Which Is The Most Expensive City For International Workers In 2024? List Inside

Uprooting one’s life and moving to another country is a difficult choice. Not only do you have to give up the familiarity of the place you have been living in, but you also have to think about the many expenses the move will bring along with the higher cost of living in an international city. But have you ever wondered which is the most expensive city for international workers around the world? Well, Mercer’s Cost of Living Data has just revealed the most and least expensive cities for international workers in 2024. Read on to know which city tops in each category.

Mercer’s Cost Of Living Survey Reveals Most Expensive Cities For Expats

Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living Data is out and they have revealed the least and most expensive cities for expats around the world. As per their data, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich are the costliest cities for expats. These three cities have kept the same positions as last year. In the report published on its website, Mercer has shared the factors that impact the cost of living in major cities.

These factors include inflation and exchange-rate fluctuations, heightened economic and geopolitical volatility, expensive housing markets, high transportation costs and higher costs of goods and services. All these factors and more contribute to the high living costs in these countries and make them more expensive for international workers.

As per the data shared, here are the top 10 most expensive cities for international workers in 2024, among the 226 cities that were surveyed –

1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore
3. Zurich, Switzerland
4. Geneva, Switzerland
5. Basel, Switzerland
6. Bern, Switzerland
7. New York, USA
8. London, United Kingdom
9. Nassau, The Bahamas
10. Los Angeles, USA

While no Indian city has made it to the top 10 list, Mumbai has emerged as the most expensive city for expatriates in 2024. Globally, the city ranks at 136th position and is the 21st most expensive city for expats to live in in Asia.

Also Read: Do You Know There Is No Retirement Age Limit In Japan? This Is The Reason!

List Of The Cheapest Cities In The World For International Workers

Coming to the least expensive or the cheapest cities to live in for international workers. As per Mercer’s data, the cost of living in these cities is comparatively lower due to currency depreciation. Here’s the list of the world’s cheapest cities for international workers in 2024 –

1. Abuja, Nigeria
2. Lagos, Nigeria
3. Islamabad, Pakistan
4. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
5. Karachi, Pakistan
6. Blantyre, Malawi
7. Dushanbe, Tajikistan
8. Durban, South Africa
9. Windhoek, Namibia
10. Havana, Cuba

It is to be noted that Mercer has also put special emphasis on quality of life, eco-friendliness, seamless connectivity, and safety and security of the expats while considering this list.

This is quite an interesting list! Share your two cents about this in the comments section.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva