Which are the world’s most expensive cities? The cities included on this interactive map are from a 2009 study by the UBS, which tracked the ups and downs of various places in the wake of the financial crisis. Many cities have changed ranks, with some cities become more, and others becoming less expensive. Currency devaluations played a a major role in the change of rankings, specifically in regards to emerging market cities. High inflation rates also were a factor, especially in areas such as Caracas, Venezuela (30% per year, for the last three years) When a cursor is placed over each highlighted city, an information window will pop up, showing whether it has become more or less expensive to live in this city than it was last year, as well as last year’s rankings for that city.
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18 Comments so far
leave a commentNice – but I think that maybe Munich is a little further southwest than that
Interesting…what happened to Japan? I think Tokyo is pretty expensive.
I wonder why San Francisco wasn’t listed on the map? I definitely think it is more expensive to live there than Chicago.
Is it just me, or is Moscow, Russia not on there?
Since when Lyon is in the the south western part of France and Munich east of Berlin? Overall, the cities locations on the map are very inaccurate.
The city locations are very inaccurate, indeed. In Brazil, Sao Paulo is about 1 thousand kilometers misplaced. It should be southerner than Rio.
since when is Bangkok expenive to live in? Or is this calculated based on local salaries?
Currently in Lyon (#18). Heading to Geneva (#4) on Tuesday. Stopping in Munich (#11) on Thursday.
Luanda, Angola should definitely be on the list. It is actually more expensive than majority of the top 10..
Definitely a cool map… This is a nice way to quickly see the variances of geographic areas compared. I would imagine the competition is really high which is why the list would have to include even more cities in order get a more relative perspective to areas which I am more familiar with.
I strongly disagree with the ratings. Forbes has their own list of expensive cities and Moscow / Tokyo have been in top 3 for several years and Moscow is not even mentioned. Bratislava is more expensive than Moscow, who are you kidding!!!
Moscow, Russia is the most expensive city in the world!
Your picture of LA looks like Denver Colorado. I never noticed the snowy mountains of LA.
Osaka is, where is Osaka it’s been ranked the 2nd most expensive city for the past two years :S It should be mentioned at least. I’ve recently (this year) been to Osaka and Moscow for a reaserch and hypothetically speaking Osaka still is more expensive vis-à-vis with Moscow. Moscow definitely should be among top 3 and I presume Tokyo still is the most expensive CITY (I must reiterate that it’s the most expensive CITY. People assume we think Japan is the most expensive country when we claim that Tokyo is the most expensive city. But then again, I’ve dwelled in
almost every country in Europe and Asia and in my opinion Japan really is the most expensive country, in global terms). Copenhagen in 3rd and Geneva in 4th? Don’t make me laugh…
Oh Get rational! This is nothing but crap. Hahaha the cities locations alone proves the quailty of this map. Moscow isn’t even there (How indefensible is that? ) O.O Brussels more expensive than Hong Kong? think again. And Oslo in #1 and Tokyo in #5 ? fuck that shit =D Not a big deal but Gods mercy to whoever came up with such subjective conclusions.
Oh Get rational! This is nothing but crap. Hahaha the cities locations alone proves the quailty of this map. Zurich, Copenhagen and Genevabut more expensive than Moscow? Don’t make me laugh and so to speak Moscow isn’t even there :S (Now how indefensible is that? ) O.O And yeah! Where the heck is Osaka?. It’s been ranked the 2nd most expensive city for the past two years :S It too should be mentioned at least. I’ve recently (this year) been to Osaka and Moscow for a reaserch and hypothetically speaking Osaka still is more expensive vis-à-vis with Moscow. Moscow definitely should be among top 3 and I presume Tokyo still is the most expensive CITY (I must reiterate that it’s the most expensive CITY. People assume we think Japan is the most expensive country when we claim that Tokyo is the most expensive city but then again, I’ve dwelled in almost every country in Europe and Asia and in my opinion Japan really is the most expensive country, in global terms). Brussels more expensive than Hong Kong? think again. And Oslo in #1 and Tokyo in #5 ? fuck that shit =D Not a big deal but Gods mercy to whoever came up with such subjective conclusions.
This list doesn’t make much sense. I noticed right away that San Francisco and Honolulu are both missing from the list. After NYC, those are the next two most expensive US cities. Oh, and I agree with some of the others here … where is Moscow?
I would have thought Moscow would have been in the top 5.