Asia tops list of world’s 10 most expensive cities for expats in 2018
Are you surprised?
Ever wondered how expensive being an expat can be in some cities? Here’s a clue: in a newly released 2018 survey by Mercer, the world’s most expensive cities have been revealed. And according to the survey, Asian cities are fast becoming the most costly destinations for expats.
At the top of the list is Hong Kong, which also topped the list in 2016. This comes as no surprise, considering how a recent article on CNN revealed that a single parking space in the city can cost residents a whooping SGD760,000.
Singapore came in at #4, with Tokyo and Seoul at #2 and #5 on the list respectively, meaning that Asian cities are officially now the top 5 most expensive cities for expats. Out of the top 10 cities ranked by Mercer, there were 7 of them were in Asia; Shanghai at seven, and Beijing at nine.
On the other end of the spectrum, the most affordable for cities for expats include Karachi, Managua, Minsk, and Tbilisi.
The 10 most expensive cities for expats revealed
- Hong Kong (China)
- Tokyo (Japan)
- Zurich (Germany)
- Singapore
- Seoul (South Korea)
- Luanda (Angola)
- Shanghai (China)
- Ndjamena (Chad)
- Beijing (China)
- Bern (Switzerland)
The annual Cost of Living survey by Mercer considers and compares the cost of more than 200 items in 209 cities across five continents. These include housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment, among others.
So if a relocation is on the horizon for you, it’s a list worth taking note of – and renegotiating your expat package deal, if need be.
Sarah Khan
Photo: Unsplash
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