Living and Housing Costs Data for Ex-Pats

Have any clients who are considering moving to another country?

Take a look at Mercer’s 20 Year Highlights on Cost of Living Data around the world. This data looks at comparisons in cost of living increases and decreases from 1998-2018.  Of course, housing and living costs correlate.

Make sure to read each chart. Despite percentages, each city/country has different financial starting points, currencies and valuations. The value/worth of a dollar in Cairo is very different than the value/worth of a dollar in Paris.

Cities with Largest Cost of Living Decreases

Cairo                                                                                 -45%

Moscow                                                                            -37%

Beijing                                                                              -34%

Warsaw                                                                            -33%

Tokyo                                                                               -26%

Hong Kong                                                                       -25%

Sao Paolo                                                                         -22%

London                                                                             -18%

Paris                                                                                  -15%

Dubai                                                                                -2%

Cities with Largest Cost of Living Increases

Kinshasa, Dominican Republic of Congo                                +55%

Bangkok, Thailand                                                               +34%

Dublin                                                                                 +15%

Seoul, South Korea                                                               +15%

Sydney, Australia                                                                  +14%

Vancouver, Canada                                                                 +8%

Amsterdam                                                                            +8%

San Francisco                                                                         +6%

Prague                                                                                   +4%

The rankings below demonstrate how currency fluctuations and shifts in consumer goods and services affect the purchasing power of ex-pat workers. Mercer’s rankings are based upon

• the internal basket of consumer goods and services
• distinct cost of living indices in each location
• the costs of housing and education
• business travel expenses

With Mercer’s assumption that ex-pats work in their ”new home” outside of the US, here are the most and least expensive places for ex-pats to live.

Most Expensive for Ex-Pats

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

Least Expensive for Ex-Pats

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