World’s Most (And Least) Expensive Cities To Live In For Expatriate Employees

Hong Kong regained its dubious status as the most expensive city to live in for expatriate employees, according to an annual cost of living survey carried out by advisory firm Mercer. The research puts Tokyo in second place overall – ahead of Zurich (No. 3), Singapore (No. 4), and Seoul (No. 5).

This means that 4 out of 5 of the world’s most expensive cities to live in for expatriate employees are now in Asia, according to the survey. A 2-bedroom flat of international standard goes for $7,671 per month in Hong Kong, compared with $5,700 in New York and $5,100 in Luanda.

Luanda, the oil-rich capital of Angola ranked sixth and Shanghai came in seventh. The Survey ranked 209 cities where companies are most likely to send employees on international corporate assignments. The top 10 is completed, in order, by N’Djamena, Beijing and Bern.

The cost of living in U.K. cities rose significantly, with London (19th), Birmingham (128th), and Aberdeen (134th) all climbing up the rankings.

Mumbai (55th) is the most expensive city in India, followed by New Delhi (103rd) and Chennai (144th). Kolkata (182nd) and Bengaluru (170th) are the least expensive Indian cities ranked.

World’s top 10 most expensive cities to live in for expatriate employees

1. Hong Kong
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Singapore
5. Seoul, South Korea
6. Luanda, Angola
7. Shanghai, China
8. N’Djamena, Chad
9. Beijing, China
10. Bern, Switzerland

World’s top 10 least expensive cities to live in for expatriate employees

The cheapest city in the world for expats is Tashkent, Uzbekistan, sitting in 209th place in the list.

1. Tashkent, Uzbekistan (209th)
2. Tunis, Tunisia
3. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
4. Banjul, Gambia
5. Karachi, Pakistan (Islamic Republic of)
6. Blantyre, Malawi
7. Tbilisi, Georgia
8. Minsk, Belarus
9. Tegucigalpa, Honduras
10. Managua, Nicaragua (200th)