost of Living Index
1 Flag of Russia Moscow 142.4
2 Flag of the United Kingdom London 125.0
3 Flag of Norway Oslo 118.3

Western Asia

Rank City Cost of Living Index
1 Flag of Israel Tel Aviv 105
2 Flag of Turkey Istanbul 99.4
3 Flag of the United Arab Emirates Dubai 89.3

Sub-Saharan Africa

Rank City Cost of Living Index
1 Flag of Nigeria Lagos 95.9
2 Flag of Cameroon Douala 95.1
3 Flag of Senegal Dakar 92.2

Far East

Rank City Cost of Living Index
1 Flag of Japan Tokyo 127.0
2 Flag of South Korea Seoul 117.7
3 Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong 117.6

South & South-East Asia

Rank City Cost of Living Index
1 Flag of Singapore Singapore 109.1
2 Flag of India Mumbai 90.3
3 Flag of India New Delhi 87.5

Oceania

Rank City Cost of Living Index
1 Flag of Australia Sydney 104.1
2 Flag of Australia Melbourne 94.2
3 Flag of Australia Perth 88.5

[1]

[edit] Economist Intelligence Unit surveys

The top 50 expensive cities according to surveys of 130 cities released in January 2005, 2006 and 2007 by The Economist Group[2]. The price of housing, generally the largest cost of living, is not included as this tends to be provided by the company and does not factor in adjusting the salary of the expatriate employee.

Reykjavik
Frankfurt
Munich
Berlin
Brussels
Nouméa
Stockholm
Melbourne
2007 Index[3] City 2006 2005
1 132 Flag of Norway Oslo, Norway 1 3
2 130 Flag of France Paris, France 4 4
3 126 Flag of Denmark Copenhagen, Denmark 6 5
4 125 Flag of the United Kingdom London, United Kingdom 7 6
5 124 Flag of Japan Tokyo, Japan 2 1
6 118 Flag of Japan Osaka, Japan 4 2
6 118 Flag of Iceland Reykjavik, Iceland 3 8
6 118 Flag of Switzerland Zurich, Switzerland 8 6
9 116 Flag of Germany Frankfurt, Germany 12
9 116 Flag of Finland Helsinki, Finland 10 10
11 115 Flag of South Korea Seoul, South Korea 13
12 112 Flag of Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland 9 8
12 112 Flag of Austria Vienna, Austria 11
14 108 Flag of Italy Milan, Italy 16
14 108 Flag of Singapore Singapore, Singapore 24
16 107 Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong , Hong Kong 14
16 107 Flag of Germany Munich, Germany 14
18 106 Flag of Germany Berlin, Germany 19
18 106 Flag of Australia Sydney, Australia 16
20 104 Flag of Belgium Brussels, Belgium 21
20 104 Flag of Ireland Dublin, Ireland 16 21
20 104 Flag of New Caledonia Nouméa, New Caledonia n/a
20 104 Flag of Sweden Stockholm, Sweden 21
24 103 Flag of Australia Melbourne, Australia 19
25 102 Flag of France Lyon, France 24
26 101 Flag of the Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands 23
26 101 Flag of Russia Moscow, Russia 29
28 100 Flag of the United States New York, United States 27 23
29 99 Flag of Germany Düsseldorf, Germany 27
29 99 Flag of the United Kingdom Manchester, United Kingdom 26
31 98 Flag of Spain Barcelona, Spain 35
31 98 Flag of Italy Rome, Italy 31
33 97 Flag of Spain Madrid, Spain 35
34 96 Flag of Germany Hamburg, Germany 32
34 96 Flag of Canada Vancouver, Canada 43
36 95 Flag of the United States Chicago, United States 35
36 95 Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg, Luxembourg 40
36 95 Flag of Canada Montreal, Canada 43
39 94 Flag of the United States Los Angeles, United States 35
40 93 Flag of Australia Perth, Australia 35
41 92 Flag of Australia Brisbane, Australia 32
41 92 Flag of the United States San Francisco, United States 40
43 90 Flag of Canada Toronto, Canada 47
44 89 Flag of Côte d'Ivoire Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire 40
44 89 Flag of Russia St Petersburg, Russia 52
44 89 Flag of the United States Washington, DC, United States 46
47 88 Flag of Australia Adelaide, Australia 45
47 88 Flag of the United States Houston, United States 48
47 88 Flag of Israel Tel Aviv, Israel 52
50 87 Flag of New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand 29
51 86 Flag of New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand 32

[edit] Sources

  • Vadgama's Dictionary of Interesting Facts
  • The Mercer 2008 Cost of Living Survey [3]
  • Finfacts Ireland [4]
  • BBC News article referring to the survey [5]
  • MCMXCIII News article about the survey [6]
  • CNNMoney.com article about the survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit [7]
  • The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) [8]
  • Global/Worldwide Cost of Living [9]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ City Mayors: Cost of living - The world's most expensive cities
  2. ^ Data copied from a blog
  3. ^ Relative to cost of living in New York city, which has a constant index of 100
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