Bangkok ranks 61st in the list of the most expensive cities to live in. Where you should not go if you want to live cheaply is Singapore. This city even knocks Tokyo out of first place in 2014, according to the Worldwide Cost of Living survey by The Economist.
A total of 131 cities worldwide have been mapped for the biennial survey. These included the value of the local currency, inflation and cost of living.
Singapore scores particularly high as the most expensive city due to the high costs of driving. In fact, transportation costs in Singapore are almost three times higher than in New York. In addition, this city-state has few natural resources. Singapore depends on other countries for energy and water supply, which also makes utility costs very high. In addition, Singapore is the most expensive city in the world to buy clothes.
The title holder from two years ago, Tokyo, dropped from first place to sixth. The drop in the Japanese city is due to the weaker yen.
The 10 most expensive cities in the world to live in are:
- Singapore
- Paris
- Oslo
- Zurich
- Sydney
- Caracas
- Geneva
- Melbourne
- Tokyo
- Copenhagen
The study compares more than 400 individual prices of 160 products and services. The costs of food, drink, clothing, household items and personal care are examined, among other things. But also to the prices of a rented house, transport, utilities, private schools, domestic help and recreational costs. In total, more than 50.000 prices are collected and compared.