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Cost of living

Considering a relocation to live abroad and wondering what living cost to expect?
Use our cost of living index to see, share, and compare information on the cost of living worldwide.

What is the “cost of living”?

The cost of living refers to the amount of money needed to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare at any given place or time. The cost of living is often used to compare how expensive it is to live in one city or country versus another.

Living expenses can vary hugely depending on where in the world you are and your personal preferences and habits. If you’re thinking of relocating to a different city or country, using a cost of living calculator can help you figure out the rough living cost for working abroad, or the living cost for studying in another location. That can help you set your personal budget or decide on the best place to live with low costs if you’re on a fixed income.
Explore the cost of living by country index list

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Cost of living index

RankingTop 10 CountriesCost of living index

1

101.1

2

85

3

83

4

76.7

5

76.6

6

76

7

72.3

8

70.8

9

70.4

10

70.2

Source: Numbeo, Cost of living Comparison. Checked August 2024.

What is the average cost of living?

Get an overview of the cost of living in different places with our Cost of Living Index (COLI). The Cost of Living Index measures the relative cost of living in different cities or countries. It aggregates average costs of various goods and services necessary for everyday life, such as housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and education. By taking live user data, our Cost of Living Index gives a dynamic insight into how much you might spend, on average, in different cities and countries.

Currently the country with the highest cost of living in the world is Switzerland with an overall score of 101.1, while the lowest cost of living country is Pakistan with an overall score of 18.8.

See here a breakdown of the cost of living index by country.

Housing

Often one of the biggest costs of living is housing - whether that’s sharing a place with friends, spending on rent or getting a mortgage to buy a property.

Utilities

Once you’ve settled, you’ll also need to take into account the costs of running a property, such as electricity, water, heating, and cooling costs. Other services may also fall into this category, such as having a phone line or internet.

Food

Whether you plan to cook at home, get takeouts or eat out with friends, setting a budget for your food is a smart idea.

Transportation

Transportation costs might include the cost of buying and maintaining a vehicle, as well as fuel expenses - or public transportation fares. You’ll need to include the costs of any daily commute, as well as incidental travel or trips home if you’re relocating.

Healthcare

Health costs may vary a lot based on your location and personal situation but may cover insurance premiums, out of pocket medical care, and prescription medications for example.

Taxes

Tax is another important consideration when it comes to cost of living - be sure to check out income taxes, sales taxes, and other local taxes for the location you’re considering.

Education and childcare

If you’re travelling with family you’ll need to get to grips with the costs associated with childcare, school fees, and educational materials. On the other hand, if you’re relocating for your own studies, you’ll need to consider tuition fees and charges.

Personal care and entertainment

When calculating the cost of living in a new place, it’s worth thinking about charges for leisure activities, hobbies, and entertainment, as well as your personal care needs. Personal care costs can include spending on personal grooming, toiletries, and clothing. It can vary a lot based on your lifestyle.

Miscellaneous

Finally, it’s good practice to have a miscellaneous budget line to cover any other expenses not anticipated in the above categories, such as pet care or subscriptions.

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