Damascus in Syria was ranked as the least expensive city worldwide in 2023, with an index score of ** out of 100. The country has been marred by civil war over the last decade, hitting the country's economy hard. Other cities in the Middle East and North Africa, such as Tehran, Tripoli, and Tunis, are also present on the list. On the other hand, Singapore and Zurich were ranked the most expensive cities in the world.

Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, ranked as the most expensive city to live in Africa as of 2024, considering consumer goods prices. The Ethiopian capital obtained an index score of 46.7, followed by Harare, in Zimbabwe, with 37.4. Morocco and South Africa were the countries with the most representatives among the 15 cities with the highest cost of living in Africa.

Cities in the United States dominate the list of cities with the highest rents worldwide. New York was ranked as the most expensive city to rent in, ahead of Singapore, with an index score of ***. Hamilton in Canada followed in third.

Of the cities who have experienced cost of living increases, the top three are located in Latin America, two in Mexico and one in Costa Rica. Each moved 38, 39, and 48 spots in the ranking respectively since 2022. Due to increases in interest rates, the Mexican peso and Costa Rican colón have both appreciated against the U.S. Dollar. Comparatively, Singapore and Zurich were ranked the most expensive cities in the world.

Geneva, Switzerland, was the most expensive city to buy an apartment in Europe in the first quarter of 2024. The square meter price in Geneva was nearly 15,650 euros in that quarter, about 2,000 euros higher than the second city in the ranking, Zurich. Cost of rent Rents across the major cities in Europe increased significantly in 2023. One of the main factors driving high rents across European cities is the same as any other consumer-driven business. If demand outweighs supply, prices will inflate. The drive for high paid professionals to be located centrally in prime locations, mixed with the low levels of available space, high land, and construction costs, all help keep rental prices increasing. Mortgage rates The average mortgage interest rates across Europe in 2023 were all under five percent, except in Czechia, Romania, Hungary, and Poland. On an individual level, a difference of one percent would most likely mean thousands of euros in interest on the mortgage a person is paying, making timing key in house purchasing. Mortgage interest rates tend to be lower in Nordic countries due to the financial stability and reliability of its borrowers. Other factors that influence the mortgage interest rates include inflation, economic growth, monetary policies, the bond market and the overall conditions of the housing market. More stable markets also tend to have higher average prices.

In 2024, the annual rent of a retail space in Upper 5th Avenue (49th to 60th Sts) in New York amounted to 2,000 U.S. dollars per square foot, making it the second-most expensive high street worldwide. Via Montenapoleone in Milan ranked top, with prime rents amounting to 2,047 U.S. dollars.

As of September 2024, Mumbai had the highest cost of living among other cities in the country, with an index value of 26.5. Gurgaon, a satellite city of Delhi and part of the National Capital Region (NCR) followed it with an index value of 25.1.  What is cost of living? The cost of living varies depending on geographical regions and factors that affect the cost of living in an area include housing, food, utilities, clothing, childcare, and fuel among others. The cost of living is calculated based on different measures such as the consumer price index (CPI), living cost indexes, and wage price index. CPI refers to the change in the value of consumer goods and services. The wage price index, on the other hand, measures the change in labor services prices due to market pressures. Lastly, the living cost indexes calculate the impact of changing costs on different households. The relationship between wages and costs determines affordability and shifts in the cost of living. Mumbai tops the list Mumbai usually tops the list of most expensive cities in India. As the financial and entertainment hub of the country, Mumbai offers wide opportunities and attracts talent from all over the country. It is the second-largest city in India and has one of the most expensive real estates in the world.

Amsterdam is set to maintain its position as Europe's most expensive city for apartment rentals in 2025, with median costs reaching 2,500 euros per month for a furnished one-bedroom unit. This figure is double the rent in Prague and significantly higher than other major European capitals like Paris, Berlin, and Madrid. The stark difference in rental costs across European cities reflects broader economic trends, housing policies, and the complex interplay between supply and demand in urban centers. Factors driving rental costs across Europe The disparity in rental prices across European cities can be attributed to various factors. In countries like Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, a higher proportion of the population lives in rental housing. This trend contributes to increased demand and potentially higher living costs in these nations. Conversely, many Eastern and Southern European countries have homeownership rates exceeding 90 percent, which may help keep rental prices lower in those regions. Housing affordability and market dynamics The relationship between housing prices and rental rates varies significantly across Europe. As of 2024, countries like Turkey, Iceland, Portugal, and Hungary had the highest house price to rent ratio indices. This indicates a widening gap between property values and rental costs since 2015. The affordability of homeownership versus renting differs greatly among European nations, with some countries experiencing rapid increases in property values that outpace rental growth. These market dynamics influence rental costs and contribute to the diverse rental landscape observed across European cities.

Portugal, Canada, and the United States were the countries with the highest house price to income ratio in 2024. In all three countries, the index exceeded 130 index points, while the average for all OECD countries stood at 116.2 index points. The index measures the development of housing affordability and is calculated by dividing nominal house price by nominal disposable income per head, with 2015 set as a base year when the index amounted to 100. An index value of 120, for example, would mean that house price growth has outpaced income growth by 20 percent since 2015. How have house prices worldwide changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? House prices started to rise gradually after the global financial crisis (2007–2008), but this trend accelerated with the pandemic. The countries with advanced economies, which usually have mature housing markets, experienced stronger growth than countries with emerging economies. Real house price growth (accounting for inflation) peaked in 2022 and has since lost some of the gain. Although, many countries experienced a decline in house prices, the global house price index shows that property prices in 2023 were still substantially higher than before COVID-19. Renting vs. buying In the past, house prices have grown faster than rents. However, the home affordability has been declining notably, with a direct impact on rental prices. As people struggle to buy a property of their own, they often turn to rental accommodation. This has resulted in a growing demand for rental apartments and soaring rental prices.

Monaco was the leading city in terms of most expensive luxury real estate worldwide in 2024. One million dollars could only buy 19 square meters of luxury property there. In London, the same amount of money could purchase 34 square meters of luxury real estate. In Tokyo, one million dollars was enough to buy 58 square meters of prime real estate in 2024. Luxury real estate – additional information Real estate is considered one of the best long-term investments, and it certainly is one of the major investments one might make during a lifetime. As far as luxury real estate is concerned, though, only the most affluent individuals or prominent real estate companies can afford to invest in prime properties in the world’s most attractive locations.

New York was one of the cities worldwide with the highest construction costs for high rise offices as of the third quarter of 2023. The average price of building a high rise office in London amounted to over 4,700 U.S. dollars per square meter, while the cost for that same type of building in Johannesburg was 700 U.S. dollars per square meter. The cost of multi-unit high rise buildings were also the most expensive in New York.

In the 2023/24 season, the most expensive season ticket in the English Premier League (EPL) could be found at Fulham, with tickets in the Riverside Stand costing up to three thousand British pounds. By comparison, the most expensive season ticket at Sheffield United cost just 491 British pounds, or around 26 British pounds per game. Meanwhile, West Ham United had the cheapest season tickets in the Premier League in the 2023/24 season.

How many fans attend Premier League games?

The Premier League is one of the most popular football leagues worldwide, with EPL match attendance averaging over 40 thousand in the 2022/23 season. As of January 2024, Manchester United was the Premier League club with the highest average attendance in 2023/24, with crowds of over 73 thousand typically visiting Old Trafford that year. Looking at the average attendance of the Big Five soccer leagues in Europe, the EPL was second only to the Bundesliga in 2022/23.

Are Premier League season tickets becoming more expensive?

With clubs facing rising costs and matchday tickets in high demand, increases in ticket prices can be expected. Price increases were evident at Manchester City, with the cheapest season ticket price for the Cityzens increasing by nearly 7.7 percent between 2019/20 and 2022/23. This trend was also observed with Manchester City’s most expensive season tickets, which increased by just over three percent during the same period.

London's prime high street retail locations commanded the highest rents in Europe, with monthly rates reaching a staggering 2,173 euros per square meter in 2023. This figure dwarfs other major European cities, with Paris coming in second at 1,167 euros per square meter. The stark difference in rental prices highlights the premium placed on prime retail spaces in Europe's financial capital, reflecting the city's status as a global shopping destination. While London boasts the highest retail rents, the UK as a whole remains a significant player in retail real estate investment. In 2023, the UK attracted 6.6 billion euros in retail real estate investment, accounting for approximately a quarter of the total investment in the sector across Europe.

Singapore led the Index of Economic Freedom in 2024, with an index score of 83.5 out of 100. Switzerland, Ireland, Taiwan, and Luxembourg rounded out the top five. Economic Freedom Index In order to calculate the Economic Freedom Index, the source takes 12 different factors into account, including the rule of law, government size, regulatory efficiency, and open markets. All 12 factors are rated on a scale of zero to 100 and are weighted equally. Every country is rated within the Index in order to provide insight into the health and freedom of the global economy. Singapore's economy Singapore is one of the four so-called Asian Tigers, a term used to describe four countries in Asia that saw a booming economic development from the 1950s to the early 1990. Today, the City-State is known for its many skyscrapers, and its economy continue to boom. It has one of the lowest tax-rates in the Asia-Pacific region, and continues to be open towards foreign direct investment (FDI). Moreover, Singapore has one of the highest trade-to-GDP ratios worldwide, underlining its export-oriented economy. Finally, its geographic location has given it a strategic position as a center connecting other countries in the region with the outside world. However, the economic boom has come at a cost, with the city now ranked among the world's most expensive.

At 7.99 U.S. dollars, Switzerland has the most expensive Big Macs in the world, according to the January 2025 Big Mac index. Concurrently, the cost of a Big Mac was 5.79 dollars in the U.S., and 5.95 U.S. dollars in the Euro area. What is the Big Mac index? The Big Mac index, published by The Economist, is a novel way of measuring whether the market exchange rates for different countries’ currencies are overvalued or undervalued. It does this by measuring each currency against a common standard – the Big Mac hamburger sold by McDonald’s restaurants all over the world. Twice a year the Economist converts the average national price of a Big Mac into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at that point in time. As a Big Mac is a completely standardized product across the world, the argument goes that it should have the same relative cost in every country. Differences in the cost of a Big Mac expressed as U.S. dollars therefore reflect differences in the purchasing power of each currency. Is the Big Mac index a good measure of purchasing power parity? Purchasing power parity (PPP) is the idea that items should cost the same in different countries, based on the exchange rate at that time. This relationship does not hold in practice. Factors like tax rates, wage regulations, whether components need to be imported, and the level of market competition all contribute to price variations between countries. The Big Mac index does measure this basic point – that one U.S. dollar can buy more in some countries than others. There are more accurate ways to measure differences in PPP though, which convert a larger range of products into their dollar price. Adjusting for PPP can have a massive effect on how we understand a country’s economy. The country with the largest GDP adjusted for PPP is China, but when looking at the unadjusted GDP of different countries, the U.S. has the largest economy.

In 2023, a square meter of retail space in Venice cost on average 4,301 euros, making it the most expensive city in Italy for retailers. The ranking presented in the graph shows that Milan, the Italian fashion capital, came second, with an average price per square meter of 4,069 euros. When looking at office space, Venice boasted again the highest prices in Italy. In this real estate segment, second in the ranking was Rome, followed by Milan. Residential real estate in Venice Venice is not only the most expensive city in Italy for office and retail spaces, but it also boasts some of the highest prices for residential properties. Residential dwellings on the island can fetch up to 6,000 euros per square meter, with the most expensive areas being the districts San Marco and Rialto. Renting is not very affordable either: a flat in the two districts can cost up to 19 euros per square meter per month, depending on the neighborhood. Why is Venice so expensive? Space in Venice is limited, and the city island became the victim of its own success. Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, the number of overnight stays in Venice had grown twofold since 2003. The unavailability of space for new constructions and the increasing pressure exerted by tourism pushed prices up in all real estate sectors. Due to many tourists visiting from all over the world, it should not come as a surprise that retailers and investors want to seize the chance to own a space in one of the most famous cities in the world.

Berlin was the European city with the most office stock volume in 2022, followed by Paris, and Munich. Office floor space in the German capital amounted to approximately **** million square meters. Paris and Munich, on the other hand, had roughly **** and **** million square meters, respectively. London's office market is also not to be underestimated, with London City and West End alone totaling **** million square meters. Which is the most expensive office real estate market in Europe? With over ***** euros per square meter per year, Central London yielded the highest rent among European cities. Both Brexit and the coronavirus affected demand for office space in London, causing rents to stall in many of London's districts. Where are the lowest vacancy rates in Europe? One of the main signs that the office market is performing well is that vacancy rates remain low. Low vacancy rates encourage developers to build more offices, leading to the growth of the sector. The vacancy rates of prime offices - the best-in-class offices on the most desired locations - were the lowest Berlin, Luxembourg, and Hamburg in 2022.

In a comparison of selected cities worldwide, New York had the highest costs for the construction of a multi-unit high-rise building in 2023. That year, such a project cost on average 5,000 U.S. dollars per square meter in New York, but just 400 U.S. dollars per square meter in Kuala Lumpur. Sydney, London, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were also among the most expensive cities too.

Ireland, Italy, and Germany had some of the highest household electricity prices worldwide, as of March 2025. At the time, Irish households were charged around 0.45 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, while in Italy, the price stood at 0.43 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. By comparison, in Russia, residents paid almost 10 times less. What is behind electricity prices? Electricity prices vary widely across the world and sometimes even within a country itself, depending on factors like infrastructure, geography, and politically determined taxes and levies. For example, in Denmark, Belgium, and Sweden, taxes constitute a significant portion of residential end-user electricity prices. Reliance on fossil fuel imports Meanwhile, thanks to their great crude oil and natural gas production output, countries like Iran, Qatar, and Russia enjoy some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world. Here, the average household pays less than 0.1 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, countries heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports for electricity generation are more vulnerable to market price fluctuations.

Ann Street, Edinburgh EH4 was the most expensive street for residential real estate in Scotland. The average price of a property there was over 1.68 million British pounds, accounting for the average transactions that occurred between January 2018 and September 2023. The second most prestigious address in the world for a particular popular sport, Golf Place, St Andrews, was valued at 1.61 million British pounds. Wester Coates Avenue made up the third in the list, with properties averaging over 1.5 million British pounds.