The Most Expensive Places To Live
Each year, Mercer Consulting assembles its ranking of the most expensive places to live. Mercer compiles information from 143 cities worldwide, comparing the cost of more than 200 items in each location including housing, transportation, food, entertainment and more.
This year’s rankings saw a significant reshuffling from 2008, due largely in part to currency fluctuations and the strengthening of the US dollar, which Mercer uses as the benchmark for comparing costs.
This year’s Cost of Living Survey found that European metro areas experienced the biggest drop in cost of living, with Warsaw falling from 35th in 2008 to 113th in 2009. Meanwhile, places like New York and Beijing entered the top 10, jumping from 20 and 22 respectively in 2008.
So, what cities make up the world’s most expensive places to live? Click ahead to find out!
By Paul ToscanoPosted 7 July 2009
15. Caracas, Venezuela
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $2,700
Cup of Coffee: $5.59
One Liter Gasoline: $0.05
Daily International Newspaper: $1.63
Fast Food Meal: $10.01
2008 Rank: 89
14. Oslo, Norway
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $2,040
Cup of Coffee: $4.66
One Liter Gasoline: $1.49
Daily International Newspaper: $3.64
Fast Food Meal: $11.18
2008 Rank: 4
13. Paris, France
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $2,819
Cup of Coffee: $5.89
One Liter Gasoline: $1.52
Daily International Newspaper: $3.20
Fast Food Meal: $7.43
2008 Rank: 12
12. Shanghai, China
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $2,925
Cup of Coffee: $7.02
One Liter Gasoline: $0.70
Daily International Newspaper: $4.53
Fast Food Meal: $3.29
2008 Rank: 24
11. Milan, Italy
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $2,562
Cup of Coffee: $4.10
One Liter Gasoline: $1.45
Daily International Newspaper: $3.20
Fast Food Meal: $7.30
2008 Rank: 10
10. Singapore
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $2,111
Cup of Coffee: $4.29
One Liter Gasoline: $1.04
Daily International Newspaper: $2.64
Fast Food Meal: $4.45
2008 Rank: 13
9. Beijing, China
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $3,656
Cup of Coffee: $6.58
One Liter Gasoline: $0.78
Daily International Newspaper: $4.83
Fast Food Meal: $3.44
2008 Rank: 20
8. New York City, USA
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $4,300
Cup of Coffee: $4.40
One Liter Gasoline: $0.67
Daily International Newspaper: $2.50
Fast Food Meal: $5.99
2008 Rank: 22
7. Copenhagen, Denmark
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $2,921
Cup of Coffee: $5.50
One Liter Gasoline: $1.59
Daily International Newspaper: $4.30
Fast Food Meal: $9.28
2008 Rank: 7
6. Zurich, Switzerland
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $2,579
Cup of Coffee: $4.73
One Liter Gasoline: $1.20
Daily International Newspaper: $3.44
Fast Food Meal: $11.09
2008 Rank: 9
5. Hong Kong
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $4,513
Cup of Coffee: $5.16
One Liter Gasoline: $1.68
Daily International Newspaper: $3.48
Fast Food Meal: $3.35
2008 Rank: 6
4. Geneva, Switzerland
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $3,439
Cup of Coffee: $4.73
One Liter Gasoline: $1.20
Daily International Newspaper: $3.44
Fast Food Meal: $10.23
2008 Rank: 8
3. Moscow, Russia
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $5,000
Cup of Coffee: $7.00
One Liter Gasoline: $0.58
Daily International Newspaper: $7.67
Fast Food Meal: $3.95
2008 Rank: 1
2. Osaka, Japan
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $2,383
Cup of Coffee: $5.96
One Liter Gasoline: $1.18
Daily International Newspaper: $1.95
Fast Food Meal: $6.93
2008 Rank: 11
1. Tokyo, Japan
Monthly Rent, Luxury 2BR: $5,417
Cup of Coffee: $6.50
One Liter Gasoline: $1.21
Daily International Newspaper: $1.95
Fast Food Meal: $7.04
2008 Rank: 2