If in the near future you are going to move to another city or another country, then you know that in some places life is much more expensive than in others. No doubt the price you pay for housing in one of the most beautiful and promising cities in the world, where you can find a huge number of attractions, restaurants and entertainment for every taste, will be great. Since everything has its price, you have to pay for a beautiful life, and a lot of money.
There are many beautiful and attractive cities in the world that beckon to you, and everything will depend on where you decide to live, because in some of them life is not cheap. Here you will find 15 cities that can cost a decent amount of money to live, and only you can decide whether the move is worth the money or is it better to stay in your usual place. Each of them in its own way attracts crowds of tourists and creates an unforgettable experience about itself, so life in them is very diverse. You might be interested in the article 15 cities with the richest inhabitants.
15. Sydney, Australia
Sydney is an incredible city with a lot to offer. However, when you see the price for living in this city, most likely you are just changing your mind. The exchange rate here is USD / AUD = 1.30 (RUB / AUD = 0.02). The price of small expenses is increasing at a high rate, for example, fast food starts from $ 10 in fast food places, to $ 15 in drinks in business districts. For some of us who live on instant noodles and prayers for a good future, $ 15 a meal is pretty steep.
As for housing, some are not even ready to hear such prices. The average rent for Australian luxury housing in Sydney is in excess of $ 3,000, regardless of location. The difference between the more expensive and cheaper areas is around AU $ 500, which is not much money considering all the costs to come. Of course, studios and small apartments will cost less, but not by much.
Travel costs will hit your wallet hard too, and this is another problematic side of the move to consider. Sure, you get the magnificent and spectacular Sydney Opera House and many other attractions that make this city beautiful and attractive, but you will have to pay the appropriate price for that. Check out the article 10 most beautiful landmarks in the world.
14. Tokyo, Japan
Many will be surprised to see Tokyo in 14th place, because here you can find and do a lot of things, and everyone also knows that many goods from this country are exported. Japan is the homeland Nintendo, not to mention many other high-tech companies, for example, Toyota. We owe a lot to Japan, so it's surprising that the capital doesn't rank in the top five most expensive cities. Life in Tokyo is not as expensive as many people think, but the prices are still very few people can afford.
At the beginning, when you see the numbers, it becomes a little uncomfortable, but remembering the difference in exchange rates, you become calmer, because for the yen it is USD / JPY = 101.96 (RUB / JPY = 1.56). This means that the yen is worth a fraction of the dollar. Sure, 979 yen sounds like a ridiculous and intimidating amount of money for lunch in a good part of town, but it's about $ 9, which is cheaper than other places on this list.
Sydney, for example, is listed below, but food is slightly more expensive. In general, the numbers create the illusion that anyone can live in this city, but this, in fact, is not the case. On the price tags, you can find large and long prices, which often turn out to be not so huge when calculated according to the exchange rates, but still the city remains expensive in its own way. For most of us, getting to Tokyo and settling there will be the biggest challenge.
13. Singapore, Republic of Singapore
Prices in Singapore are a lot like Prices in Japan, some are not as daunting as others on this list, but it is ranked 13th for a reason. After comparing the exchange rate, which is USD / SGD = 1.34 (RUB / SGD = 0.02), it turned out that not everything has sky-high prices. A good lunch costs about $ 9, a carriage of eggs is about $ 3, and the average rent doesn't go above $ 3,000, which isn't too bad. However, this and other things can quickly use up your entire budget.
A pair of jeans costs $ 84 here, and a brand new car for about $ 100,000, which is completely unacceptable for most people. Fortunately, gasoline is not that expensive, but it is still difficult to imagine how much it will cost to maintain such a car, of course, you can always just leave it in the garage.
12. Oslo, Kingdom of Norway
Norway is another country with a very interesting exchange rate, which is USD / NOK = 8.24 (RUB / NOK = 0.13). This means that the Norwegian krone is worth about 10% of the dollar. However, unlike Tokyo, even after the transformation, prices remain quite high for many. For example, a good lunch in Oslo will cost you about 197 CZK. Of course, compared to the yen, this does not look so scary, but still you shouldn't be happy.
However, when you convert that amount into dollars, you will find that a good dinner in Oslo costs $ 23. Some people wouldn't pay that much for a dinner in a fancy restaurant, so it's hard to imagine how they would agree to pay that much for a simple meal. fast food is more expensive than in previous countries, and even eggs are not too cheap. The rent in Oslo is not that scary, but you will want your hair to grow for a long time, because the men's haircut will cost $ 57. A gym membership costs about the same, which is a bit surprising. Oslo's hairstyles and season tickets are probably equally unique. Who knows?
11. Bern, Swiss Confederation
Bern is the first of many Swiss cities on this list, but just because it comes in at only 11 doesn't mean it's not wildly expensive in its own way. A good lunch can be inexpensive, although the groceries can cost a pretty penny. Eggs usually sell for $ 6, and a doctor's appointment, which takes about 15 minutes, costs $ 107. Jeans are three dollars more expensive than consulting an experienced doctor. Such a cost of goods and services is surprising, because it is unlikely that jeans can really cost more than their own health, but it is unlikely that you will be able to understand this.
In Bern, not all things and groceries turn out to be expensive, but if you add up all the money that will have to be spent on moving and living, you get a tidy sum that can be a little shocking, so it's worth planning your expenses.
10. Lausanne, Swiss Confederation
Another city in Switzerland, Lausanne, starts the top 10, where things certainly don't come cheap to anyone. The exchange rate in Switzerland is slightly different from the countries mentioned earlier, because here it is USD / CHF = 0.98 (RUB / CHF = 0.2). This means that $ 1 is slightly less than the Swiss franc.
However, spending less dollars doesn't make this city cheap to live in. In Lausanne, chicken breast costs $ 11, and a carriage of 12 eggs costs about $ 6. Business shoes cost $ 176, while jeans cost about $ 103. As for toilet paper, you will have to pay $ 5 for 4 rolls, and a subscription to a good gym will cost $ 100. Home rentals are generally under $ 3000, but it all depends on who you are. Usually, if tenants are trying to bring down the price, then this is considered unheard of and is unlikely to meet you halfway.
9. Basel, Swiss Confederation
Basel is another incredibly expensive city in Switzerland. In my opinion, it is worth thinking about what the standard of living is at the moment in this country, since so many of its cities have already entered this list and in secret, there will be several more.
A carriage of eggs here costs $ 7, while leather business shoes cost very little, under $ 200. One cocktail can be purchased for $ 16, and for antibiotics, 12 tablets will cost a little less than $ 40. Oddly enough, renting in Basel is not that expensive compared to other cities on this list, the same goes for public transport.
However, it quickly becomes clear that the cost of living here is high. Of course, you don't have to worry about getting around the city by bus, but in order to make yourself an omelet in the morning, you will have to give enough money from your wallet.
8. Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
Let's take a break from Switzerland and turn our eyes to Asia. Hong Kong is a huge and expensive city. One Hong Kong dollar is 10% of USD / HKD = 7.76 (RUB / HKD = 0.12), but even so, many prices remain sky-high. A good lunch or Big Mac, of course, is relatively cheap, and prepaid minutes for calls will cost only 6 cents, but real estate prices can be called simply astronomical. An apartment with furniture will cost about $ 5000 per month. How hard it is to imagine that you will have to give so much every month, while this does not include the rest of the costs. It is even unthinkable for some to imagine such a sum in their hands.
7. London, UK
London is a city where many people dream of living. This is because there you can find theaters, a variety of attractions and much, much more that boggles the imagination of anyone. However, prices have magical properties to stop many dreamers, but some are ready to revise their budget for the sake of a cherished dream.
Compared to the previous city, rent is cheaper, taking into account the exchange rate USD / GBP = 0.77 (RUB / GBP = 0.1). The price of renting a studio apartment is quite acceptable, as are the prices for the Internet and household appliances. However, the costs of small expenses are usually expensive, so if you want to move to London you need to be very careful about your budget.
6. Washington, United States of America
Washington is the capital of the United States with a rich history and expensive living conditions. The rent is not too high, which cannot be said about the prices of entertainment. Two theater tickets are $ 250, a pretty high price tag even though it's not even Broadway. Moreover, public transportation is considered the most expensive in all of North America. This will definitely become a big problem if you don't urgently buy a private car. Hairdresser services for men will also cost a pretty penny, not to mention women's haircuts and dyes.
As for the politics of this city, it is very strange, since Washington is a territory of direct federal subordination and in fact is not subordinate to any state, and therefore it is difficult to understand what laws reign in this city, such a moment can also affect the decision when moving.
5. New York, United States of America
New York can be called an insanely expensive city. The rent is very high there, so not only visitors, but also local residents, who have lived in this city all their lives, can say so. Much depends on the area, for example, prices in Manhattan and Brooklyn differ from prices in Quincy and the Bronx, but whatever the difference, almost all of them are considered astronomically expensive.
In addition to sky-high housing costs, you will have to spend money on many other things. Here are some of the most expensive theater tickets in comparison with the rest of the world, it's hard to imagine how much you need to pay for premieres. As for transportation, in New York the postal service deals with this, the list of services here is also not cheap.
At the same time, sometimes something strange can happen in the postal service.: the service can be unpredictable, tariffs rise in minutes, and prices rise significantly. Before moving here, you should reconsider all your financial capabilities and options.
4. San Francisco, United States of America
It will come as a surprise to many that San Francisco is more expensive than New York, but it is. This magnificent city with interesting culture looks like an amazing and inviting place to live, but when it comes to real estate, you can hardly find many cities where prices are higher. San Francisco is the leading city in apartment prices and can compete with many in the global market.
Just like in New York, in this city you need to spend a tidy sum of money to go to the theater. Although tickets here are still a little cheaper, so this city takes 3rd place in terms of their cost. A regular lunch can cost $ 16, so you should strictly control your expenses so as not to run out of money in the first months.
3. Geneva, Swiss Confederation
So it's time to leave the United States and return to Switzerland. Geneva is the second most densely populated city in the country; to someone it may remind Ancient Greece, in the interpretation of our time. Geneva is rightfully considered a magnificent city, and Switzerland, in turn, is a magnificent country.
The city is one of the three most expensive cities in the world and there is a reason for this.: Geneva has the 3rd highest quality of life worldwide. A good standard of living comes at a price, and this mainly affects the wallet of the people living here. Lunch in the business district costs $ 25, one of the highest prices in the world for a full meal. A visit to the doctor can also be very expensive. You may not have a problem finding accommodation at an affordable price, but owning a property in Geneva and living in it are two completely different things. But spending is worth living in a city like this.
2. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Grand Cayman is not a city, it is one of the three largest Cayman Islands and is the capital of a city like Georgetown. Not surprisingly, this island came in second on the list, as 43 of the 50 largest banks in the entire world are gathered here, and offshore banking is very important here. Nevertheless, it is no longer surprising that living in British territory costs a lot of money, but how expensive it is you will only see when you decide to move. Some waste may be less than you think, but more likely something will also be more expensive than you might imagine, this happens completely unexpectedly and in a random order.
What about real estate? The rent is not that high, but utilities are more expensive here than elsewhere in the world, and that really says a lot. So you need to be prepared for electricity and water bills, it is unlikely that you will ever see such amounts in your receipts in your city. Of the things, as strange as it sounds, they have the highest price: potatoes, dresses and dinner for two. In addition, for 1 kilogram of apples you will need to pay $ 7, such a price is unthinkable in many countries.
1. Zurich, Swiss Confederation
So, finally, the first place on the list, and it is occupied by another Swiss city - Zurich. Of course, this is no longer surprising after so many cities that have been described above, but in any case, Switzerland must be given its due. Zurich is the capital of a country with a history that is at least two thousand years old. This city has more history than many others on our list. Nevertheless, as in any old capital, life here is not cheap, and what Zurich is the first of all really says about uniqueness, comfort, security and that this country is worth living.
On the one hand, if you translate the cost of lunch into dollars, you get $ 30 for a good meal in a business district. The same is the price for a moderate dinner in a chain restaurant in any of the cities on the list. This price is comparable to appetizers and first courses at McDonald's for two Americans. Perhaps this is worth thinking a little about. Dinner on average can be around $ 80, and going to the cinema is far from cheap, prices are higher here, even including 3D and IMAX.Of course, this city is worth at least to visit, but if finances still allow, then life in Zurich is a dream.
Of course, every person has their own dream city, but if the choice fell on any of this list, then you should think about whether such prices are right for you, whether you are ready to pay such rent, and also whether you can afford it every day. spend at least $ 10 for lunch only.
Now you know what the prices are for living in the most expensive and incredible cities in the world. If the desire to change the city or country has not disappeared anywhere, and finances calmly allow you to take such a step, then you can safely move. But, if you change your mind by the end of this article, then it's just worth visiting each of these cities to see how other people live in them, to understand the pace of life and enjoy the sights.
We recommend watching:
An overview of the 10 most expensive cities to live in. The author compares the cost of living in cities for a family of three, excluding housing. The video shows beautiful panoramas and provides facts about the 10 most expensive cities.
