List of most expensive cities for expatriate employees

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These are lists of the world's most expensive cities for expatriate employees (not residents), according to the Mercer, [1] ECA International [2] and Xpatulator.com [3] cost-of-living surveys. Other surveys from online collaborative indices, such as Numbeo, [4] Expatistan, [5] or Eardex [6] are not covered by this article.

Contents

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, 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.

Mercer

Hong Kong SAR Hong Kong Island Skyline 2009.jpg
Hong Kong SAR
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan Panorama of Ashgabat.jpg
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Tokyo, Japan Skyscrapers of Shinjuku 2009 January.jpg
Tokyo, Japan
Singapore Singapore Merlion-at-Marina-Bay-01.jpg
Singapore

Mercer's Cost of Living surveys are taken in March of each year. The survey covers 207 cities around the world and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. It is designed to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees. New York is used as the base city and all other cities are compared against it. The cost of housing plays an important part in determining where cities are ranked.

Two main factors determine a city’s ranking in Mercer’s survey – the relative strength of the relevant currency against the US dollar over the prior 12 months and price movements over the prior 12 months compared to those in New York City as the base.

Top ten locations surveyed (2023) [7]
RankCityCountry or Region
1 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
2 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
3 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
4 Geneva
5 Basel
6 New York Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
7 Bern Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
8 Tel Aviv Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
9 Copenhagen Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
10 Nassau Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas
Top ten locations surveyed (2022) [8]
RankCityCountry or Region
1 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
2 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
3 Geneva
4 Basel
5 Bern
6 Tel Aviv Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
7 New York Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
8 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
9 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
10 Beijing Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Top ten locations surveyed (2021) [9] [10]
RankCityCountry or Region
1 Ashgabat Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
2 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
3 Beirut Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
4 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
5 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
6 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
7 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
8 Geneva Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
9 Beijing Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
10 Bern Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Top ten locations surveyed (2020) [11]
RankCityCountry of Region
1 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
2 Ashgabat Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
3 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
4 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
5 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
6 New York Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
7 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
8 Bern Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
9 Geneva
10 Beijing Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Top ten locations surveyed (2019) [12]
RankCityCountry or Region
1 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
2 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
3 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
4 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
5 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
6 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
7 Ashgabat Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
8 Beijing Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
9 New York Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
10 Shenzhen Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Top ten locations surveyed (2018) [13]
RankCityCountry or Region
1 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
2 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
3 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
4 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
5 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
6 Luanda Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
7 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
8 N’Djamena Flag of Chad.svg  Chad
9 Beijing Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
10 Bern Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Top ten locations surveyed (2017) [14]
RankCityCountry or Region
1 Luanda Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
2 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
3 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
4 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
5 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
6 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
7 Geneva Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
8 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
9 New York Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
10 Bern Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Top ten locations surveyed (2016) [15] [16]
RankCityCountry or Region
1 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
2 Luanda Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
3 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
4 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
5 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
6 Kinshasa Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo
7 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
8 Geneva Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
9 N’Djamena Flag of Chad.svg  Chad
10 Beijing Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Top ten locations surveyed (2015) [17] [16]
RankCityCountry or Region
1 Luanda Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
2 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
3 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
4 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
5 Geneva Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
6 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
7 Beijing
8 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
9 Bern Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
10 N’Djamena Flag of Chad.svg  Chad

ECA International

Zurich, Switzerland Zurich.jpg
Zürich, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland Geneve 2005 001 Ork.ch.jpg
Geneva, Switzerland
Basel, Switzerland Basel - Munsterpfalz1.jpg
Basel, Switzerland
Bern, Switzerland The Zytglogge clock tower.jpg
Bern, Switzerland

Every March and September, ECA International calculates the cost of living for expatriates in almost 400 cities around the world. The survey does not include certain living costs such as accommodation, utilities (electricity, gas, water costs), car purchase and school fees. These are usually compensated for separately in expatriate packages from cost of living allowances.

Top 20 cities surveyed (2023) [18]
RankingCityCountry or Region
1 New York Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
3 Geneva Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
4 London Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
5 Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
6 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
7 San Francisco Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
8 Tel Aviv Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
9 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
10 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Top 20 cities surveyed (2022) [19]
RankingCityCountry or Region
1 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
2 New York Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
3 Geneva Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
4 London Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
5 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
6 Tel Aviv Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
7 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
8 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
9 Guangzhou
10 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Top 20 cities surveyed (2021) [20]
RankingCityCountry or Region
1 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
2 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
3 Geneva Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
4 New York Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
5 London Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
6 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
7 Tel Aviv Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
8 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
9 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
10 Guangzhou
Top 20 cities surveyed (2020) [21]
RankingCityCountry or Region
1 Ashgabat Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
2 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
3 Geneva
4 Basel
5 Bern
6 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
7 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
8 Tel Aviv Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
9 Jerusalem
10 Yokohama Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Top 20 cities surveyed (2019) [22]
RankingCityCountry or Region
1 Ashgabat Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
2 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
3 Geneva
4 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
5 Basel Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
6 Bern
7 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
8 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
9 Tel Aviv Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
10 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Top 20 cities surveyed (2018) [23]
RankingCityCountry or Region
1 Ashgabat Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
2 Geneva Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
3 Zürich
4 Basel
5 Bern
6 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
7 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
8 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
9 Oslo Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
10 Stavanger
Top 20 cities surveyed (2017) [24]
RankingCityCountry or Region
1 Luanda Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
2 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
3 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
4 Geneva
5 Basel
6 Bern
7 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
8 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
9 Caracas Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
10 Khartoum Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan
Top 20 cities surveyed (2016) [25]
RankingCityCountry or Region
1 Kinshasa Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo
2 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
3 Geneva
4 Basel
5 Bern
6 Freetown Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone
7 Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
8 Luanda Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
9 Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
10 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Top 20 cities surveyed (2015) [2]
RankingCityCountry
1 Juba Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan
2 Luanda Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
3 Zürich Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
4 Geneva
5 Bern
6 Basel
7 Kinshasa Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo
8 Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
9 Beijing
10 Seoul Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea

See also

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References

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  6. Eardex Archived 2023-12-11 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved January 25, 2013.
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  8. Gilchrist, Karen (2022-06-29). "These are the most expensive places to work abroad in 2022". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  9. "Turkmenistan's capital tops list of most expensive cities for expats". BBC News. 22 June 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
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  12. "Mercer's 25th annual Cost of Living Survey finds cities in Asia most expensive locations for employees working abroad". Mercer. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  13. Neild, Barry (2018-06-28). "World's most expensive cities for expats in 2018 revealed". CNN. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  14. "Mercer's 2017 Cost of Living - City Rankings". Mercer. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
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  20. "Hong Kong remains the most expensive location in the world". www.eca-international.com. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  21. "Singapore remains in the top 20 most expensive locations in the world, despite impact of Covid-19". www.eca-international.com. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  22. "Singapore enters the top 15 most expensive locations in the world". www.eca-international.com. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  23. "Hong Kong now the most expensive location in East Asia for expatriates". www.eca-international.com. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  24. "Swiss cities dominate list of most expensive locations in the world for expats". www.eca-international.com. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
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