Posted
By Peter Martin
on
01/01/2011
Highlights about Expatistan
- Launched in January 2010
- Collaborative database of prices (crowdsourced, like Wikipedia). The website users enter the prices for their own cities. Therefore, not all of the 900+ cities contained in the database have data yet.
- Uses Prague as anchor value (Prague = 100)
- 65,000 prices entered in 429 different cities by 17,000 users coming from 110 different countries.
- Compiles prices for 33 various products divided into 6 categories (Food, Housing, Clothes, Transportation, Health, and Entertainment).
- The index shows only the cities that have enough data to be reliable. All cities are accesible in the application, though.
- More information about expatistan:
Highlights of the Jan 2011 Cost of Life Index
- As of January 2011, Expatistan.com's cost of living index ranks Tokyo, Japan as the number one most expensive city in the world.
- Following behind Tokyo are Zurich, Oslo, Sydney and Perth. Australia also claims a third city in the top ten, with Melbourne at #6, followed by London, Singapore, New York City and Washington D.C. But Brisbane in Australia, though ranked 11th most expensive city, actually shares the same price index, 189, as Washington D.C.
- The top 20 most expensive cities are dominated by Europe with 8 cities, Australia with 4 cities, while North America claims 3 cities, Asia has 3 with Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong, placing South America last with 2 cities in Brazil.
- The world's cheapest city for expats, out of the 117 cities currently listed in the index is Ahmedabad, India, with a price index of 67.
- Asia contains the biggest disparity, with the world's most expensive city, Tokyo and also the cheapest city, Ahmedabad, India.
- South America's two most expensive cities rank in the top 20, and are both located in Brazil: Brasilia at #18 and Sao Paulo at #20. Brazil continues to represent South American again on the index with Rio de Janeiro at #43 and Curitiba at #66. However, Uruguay's capital, Montevideo shows up at #92, and Chile's capital city of Santiago follows right behind at #93.
- Dubai, the UAE's first entry comes in at #51, while Africa's first two entries, Johannesburg and Pretoria, come in at #74 and #75, respectively.
- An interesting commonality of the top 10 most expensive cities: all are located adjacent to one or more bodies of water.
- In fact, the 8 US cities listed in the top 50 are also all waterfront cities.
Top 5 cost of living ranking cities worldwide
- Tokyo (Japan)
- Geneva (Switzerland)
- Oslo (Norway)
- Zurich (Switzerland)
- Perth (Australia)
Cost of Living Index (as of Jan 1st 2011):
The up-to-date live index can be found on
http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/index
Global Index
| Ranking |
City |
Price Index |
| 1 |
Tokyo (Japan) |
246 |
| 2 |
Geneva (Switzerland) |
219 |
| 3 |
Oslo (Norway) |
218 |
| 4 |
Zurich (Switzerland) |
213 |
| 5 |
Perth (Australia) |
210 |
| 6 |
Sydney (Australia) |
205 |
| 7 |
London (United Kingdom) |
200 |
| 8 |
Washington D.C. (United States) |
197 |
| 9 |
Melbourne (Australia) |
193 |
| 10 |
New York City (United States) |
191 |
| 11 |
Copenhagen (Denmark) |
191 |
| 12 |
Brisbane (Australia) |
191 |
| 13 |
Singapore (Singapore) |
190 |
| 14 |
Dublin (Ireland) |
184 |
| 15 |
Bern (Switzerland) |
181 |
| 16 |
Paris (France) |
179 |
| 17 |
Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
178 |
| 18 |
Brasília (Brazil) |
177 |
| 19 |
Toronto (Canada) |
177 |
| 20 |
Hong Kong (Hong Kong) |
175 |
| 21 |
São Paulo (Brazil) |
171 |
| 22 |
San Francisco (United States) |
166 |
| 23 |
Vancouver (Canada) |
165 |
| 24 |
Miami (United States) |
164 |
| 25 |
Calgary (Canada) |
162 |
| 26 |
Stockholm (Sweden) |
157 |
| 27 |
Düsseldorf (Germany) |
156 |
| 28 |
Tel Aviv (Israel) |
156 |
| 29 |
San Jose (United States) |
155 |
| 30 |
Chicago (United States) |
155 |
| 31 |
Brussels (Belgium) |
154 |
| 32 |
Leeds (United Kingdom) |
154 |
| 33 |
Edmonton (Canada) |
153 |
| 34 |
Los Angeles (United States) |
153 |
| 35 |
Helsinki (Finland) |
152 |
| 36 |
Boston (United States) |
151 |
| 37 |
Auckland (New Zealand) |
150 |
| 38 |
Winnipeg (Canada) |
150 |
| 39 |
Seoul (South Korea) |
150 |
| 40 |
Milan (Italy) |
149 |
| 41 |
Munich (Germany) |
148 |
| 42 |
Ottawa (Canada) |
147 |
| 43 |
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) |
145 |
| 44 |
Philadelphia (United States) |
145 |
| 45 |
Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
145 |
| 46 |
Seattle (United States) |
144 |
| 47 |
San Diego (United States) |
144 |
| 48 |
Dubai (United Arab Emirates) |
143 |
| 49 |
Rome (Italy) |
143 |
| 50 |
Hamburg (Germany) |
143 |
| 51 |
Madrid (Spain) |
143 |
| 52 |
Stuttgart (Germany) |
142 |
| 53 |
Manchester (United Kingdom) |
142 |
| 54 |
Glasgow (United Kingdom) |
139 |
| 55 |
Cologne (Germany) |
139 |
| 56 |
Jerusalem (Israel) |
139 |
| 57 |
Houston (United States) |
137 |
| 58 |
Gothenburg (Sweden) |
136 |
| 59 |
Nuremberg (Germany) |
136 |
| 60 |
Montreal (Canada) |
135 |
| 61 |
Barcelona (Spain) |
134 |
| 62 |
Curitiba (Brazil) |
134 |
| 63 |
Phoenix (United States) |
134 |
| 64 |
Athens (Greece) |
133 |
| 65 |
Vienna (Austria) |
133 |
| 66 |
Denver (United States) |
132 |
| 67 |
Hanover (Germany) |
132 |
| 68 |
Berlin (Germany) |
131 |
| 69 |
New Orleans (United States) |
130 |
| 70 |
Turin (Italy) |
130 |
| 71 |
Moscow (Russia) |
130 |
| 72 |
Columbus (United States) |
130 |
| 73 |
Portland (United States) |
129 |
| 74 |
Dallas (United States) |
128 |
| 75 |
Pretoria (South Africa) |
128 |
| 76 |
Indianapolis (United States) |
128 |
| 77 |
Genoa (Italy) |
128 |
| 78 |
Johannesburg (South Africa) |
127 |
| 79 |
Atlanta (United States) |
125 |
| 80 |
Charlotte (United States) |
124 |
| 81 |
Memphis (United States) |
124 |
| 82 |
Istanbul (Turkey) |
123 |
| 83 |
Kansas City (United States) |
122 |
| 84 |
Cleveland (United States) |
121 |
| 85 |
Leipzig (Germany) |
115 |
| 86 |
Bangkok (Thailand) |
115 |
| 87 |
Austin (United States) |
115 |
| 88 |
Lisbon (Portugal) |
114 |
| 89 |
Dresden (Germany) |
113 |
| 90 |
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) |
113 |
| 91 |
Saint Petersburg (Russia) |
113 |
| 92 |
Montevideo (Uruguay) |
111 |
| 93 |
Santiago (Chile) |
110 |
| 94 |
İzmir (Turkey) |
109 |
| 95 |
Cape Town (South Africa) |
108 |
| 96 |
Bogotá (Colombia) |
105 |
| 97 |
Zagreb (Croatia) |
102 |
| 98 |
Prague (Czech Republic) |
100 |
| 99 |
Shanghai (China) |
97 |
| 100 |
Monterrey (Mexico) |
96 |
| 101 |
Vilnius (Lithuania) |
95 |
| 102 |
Budapest (Hungary) |
93 |
| 103 |
Beijing (China) |
92 |
| 104 |
Mexico City (Mexico) |
91 |
| 105 |
Jakarta (Indonesia) |
90 |
| 106 |
Manila (Philippines) |
89 |
| 107 |
Tallinn (Estonia) |
87 |
| 108 |
Delhi (India) |
86 |
| 109 |
Warsaw (Poland) |
85 |
| 110 |
Bucharest (Romania) |
84 |
| 111 |
Guadalajara (Mexico) |
83 |
| 112 |
Sofia (Bulgaria) |
83 |
| 113 |
Mumbai (India) |
81 |
| 114 |
Buenos Aires (Argentina) |
81 |
| 115 |
Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
79 |
| 116 |
Kiev (Ukraine) |
73 |
| 117 |
Bangalore (India) |
68 |
| 118 |
Ahmedabad (India) |
68 |
| 119 |
Kolkata (India) |
64 |
Breakdown by Region
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania Africa
| 75 | Pretoria | South Africa | 128 |
| 78 | Johannesburg | South Africa | 127 |
| 95 | Cape Town | South Africa | 108 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
Asia
| 1 | Tokyo | Japan | 246 |
| 13 | Singapore | Singapore | 190 |
| 20 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 175 |
| 39 | Seoul | South Korea | 150 |
| 86 | Bangkok | Thailand | 115 |
| 90 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 113 |
| 99 | Shanghai | China | 97 |
| 103 | Beijing | China | 92 |
| 105 | Jakarta | Indonesia | 90 |
| 106 | Manila | Philippines | 89 |
| 108 | Delhi | India | 86 |
| 113 | Mumbai | India | 81 |
| 117 | Bangalore | India | 68 |
| 118 | Ahmedabad | India | 68 |
| 119 | Kolkata | India | 64 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
West and Southern Europe
| 2 | Geneva | Switzerland | 219 |
| 3 | Oslo | Norway | 218 |
| 4 | Zurich | Switzerland | 213 |
| 7 | London | United Kingdom | 200 |
| 11 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 191 |
| 14 | Dublin | Ireland | 184 |
| 15 | Bern | Switzerland | 181 |
| 16 | Paris | France | 179 |
| 17 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | 178 |
| 26 | Stockholm | Sweden | 157 |
| 27 | Düsseldorf | Germany | 156 |
| 31 | Brussels | Belgium | 154 |
| 32 | Leeds | United Kingdom | 154 |
| 35 | Helsinki | Finland | 152 |
| 40 | Milan | Italy | 149 |
| 41 | Munich | Germany | 148 |
| 45 | Frankfurt am Main | Germany | 145 |
| 49 | Rome | Italy | 143 |
| 50 | Hamburg | Germany | 143 |
| 51 | Madrid | Spain | 143 |
| 52 | Stuttgart | Germany | 142 |
| 53 | Manchester | United Kingdom | 142 |
| 54 | Glasgow | United Kingdom | 139 |
| 55 | Cologne | Germany | 139 |
| 58 | Gothenburg | Sweden | 136 |
| 59 | Nuremberg | Germany | 136 |
| 61 | Barcelona | Spain | 134 |
| 64 | Athens | Greece | 133 |
| 65 | Vienna | Austria | 133 |
| 67 | Hanover | Germany | 132 |
| 68 | Berlin | Germany | 131 |
| 70 | Turin | Italy | 130 |
| 77 | Genoa | Italy | 128 |
| 85 | Leipzig | Germany | 115 |
| 88 | Lisbon | Portugal | 114 |
| 89 | Dresden | Germany | 113 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
East and Central Europe
| 71 | Moscow | Russia | 130 |
| 91 | Saint Petersburg | Russia | 113 |
| 97 | Zagreb | Croatia | 102 |
| 98 | Prague | Czech Republic | 100 |
| 101 | Vilnius | Lithuania | 95 |
| 102 | Budapest | Hungary | 93 |
| 107 | Tallinn | Estonia | 87 |
| 109 | Warsaw | Poland | 85 |
| 110 | Bucharest | Romania | 84 |
| 112 | Sofia | Bulgaria | 83 |
| 115 | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 79 |
| 116 | Kiev | Ukraine | 73 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
Latin America
| 18 | Brasília | Brazil | 177 |
| 21 | São Paulo | Brazil | 171 |
| 43 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 145 |
| 62 | Curitiba | Brazil | 134 |
| 92 | Montevideo | Uruguay | 111 |
| 93 | Santiago | Chile | 110 |
| 96 | Bogotá | Colombia | 105 |
| 100 | Monterrey | Mexico | 96 |
| 104 | Mexico City | Mexico | 91 |
| 111 | Guadalajara | Mexico | 83 |
| 114 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 81 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
Middle East
| 28 | Tel Aviv | Israel | 156 |
| 48 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 143 |
| 56 | Jerusalem | Israel | 139 |
| 82 | Istanbul | Turkey | 123 |
| 94 | İzmir | Turkey | 109 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
US and Canada
| 8 | Washington D.C. | United States | 197 |
| 10 | New York City | United States | 191 |
| 19 | Toronto | Canada | 177 |
| 22 | San Francisco | United States | 166 |
| 23 | Vancouver | Canada | 165 |
| 24 | Miami | United States | 164 |
| 25 | Calgary | Canada | 162 |
| 29 | San Jose | United States | 155 |
| 30 | Chicago | United States | 155 |
| 33 | Edmonton | Canada | 153 |
| 34 | Los Angeles | United States | 153 |
| 36 | Boston | United States | 151 |
| 38 | Winnipeg | Canada | 150 |
| 42 | Ottawa | Canada | 147 |
| 44 | Philadelphia | United States | 145 |
| 46 | Seattle | United States | 144 |
| 47 | San Diego | United States | 144 |
| 57 | Houston | United States | 137 |
| 60 | Montreal | Canada | 135 |
| 63 | Phoenix | United States | 134 |
| 66 | Denver | United States | 132 |
| 69 | New Orleans | United States | 130 |
| 72 | Columbus | United States | 130 |
| 73 | Portland | United States | 129 |
| 74 | Dallas | United States | 128 |
| 76 | Indianapolis | United States | 128 |
| 79 | Atlanta | United States | 125 |
| 80 | Charlotte | United States | 124 |
| 81 | Memphis | United States | 124 |
| 83 | Kansas City | United States | 122 |
| 84 | Cleveland | United States | 121 |
| 87 | Austin | United States | 115 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
Oceania
| 5 | Perth | Australia | 210 |
| 6 | Sydney | Australia | 205 |
| 9 | Melbourne | Australia | 193 |
| 12 | Brisbane | Australia | 191 |
| 37 | Auckland | New Zealand | 150 |