Posted
By Peter Martin
on
01/06/2011
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)
- 136,000 prices entered in 545 different cities by 31,500 users coming from 110 different countries.
- Compiles prices for 36 various products divided into 6 categories (Food, Housing, Clothes, Transportation, Personal Care, and Entertainment).
- The index shows only the 134 cities that have enough data to be reliable. All cities are accesible in the application, though.
- More information about expatistan:
Highlights of the June 2011 Cost of Life Index
- As of June 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.
- There's 5 Australian cities in the top ten, 4 European ones and no American or African cities.
- The world's cheapest city for expats, out of the 134 cities currently listed in the index is Kolkata, India, with a price index of 44, less than 1/5 of the price of the most expensive one.
- Asia contains the biggest disparity, with some of the world's most expensive cities (like Tokyo and Singapore) and also the cheapest ones (like Kolkata and Bangalore in India).
Top 5 cost of living ranking cities worldwide
- Tokyo (Japan)
- Oslo (Norway)
- Geneva (Switzerland)
- Zurich (Switzerland)
- Sydney (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) |
236 |
| 2 |
Oslo (Norway) |
227 |
| 3 |
Geneva (Switzerland) |
226 |
| 4 |
Zurich (Switzerland) |
225 |
| 5 |
Sydney (Australia) |
216 |
| 6 |
Perth (Australia) |
207 |
| 7 |
Melbourne (Australia) |
203 |
| 8 |
Brisbane (Australia) |
199 |
| 9 |
London (United Kingdom) |
199 |
| 10 |
Adelaide (Australia) |
191 |
| 11 |
Singapore (Singapore) |
189 |
| 12 |
Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) |
187 |
| 13 |
New York City (United States) |
186 |
| 14 |
Paris (France) |
185 |
| 15 |
Dublin (Ireland) |
182 |
| 16 |
Copenhagen (Denmark) |
182 |
| 17 |
Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
178 |
| 18 |
Washington D.C. (United States) |
174 |
| 19 |
Hong Kong (Hong Kong) |
173 |
| 20 |
Toronto (Canada) |
171 |
| 21 |
Stockholm (Sweden) |
167 |
| 22 |
Honolulu (United States) |
164 |
| 23 |
San Francisco (United States) |
163 |
| 24 |
Wellington (New Zealand) |
162 |
| 25 |
Brasília (Brazil) |
162 |
| 26 |
Calgary (Canada) |
161 |
| 27 |
Vancouver (Canada) |
161 |
| 28 |
Auckland (New Zealand) |
160 |
| 29 |
São Paulo (Brazil) |
158 |
| 30 |
Helsinki (Finland) |
156 |
| 31 |
Brussels (Belgium) |
155 |
| 32 |
Milan (Italy) |
154 |
| 33 |
Tel Aviv (Israel) |
153 |
| 34 |
Florence (Italy) |
150 |
| 35 |
Munich (Germany) |
150 |
| 36 |
Edmonton (Canada) |
149 |
| 37 |
Frankfurt am Main (Germany) |
149 |
| 38 |
Ottawa (Canada) |
148 |
| 39 |
Boston (United States) |
147 |
| 40 |
Chicago (United States) |
147 |
| 41 |
Rome (Italy) |
146 |
| 42 |
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) |
142 |
| 43 |
Madrid (Spain) |
140 |
| 44 |
Los Angeles (United States) |
140 |
| 45 |
Winnipeg (Canada) |
140 |
| 46 |
Hamburg (Germany) |
139 |
| 47 |
Miami (United States) |
139 |
| 48 |
Manchester (United Kingdom) |
139 |
| 49 |
Philadelphia (United States) |
138 |
| 50 |
San Diego (United States) |
138 |
| 51 |
Dubai (United Arab Emirates) |
137 |
| 52 |
Moscow (Russia) |
137 |
| 53 |
Barcelona (Spain) |
136 |
| 54 |
Baltimore (United States) |
136 |
| 55 |
Vienna (Austria) |
136 |
| 56 |
Pittsburgh (United States) |
136 |
| 57 |
Sacramento (United States) |
134 |
| 58 |
Montreal (Canada) |
133 |
| 59 |
Cologne (Germany) |
132 |
| 60 |
Edinburgh (United Kingdom) |
132 |
| 61 |
Seattle (United States) |
131 |
| 62 |
Stuttgart (Germany) |
131 |
| 63 |
Athens (Greece) |
131 |
| 64 |
Detroit (United States) |
130 |
| 65 |
Nashville (United States) |
129 |
| 66 |
Tampa (United States) |
129 |
| 67 |
Berlin (Germany) |
129 |
| 68 |
Portland (United States) |
128 |
| 69 |
Houston (United States) |
127 |
| 70 |
Dallas (United States) |
127 |
| 71 |
Glasgow (United Kingdom) |
124 |
| 72 |
Porto Alegre (Brazil) |
123 |
| 73 |
Denver (United States) |
120 |
| 74 |
Johannesburg (South Africa) |
120 |
| 75 |
Minneapolis (United States) |
119 |
| 76 |
Seoul (South Korea) |
118 |
| 77 |
Omaha (United States) |
117 |
| 78 |
Atlanta (United States) |
117 |
| 79 |
Phoenix (United States) |
117 |
| 80 |
Cleveland (United States) |
115 |
| 81 |
Seville (Spain) |
115 |
| 82 |
Leipzig (Germany) |
115 |
| 83 |
Ljubljana (Slovenia) |
115 |
| 84 |
Salt Lake City (United States) |
114 |
| 85 |
Dresden (Germany) |
114 |
| 86 |
Charlotte (United States) |
114 |
| 87 |
Lisbon (Portugal) |
113 |
| 88 |
Istanbul (Turkey) |
112 |
| 89 |
Kansas City (United States) |
112 |
| 90 |
Montevideo (Uruguay) |
111 |
| 91 |
Milwaukee (United States) |
111 |
| 92 |
Indianapolis (United States) |
109 |
| 93 |
Buffalo (United States) |
107 |
| 94 |
Austin (United States) |
105 |
| 95 |
Saint Petersburg (Russia) |
104 |
| 96 |
Ankara (Turkey) |
102 |
| 97 |
Santiago (Chile) |
101 |
| 98 |
Oklahoma City (United States) |
101 |
| 99 |
Prague (Czech Republic) |
100 |
| 100 |
Taipei (Taiwan) |
99 |
| 101 |
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) |
99 |
| 102 |
Cape Town (South Africa) |
99 |
| 103 |
Bangkok (Thailand) |
98 |
| 104 |
Zagreb (Croatia) |
97 |
| 105 |
Shanghai (China) |
97 |
| 106 |
İzmir (Turkey) |
96 |
| 107 |
Budapest (Hungary) |
94 |
| 108 |
Santiago de Compostela (Spain) |
93 |
| 109 |
Warsaw (Poland) |
89 |
| 110 |
Bogotá (Colombia) |
89 |
| 111 |
Monterrey (Mexico) |
88 |
| 112 |
Tallinn (Estonia) |
84 |
| 113 |
Beijing (China) |
83 |
| 114 |
Mexico City (Mexico) |
82 |
| 115 |
Belgrade (Serbia) |
81 |
| 116 |
Manila (Philippines) |
80 |
| 117 |
Bucharest (Romania) |
79 |
| 118 |
Sofia (Bulgaria) |
78 |
| 119 |
Guadalajara (Mexico) |
76 |
| 120 |
Buenos Aires (Argentina) |
75 |
| 121 |
Caracas (Venezuela) |
74 |
| 122 |
Lima (Peru) |
73 |
| 123 |
Timisoara (Romania) |
71 |
| 124 |
Skopje (Macedonia) |
71 |
| 125 |
Cluj-Napoca (Romania) |
70 |
| 126 |
Mumbai (India) |
68 |
| 127 |
Delhi (India) |
67 |
| 128 |
Cairo (Egypt) |
64 |
| 129 |
Karachi (Pakistan) |
64 |
| 130 |
Kiev (Ukraine) |
63 |
| 131 |
Madras (India) |
63 |
| 132 |
Bangalore (India) |
53 |
| 133 |
Lviv (Ukraine) |
48 |
| 134 |
Kolkata (India) |
44 |
Breakdown by Region
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania Africa
| 75 | Johannesburg | South Africa | 120 |
| 103 | Cape Town | South Africa | 99 |
| 128 | Cairo | Egypt | 64 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
Asia
| 1 | Tokyo | Japan | 236 |
| 11 | Singapore | Singapore | 189 |
| 19 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 173 |
| 77 | Seoul | South Korea | 118 |
| 101 | Taipei | Taiwan | 99 |
| 102 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 99 |
| 104 | Bangkok | Thailand | 98 |
| 106 | Shanghai | China | 97 |
| 114 | Beijing | China | 83 |
| 117 | Manila | Philippines | 80 |
| 126 | Mumbai | India | 68 |
| 127 | Delhi | India | 67 |
| 129 | Karachi | Pakistan | 64 |
| 131 | Madras | India | 63 |
| 132 | Bangalore | India | 53 |
| 134 | Kolkata | India | 44 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
West and Southern Europe
| 2 | Oslo | Norway | 227 |
| 3 | Geneva | Switzerland | 226 |
| 4 | Zurich | Switzerland | 225 |
| 9 | London | United Kingdom | 199 |
| 14 | Paris | France | 185 |
| 15 | Dublin | Ireland | 182 |
| 16 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 182 |
| 17 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | 178 |
| 21 | Stockholm | Sweden | 167 |
| 30 | Helsinki | Finland | 156 |
| 31 | Brussels | Belgium | 155 |
| 32 | Milan | Italy | 154 |
| 34 | Florence | Italy | 150 |
| 35 | Munich | Germany | 150 |
| 37 | Frankfurt am Main | Germany | 149 |
| 41 | Rome | Italy | 146 |
| 43 | Madrid | Spain | 140 |
| 46 | Hamburg | Germany | 139 |
| 48 | Manchester | United Kingdom | 139 |
| 53 | Barcelona | Spain | 136 |
| 55 | Vienna | Austria | 136 |
| 59 | Cologne | Germany | 132 |
| 60 | Edinburgh | United Kingdom | 132 |
| 62 | Stuttgart | Germany | 131 |
| 63 | Athens | Greece | 131 |
| 67 | Berlin | Germany | 129 |
| 71 | Glasgow | United Kingdom | 124 |
| 81 | Seville | Spain | 115 |
| 82 | Leipzig | Germany | 115 |
| 85 | Dresden | Germany | 114 |
| 87 | Lisbon | Portugal | 113 |
| 108 | Santiago de Compostela | Spain | 93 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
East and Central Europe
| 52 | Moscow | Russia | 137 |
| 83 | Ljubljana | Slovenia | 115 |
| 95 | Saint Petersburg | Russia | 104 |
| 99 | Prague | Czech Republic | 100 |
| 104 | Zagreb | Croatia | 97 |
| 107 | Budapest | Hungary | 94 |
| 109 | Warsaw | Poland | 89 |
| 112 | Tallinn | Estonia | 84 |
| 115 | Belgrade | Serbia | 81 |
| 117 | Bucharest | Romania | 79 |
| 118 | Sofia | Bulgaria | 78 |
| 122 | Timisoara | Romania | 71 |
| 123 | Skopje | Macedonia | 71 |
| 124 | Cluj-Napoca | Romania | 70 |
| 129 | Kiev | Ukraine | 63 |
| 132 | Lviv | Ukraine | 48 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
Latin America
| 25 | Brasília | Brazil | 162 |
| 29 | São Paulo | Brazil | 158 |
| 42 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 142 |
| 72 | Porto Alegre | Brazil | 123 |
| 90 | Montevideo | Uruguay | 111 |
| 97 | Santiago | Chile | 101 |
| 110 | Bogotá | Colombia | 89 |
| 111 | Monterrey | Mexico | 88 |
| 114 | Mexico City | Mexico | 82 |
| 119 | Guadalajara | Mexico | 76 |
| 120 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 75 |
| 121 | Caracas | Venezuela | 74 |
| 122 | Lima | Peru | 73 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
Middle East
| 12 | Riyadh | Saudi Arabia | 187 |
| 33 | Tel Aviv | Israel | 153 |
| 52 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 137 |
| 89 | Istanbul | Turkey | 112 |
| 97 | Ankara | Turkey | 102 |
| 107 | İzmir | Turkey | 96 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
US and Canada
| 13 | New York City | United States | 186 |
| 18 | Washington D.C. | United States | 174 |
| 20 | Toronto | Canada | 171 |
| 22 | Honolulu | United States | 164 |
| 23 | San Francisco | United States | 163 |
| 26 | Calgary | Canada | 161 |
| 27 | Vancouver | Canada | 161 |
| 36 | Edmonton | Canada | 149 |
| 38 | Ottawa | Canada | 148 |
| 39 | Boston | United States | 147 |
| 40 | Chicago | United States | 147 |
| 45 | Los Angeles | United States | 140 |
| 46 | Winnipeg | Canada | 140 |
| 48 | Miami | United States | 139 |
| 50 | Philadelphia | United States | 138 |
| 51 | San Diego | United States | 138 |
| 55 | Baltimore | United States | 136 |
| 57 | Pittsburgh | United States | 136 |
| 58 | Sacramento | United States | 134 |
| 59 | Montreal | Canada | 133 |
| 62 | Seattle | United States | 131 |
| 65 | Detroit | United States | 130 |
| 66 | Nashville | United States | 129 |
| 67 | Tampa | United States | 129 |
| 69 | Portland | United States | 128 |
| 70 | Houston | United States | 127 |
| 71 | Dallas | United States | 127 |
| 74 | Denver | United States | 120 |
| 76 | Minneapolis | United States | 119 |
| 78 | Omaha | United States | 117 |
| 79 | Atlanta | United States | 117 |
| 80 | Phoenix | United States | 117 |
| 81 | Cleveland | United States | 115 |
| 85 | Salt Lake City | United States | 114 |
| 87 | Charlotte | United States | 114 |
| 90 | Kansas City | United States | 112 |
| 92 | Milwaukee | United States | 111 |
| 93 | Indianapolis | United States | 109 |
| 94 | Buffalo | United States | 107 |
| 95 | Austin | United States | 105 |
| 99 | Oklahoma City | United States | 101 |
Africa |
Asia |
West and Southern Europe |
East and Central Europe |
Latin America |
Middle East |
US and Canada |
Oceania
Oceania
| 5 | Sydney | Australia | 216 |
| 6 | Perth | Australia | 207 |
| 7 | Melbourne | Australia | 203 |
| 8 | Brisbane | Australia | 199 |
| 10 | Adelaide | Australia | 191 |
| 24 | Wellington | New Zealand | 162 |
| 28 | Auckland | New Zealand | 160 |