List of most expensive cities for expatriate employees

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This is a list of the world's most expensive cities, according to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting Cost of Living Surveys.[1] 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.

Contents 1 Mercer Human Resource Consulting surveys 1.1 Three most expensive cities by region 2 Economist Intelligence Unit 2006 survey 3 Sources 4 See also

[edit] Mercer Human Resource Consulting surveys

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

[edit] Three most expensive cities by region

Americas

Rank	City	Cost of Living Index
1	Image:Flag of the United States.svg New York City	Image:Straight Line Steady.svg 100
2	Image:Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles	Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 87.1

Australia

Rank	City	Cost of Living Index
1	Image:Flag of Australia.svg Sydney	Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 94.9

Europe

Rank	City	Cost of Living Index
1	Image:Flag of Russia.svg Moscow	Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 134.4
2	Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London	Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 126.3
3	Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Copenhagen	Image:Red Arrow Down.svg 110.2

Far East

Rank	City	Cost of Living Index
1	Image:Flag of South Korea.svg Seoul	Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 122.4
2	Image:Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo	Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 122.1
3	Image:Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong	Image:Red Arrow Down.svg 116.3

Middle East & North Africa

Rank	City	Cost of Living Index
1	Image:Flag of Israel.svg Tel Aviv	Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 97.7
2	Image:Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Dubai	Image:Red Arrow Down.svg 87.8
3	Image:Flag of Turkey.svg Istanbul	Image:Red Arrow Down.svg 87.7

Sub-Saharan Africa

Rank	City	Cost of Living Index
1	Image:Flag of Cameroon.svg Douala	Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 92.9
2	Image:Flag of Senegal.svg Dakar	Image:Green Arrow Up Darker.svg 89

[edit] Economist Intelligence Unit 2006 survey

According to a survey released in January 2006 by The Economist Group:

2006 Rank	City	2005 Rank
1	Image:Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway	3
2	Image:Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo, Japan	1
3	Image:Flag of Japan.svg Osaka/Kobe, Japan	8
4 (tie)	Image:Flag of Iceland.svg Reykjavík, Iceland	2
4 (tie)	Image:Flag of France.svg Paris, France	4
6	Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Copenhagen, Denmark	5
7	Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, United Kingdom	7
8	Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg Zurich, Switzerland	6
9	Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg Geneva, Switzerland	8
10	Image:Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki, Finland	10
11	Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Brussels, Belgium	11
12	Image:Flag of Canada.svg Toronto, Canada	12

[edit] Sources

• Vadgama's Dictionary of Interesting Facts
• The Mercer 2006 Cost of Living Survey [2]
• Finfacts Ireland [3]
• BBC News article referring to the survey [4]
• MCMXCIII News article about the survey [5]
• CNNMoney.com article about the survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit [6]
• The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) [7]
• Global/Worldwide Cost of Living [8]

[edit] See also

• List of cities by quality of living
• List of cities by Health and Sanitation
• Global city
• Expatriate
• Worldwide ERCfr:Villes les plus chères

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