Top Most Expensive Cities in the World 2024
The Most Expensive Cities in the World are numerous and have lots of amenities like job openings, good food, and theater, which come at a price. The cost of living in these cities is expensive, and we have made a list to get you prepared if you plan on visiting or relocating to these cities.
Most Expensive Cities in the World
According to a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the costliest place to live in the whole world is Tel Aviv!
Following the Israeli city in joint second place were Paris and Singapore, then Zurich in fourth, and Hong Kong fifth.
Other famously pricey cities like New York, Copenhagen, and Geneva also made the top ten. Below is a list of the top ten most expensive cities to live in the world:
1. Tel Aviv
This is the world’s most expensive city. This sun-soaked city on Israel’s Mediterranean coast topped the EIU’s ranking for the first time.
The city received a cost-of-living score of 106, because of the strength of the Israeli shekel against the U.S. dollar. It also saw a noticeable increase in grocery and transport prices.
2. Paris
Besides being home to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the sparkling Champs-Élysées, France’s iconic capital is also the world’s second most expensive city, with a cost-of-living rating of 104.
3. Singapore
Singapore has long been heralded for its impeccably clean streets and buildings, but it turns out that living in what is likely the world’s most immaculate city comes at a price.
The metro is tied with Paris (score of 104), making it easily the most expensive city in Southeast Asia.
4. Zurich
It’s not shocking that the world’s center for banking and finance is also one of the world’s most expensive cities.
With a mountain-bound location on Lake Zurich, the city is as expensive as it is beautiful, resulting in a cost-of-living rating of 103.
5. Hong Kong
Although Hong Kong is considered a Chinese “special administrative region,” the city was still evaluated alongside the world’s biggest (and most expensive) metros.
Besides other factors, Hong Kong had the world’s most expensive gas prices in 2021, with an average cost of $2.50 per liter.
6. New York
Acting as the benchmark for the survey, New York City was given an index score of 100 and a number six ranking.
The city has long held a spot on the list, because of the high price of everything from groceries to gas.
7. Geneva
Geneva is the second Swiss city to land a place on this top 10 list. The pricey metro cost-of-living rating of 99 sits near the French-Swiss border on the sprawling Lake Geneva.
Besides being the headquarters for Europe’s United Nations and the Red Cross, the city is a banking hub.
8. Copenhagen City
This northern, water-bound city was given a score of 97 on the 2021 cost-of-living report.
And while the cost of food and housing may be high in Copenhagen, the city is filled with citizens who are more apt to hop on their bikes than jump in their car, which you would assume would make petrol and transport prices slightly more doable.
9. Los Angeles
The cost of living may be high in this sprawling Southern California city, but for many beach lovers and aspiring actors, there’s no better place to be. Los Angeles came in at number nine, with a score of 96 — just four points below NYC.
10. Osaka
You might assume Tokyo would top Osaka for the cost of living, but according to the numbers, this Japanese city, which has a cost-of-living rating of 94, is a bit pricier than the country’s capital.
The cost of many goods and services may be sky-high in Osaka, but budget-conscious individuals can still nosh on the city’s iconic and fairly affordable street food.
CSN Team.
