• Mercer's Cost of Living information report is the world's most comprehensive survey of its kind and is used to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees.     Order reports

  Moscow is still the most expensive city for expatriates; Asunción in Paraguay is the cheapest
• European and Asian cities dominate the top 10
• Weakening of US dollar causes significant changes in ranking
• London drops one place to rank third

Moscow is the world’s most expensive city for expatriates for the third consecutive year, according to the latest Cost of Living Survey from Mercer. Tokyo is in second position climbing two places since last year, whereas London drops one place to rank third. Oslo climbs six places to 4th place and is followed by Seoul in 5th. Asunción in Paraguay is the least expensive city in the ranking for the sixth year running.

"In contrast to the strengthening euro and other European currencies, the British pound has remained relatively stable against the US dollar. As the cost of living in the Eurozone has risen relative to the US, UK cities have declined in the rankings," according to Yvonne Traber, principal and research manager at Mercer.

Contrary to the trend observed last year the gap between the world’s most and least expensive cities now seems to be widening.

Mercer’s Cost of Living survey covers 143 cities across six continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment.

Learn more at our dedicated cost of living page

Read the global cost of living press release

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