Last updated September 18, 2024
The essential aspect of choosing where to live or travel often revolves around the cost of living. This encompasses the prices for goods and services, housing, food, transportation, utilities, and other daily essentials that form our lifestyle. Highlighting the status of this factor globally can provide valuable insights, allowing individuals, families, and businesses to make informed decisions. Yearly, numerous global indices measure the cost of living across the world, offering a comparative analysis. These statistics remarkably indicate that some of the world's most expensive countries are not always the ones with the highest income, suggesting a compelling disconnect between the cost of living and wage growth. Key findings from the data include:
Leading our list of the most expensive countries to live in is Monaco, which comes in with an astounding average cost of living of $3,743 per month. Known for its high-end lifestyle, luxury leisure activities and significant proportion of high-net-worth individuals, it comes as no surprise that Monaco tops the list. The Cayman Islands, a renowned offshore financial haven, holds the second spot with an average monthly cost of living of $2,844. This affluent Caribbean island nation attracts high-income earners due to its tax benefits, but at the cost of a high expense of living. Making its mark at third place is Switzerland, one of Europe's wealthiest nations. With an average monthly cost of $2,497, Swiss residents enjoy a high standard of living amidst breathtaking landscapes but at a steep price. Ireland, known for its strong economy and vibrant cities, comes in fourth with an average living cost of $2,316 per month. Situated at fifth place is Liechtenstein, a charming landlocked microstate in Central Europe with an average monthly living expense of $2,306. Iceland follows at sixth place with a cost of $2,207 per month, attributed to its high standards of healthcare, education and a well-functioning welfare system. The city-state of Singapore, famous for its impressive skyline and clean streets, incurs an average living cost of $2,169 per month and sits at seventh place. Luxembourg places eighth with an average cost of living of $2,163 per month, owing much to its affluent population and high GDP per capita. Following close behind is Norway, a country known for its comprehensive welfare system, occupying the ninth position with an average monthly cost of $2,074. Finally, completing our list is the United States. With a wide range of economic indicators contributing to its high cost of living, the USA sees a monthly average cost of $1,951.
10 Most Expensive Countries to Live In:
Ranked in World
#193
Ranked in World
#140
Ranked in World
#187
Ranked in World
#41
Ranked in World
#80
Ranked in World
#30
Ranked in World
#180
Ranked in World
#147
Ranked in World
#11
Ranked in World
#22
Ranked in World
#177
Ranked in World
#20
Ranked in World
#47
Ranked in World
#173
Ranked in World
#40
Ranked in World
#179
Ranked in World
#29
Ranked in World
#81
Ranked in World
#110
Ranked in World
#153
Ranked in World
#107
Ranked in World
#146
Ranked in World
#127
Ranked in World
#144
Ranked in World
#50
Ranked in World
#131
Ranked in World
#99
Ranked in World
#155
Ranked in World
#120
Ranked in World
#121
Ranked in World
#21
Ranked in World
#100
Ranked in World
#2
Ranked in World
#166
Ranked in World
#165
Ranked in World
#79
Ranked in World
#106
Ranked in World
#152
Ranked in World
#148
Ranked in World
#91
Ranked in World
#67
Ranked in World
#84
Ranked in World
#43
Ranked in World
#38
Ranked in World
#63
Ranked in World
#108
Ranked in World
#14
Ranked in World
#161
Ranked in World
#90
Ranked in World
#114
Ranked in World
#105
Ranked in World
#183
Ranked in World
#96
Ranked in World
#44
Ranked in World
#167
Ranked in World
#59
Ranked in World
#116
Ranked in World
#151
Ranked in World
#102
Ranked in World
#25
Ranked in World
#26
Ranked in World
#149
Ranked in World
#174
Ranked in World
#168
Ranked in World
#32
Ranked in World
#118
Ranked in World
#65
Ranked in World
#54
Ranked in World
#89
Ranked in World
#86
Ranked in World
#113
Ranked in World
#98
Ranked in World
#170
Ranked in World
#103
Ranked in World
#95
Ranked in World
#6
Ranked in World
#191
Ranked in World
#160
Ranked in World
#125
Ranked in World
#117
Ranked in World
#4
Ranked in World
#18
Ranked in World
#35
Ranked in World
#64
Ranked in World
#94
Ranked in World
#34
Ranked in World
#92
Ranked in World
#181
Ranked in World
#130
Ranked in World
#178
Ranked in World
#36
Ranked in World
#188
Ranked in World
#82
Ranked in World
#73
Ranked in World
#33
Ranked in World
#119
Ranked in World
#163
Ranked in World
#156
Ranked in World
#5
Ranked in World
#87
Ranked in World
#8
Ranked in World
#158
Ranked in World
#126
Ranked in World
#132
Ranked in World
#37
Ranked in World
#154
Ranked in World
#27
Ranked in World
#31
Ranked in World
#101
Ranked in World
#134
Ranked in World
#122
Ranked in World
#169
Ranked in World
#1
Ranked in World
#143
Ranked in World
#111
Ranked in World
#135
Ranked in World
#66
Ranked in World
#88
Ranked in World
#77
Ranked in World
#150
Ranked in World
#185
Ranked in World
#17
Ranked in World
#16
Ranked in World
#138
Ranked in World
#72
Ranked in World
#78
Ranked in World
#24
Ranked in World
#159
Ranked in World
#9
Ranked in World
#57
Ranked in World
#192
Ranked in World
#60
Ranked in World
#74
Ranked in World
#56
Ranked in World
#171
Ranked in World
#162
Ranked in World
#139
Ranked in World
#145
Ranked in World
#83
Ranked in World
#61
Ranked in World
#13
Ranked in World
#133
Ranked in World
#129
Ranked in World
#137
Ranked in World
#51
Ranked in World
#49
Ranked in World
#55
Ranked in World
#46
Ranked in World
#85
Ranked in World
#71
Ranked in World
#52
Ranked in World
#115
Ranked in World
#19
Ranked in World
#109
Ranked in World
#7
Ranked in World
#68
Ranked in World
#45
Ranked in World
#42
Ranked in World
#97
Ranked in World
#70
Ranked in World
#48
Ranked in World
#175
Ranked in World
#39
Ranked in World
#189
Ranked in World
#176
Ranked in World
#112
Ranked in World
#28
Ranked in World
#3
Ranked in World
#186
Ranked in World
#58
Ranked in World
#182
Ranked in World
#104
Ranked in World
#93
Ranked in World
#124
Ranked in World
#62
Ranked in World
#69
Ranked in World
#190
Ranked in World
#184
Ranked in World
#53
Ranked in World
#141
Ranked in World
#142
Ranked in World
#164
Ranked in World
#23
Ranked in World
#12
Ranked in World
#10
Ranked in World
#76
Ranked in World
#172
Ranked in World
#15
Ranked in World
#128
Ranked in World
#136
Ranked in World
#157
Ranked in World
#123
Ranked in World
#75
Region ↕ | Cost Of Living (Most Expensive)↕ |
---|---|
$354 | |
$608 | |
$431 | |
$1,232 | |
$896 | |
$1,465 | |
$494 | |
$592 | |
$1,944 | |
$1,617 | |
$513 | |
$1,715 | |
$1,165 | |
$521 | |
$1,258 | |
$504 | |
$1,495 | |
$889 | |
$731 | |
$569 | |
$750 | |
$599 | |
$666 | |
$601 | |
$1,152 | |
$654 | |
$799 | |
$560 | |
$692 | |
$688 | |
$1,701 | |
$797 | |
$2,844 | |
$538 | |
$540 | |
$905 | |
$752 | |
$574 | |
$589 | |
$852 | |
$1,001 | |
$880 | |
$1,222 | |
$1,266 | |
$1,014 | |
$748 | |
$1,837 | |
$548 | |
$856 | |
$711 | |
$756 | |
$449 | |
$816 | |
$1,185 | |
$538 | |
$1,040 | |
$711 | |
$574 | |
$773 | |
$1,536 | |
$1,519 | |
$587 | |
$520 | |
$538 | |
$1,414 | |
$701 | |
$1,008 | |
$1,128 | |
$857 | |
$877 | |
$712 | |
$803 | |
$531 | |
$765 | |
$817 | |
$2,207 | |
$423 | |
$548 | |
$668 | |
$710 | |
$2,316 | |
$1,774 | |
$1,359 | |
$1,010 | |
$829 | |
$1,370 | |
$850 | |
$468 | |
$654 | |
$511 | |
$1,326 | |
$430 | |
$888 | |
$938 | |
$1,411 | |
$694 | |
$544 | |
$560 | |
$2,306 | |
$869 | |
$2,163 | |
$555 | |
$666 | |
$652 | |
$1,288 | |
$560 | |
$1,519 | |
$1,464 | |
$781 | |
$651 | |
$678 | |
$537 | |
$3,743 | |
$603 | |
$720 | |
$644 | |
$1,006 | |
$864 | |
$921 | |
![]() | $584 |
$439 | |
$1,778 | |
$1,782 | |
$633 | |
$950 | |
$916 | |
$1,540 | |
$553 | |
$2,074 | |
$1,086 | |
$370 | |
$1,040 | |
$937 | |
$1,092 | |
$530 | |
$546 | |
$630 | |
$601 | |
$882 | |
$1,038 | |
$1,856 | |
$652 | |
$656 | |
$633 | |
$1,145 | |
$1,153 | |
$1,109 | |
$1,168 | |
$880 | |
$952 | |
$1,144 | |
$711 | |
$1,725 | |
$745 | |
$2,169 | |
$990 | |
$1,175 | |
$1,222 | |
$811 | |
$974 | |
$1,154 | |
$519 | |
$1,260 | |
$428 | |
$517 | |
$714 | |
$1,515 | |
$2,497 | |
$435 | |
$1,057 | |
$450 | |
$760 | |
$831 | |
$669 | |
$1,035 | |
$979 | |
$424 | |
$447 | |
$1,141 | |
$608 | |
$604 | |
$542 | |
$1,576 | |
$1,929 | |
$1,951 | |
$929 | |
$529 | |
$1,829 | |
$657 | |
$639 | |
$559 | |
$676 | |
$935 |