Before you find out which city is considered the most expensive in the world, you need to decide on the fundamental criteria that influence this. World analysts determine the high cost of living in a particular locality, focusing on the average cost of food, residential and non-residential real estate, transport services, household goods, medicines, various services provided to residents. “Zero,” that is, the starting point, is the cost of everything listed above in New York. In total, 131 cities around the world take part in the assessment. What changes occurred during the year?

Every year the ranking of expensive cities undergoes changes. Cities are moved from one position to another, sometimes “newcomers” appear to replace the “oldies” who have dropped out of the ranking. In 2014, the most expensive cities in the world somewhat surprised the public, since the leader of the ranking compiled by the analytical division of the Economist Intelligence Unit (published by The Economist, UK) became.

Just a decade ago, this city-state did not even have a place in the top ten, but a stable currency, the high cost of servicing personal cars and the price of public utilities ousted last year's winner, the city of Tokyo, from first place. And there is nothing surprising about this. The infrastructure in Singapore is developing at an incredibly fast pace, the investment climate is extremely attractive, production volumes are constantly increasing, and the standard of living of the population is improving, although not so rapidly. In addition, Singapore occupies a leading position in the ranking of economic freedom, and the population here is disciplined and educated, which has a positive effect on the well-being of the island city-state.

Places two through ten were taken by Paris, Oslo, Zurich, Sydney, Caracas, Geneva, Melbourne, Tokyo and Copenhagen, respectively. But Kathmandu, Damascus, Karachi, New Delhi and Mumbai are recognized as the cheapest.

To be fair, we note that The Economist is not the only expert assessor. Thus, Mercer specialists, focusing on the cost of living in the city for foreigners (expats), consider Luanda (Angola) the most expensive city in the world. The fact is that regular military-political crises have led to the fact that only very wealthy people can afford to buy safe housing. In addition, Luanda depends on imported goods, which is why their prices are extremely high.

You will be surprised, but having firmly held the leadership over recent years, it has lost its position. It turned out that the most expensive city in the CIS and Russia is Khabarovsk. Living in Khabarovsk is much more expensive than in the capital. Analysts testify to this Public Chamber. The main discovery of 2014 is the incredibly high prices for medications and utilities. If everything is clear regarding the provision of electricity, heat and water to the population (features geographical location and the severity of the climate), then officials promise to sort out drug prices that are 30% higher than the Russian average in the near future. And it was known earlier that the food basket for residents of Khabarovsk is more expensive than for other Russians.

Almost everyone knows the most expensive cities in the world, but how did they earn such fame? Firstly, these are very beautiful megacities where rich people live. They earn a lot and spend just as much.

Secondly, they have their own flavor, what makes one city different from another. Despite the high cost, you still want to visit them, and you can learn about them from the annual ratings.

Tokyo

In 2017-2018, the leading position in the list of the most expensive megacities is occupied by Tokyo, the capital of Japan. It has the highest cost of living. Tokyo is a major agglomeration center on the entire planet. A lot of people live here and the economy is well developed.

American sociologist and economist Saskia Sassen described this city as one of the best based on economic indicators. Along with it, he staged only London and New York. Tokyo is very expensive for foreigners who come to work.

Osaka

The ranking of the most expensive cities on the planet includes 2 interconnected cities Osaka-Kobe (in Japan), they occupy second position. The region's gross domestic product is $341 billion. Because of this, the city has a very high level of productivity. It can rightfully be considered a competitor to the capitals of France and Great Britain.

Paris

Third place goes to Paris, which is included in the list of the most expensive cities in the world, despite its relatively small area. According to research published by the Financial Times, this city is very influential and is considered a European city of the future because it can successfully develop your business. This is the center of world culture and fashion.

Paris has everything you need to live:

• you can get an excellent education;
• spend money on entertainment;
• developed art;
• politics, etc.

The advantage of Paris is its environmentally friendly atmosphere.

In total, Paris earns 769 billion euros, which is a significant share of the gross domestic product of all of France. Paris is home to many companies that are included in the Fortune Global list. The city is very expensive to live in, it has many business districts, and there are significant world organizations, for example, UNESCO, the International Chamber of Commerce, etc.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is considered very expensive to live in. However, life there is different high level quality. This is an environmentally friendly city.

Residents of Copenhagen commute daily from home to work and back by bicycle (approximately 35%). In inland waters The harbors are suitable for swimming as they are very clean.

The city managed to become more attractive for tourists and local residents thanks to huge investments in cultural sites, urban infrastructure. Its high cost is explained by the presence of excellent restaurants with the world's best chefs, beautiful architecture that tourists want to see, etc.

Oslo

In the Top 10 most expensive cities in the world, Oslo ranks 5th. This city is located in Norway. Oslo is a metropolis and the economic center of the country.

Read also

Countries with a high standard of living

Sydney

6th place was again taken by Australia, its unofficial capital and the most popular and famous city of Sydney. Sydney is assigned an index of 147. That is, it is 47% more expensive to live in Sydney than in New York.

Melbourne

Singapore

8th place in the gold list is occupied by the city of Singapore - the capital of the state of the same name, whose index is 142. Singapore is a country and at the same time a city on an island, where there is a fairly large population, therefore, for example, housing prices are very expensive.

Frankfurt am Main

The 9th place of the most expensive cities in the world in 2016-2017 is occupied by the German city of Frankfurt am Main, whose index is 137, which means living in this city is 37% more expensive than in New York.

The most expensive cities in Europe

The most expensive city in Europe is determined by the following indicators: prices of food, clothing, cost of living, transport services, entertainment, medical care. Living in London is expensive for locals, but its prices also frighten tourists.

If you want to stay in the city for a few days, you will have to shell out a round sum for renting accommodation in hotels. Beds in hostels are also relatively expensive. Every month people spend about 160 euros on travel.

Another most expensive city in Europe is Oslo. In the capital of Norway you will have to spend a lot on food and drinks. In addition, the cities with the most expensive real estate in Europe also cannot do without Oslo.

Geneva is a very expensive place to live. You will have to spend a lot on groceries. Zurich is next on the list. Both tourists and local residents spend a lot on food and medicines.

For tourists, Lausanne is unattractive due to its cost of living. If you take a taxi only 5 miles, the taxi driver will have to pay 28 euros.

Paris has a slightly lower cost index. It doesn't top Europe's most expensive cities, but it doesn't lag behind in any respect. To rent residential premises in Paris, you need to allocate an average of 2.5 thousand euros from the budget each month. The lowest costs are for food and beverages.

In the Top 10 according to the high cost index for last place costs Copenhagen. Distinguished himself and European city Hague. You will have to spend a lot of money on clothes and shoes. For example, a pair of classic shoes will cost 132 euros.

According to one version, the most expensive city on the planet is Hong Kong. In 2017, it is still expensive to live in the capital of Russia, Moscow. According to the Mercer rating, it moved from 50th line to 67th position, which is good news for tourists and residents of the capital.

The capital of Ukraine (Kyiv) is a relatively inexpensive city. He was placed only in 176th place. If we consider the countries that were part of Soviet Union, then it’s cheaper to live in Minsk, Bishkek.

According to research by the consulting group Mercer Human Resource, this year the most expensive city on earth for foreign citizens is Hong Kong.

He overtook Luanda, the capital of Angola. The decline in the list is due to the weakening of the country's currency. In 2018, it was, according to the group, the most expensive city.

It will not be easy for foreign specialists in Zurich. This is an expensive city in the world, to which Singapore is slightly inferior. For the first time, Kinshasa is included in the list of 10 cities. It is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A visiting person will need to try hard to find a job that will allow him to justify all his expenses and maintain a decent standard of living. Of the 10 cities, we can also highlight Geneva, Beijing, Shanghai, and N'Djamena.

Some people may find it strange that the capital of Chad (a country that is one of the poorest), N'Djamena, is on the list. According to world analysts, N'Djamena is the most expensive city in the world due to the fact that it has to import many goods from other countries for daily use.

N'Djamena city

Moscow's move down the ranking to 17th place, and Oslo to 21st position is associated with a decrease in oil prices. For this reason, local currencies collapsed against the US dollar.

However, in the most beautiful city Russian Federation Prices for real estate, transport, utilities, food, cultural and entertainment centers, restaurants, etc. remain high. It's about about St. Petersburg, which remains unshakably in 152nd position for 2 years in a row.

If you look at the list from the end, you will be able to find out where it will be cheaper for a foreigner to live. Among them are the capital of Namibia (Windhoek), Bishkek, Cape Town.

Behind Last year It has become more expensive to live in German cities. Of all of them, Munich and Frankfurt are in the lead.

Real estate agency Savills presented its annual ranking the most expensive cities in the world to live and work. Almost every city on the list is well known to many - its name, its attractions, its exceptional features. But Savills looks at other parameters: the composition of the population, the percentage of people working and their expenses.

The indicator shows the cost of renting residential and office buildings V largest cities. This gives an idea of ​​how much each specific city requires to live and work in.

Consider the list of expensive places to live

20. Rio de Janeiro - $16,500

• City score according to Savills: 37.5.
• Population (millions): 12.4.
• Annual cost per person: $16,500.
• Increase over the last year: -9%.
• Over the last 5 years: 18%.

19. Johannesburg - $20,700

18. Berlin - $27,700

• Value in the evaluation system: 55.4.
• Total number: 4.3 million
• Person spends annually: $27,700.
• Population growth over the past year: 3%.
• Growth over the last 5 years: 20%.

17. Mumbai - $28,400

• Score: 48.3.
• Population (millions): 19.
• Cost of living per person for a one-year period: $28,400.
• The number of citizens over the same period increased by: 5%.
• Population growth over a five-year period: -2%.

16. Dublin - $36,500

15. Shanghai - $43,700

• Savills rating: 60.1
• Lives: 24.8 million
• Spends one citizen (citizen) annually (on average): $43,700.
• Population increased in 2015: 3%.
• For the period 2010-2015: 18%.

14. Chicago - $44,700

• Mark: 62.3.
• Population: 9.6 million
• Annual cost per person: $44,700
• Population growth over the last year: -1%.
• Growth over the last 5 years: 10%.

13. Moscow - $48,300

12. Los Angeles - $48,600

• City Savills score: 63.1.
• Accommodation: 13.3 million
• Annual cost per person: $48,600.
• Population growth over the past year: 9%.
• Growth over the last 5 years: 24%.

• City Savills score: 52.4.
• Population: 5.8 million
• Annual cost per person: $49,000.
• Growth over the last 5 years: 26%.

Ten most expensive

10. Sydney - $49,500

9. Dubai - $58,300

• Savills City Score: 61.1
• Residents: 2.4 million
• Annual cost per person: $58,300.
• Population growth over the past year: 4%.
• Growth over the last 5 years: 71%.

8. Singapore - $60,600

• Savills city score: 71
• Population: 5.5 million
• Annual cost per person: $60,600
• Growth over the last 5 years: -6%.

7. Lagos - $63,000

• Savills city score: 23.5
• Population: 12.2 million
• Annual cost per person: $63,000.
• Growth data is unknown.

6. San Francisco - $66,300

• City score according to Savills: 55.8.
• Population (millions): 4.5.
• Annual cost per person: $66,300.
• Population growth over the past year: 13%.
• Growth over the last 5 years: 49%.

Top 5

5. Tokyo - $69,800

4. Paris - $78,200

• City score according to Savills: 77.5.
• Population: 12.5 million
• Annual spending per person: $78,200.
• Population growth over the past year: -4%.
• Growth over the last 5 years: 1%.

3. Hong Kong - $103,200

• Mark: 70.5.
• Population (millions): 7.3.
• Spends one person per year: $103,200.
• Population growth for 2015: 3%.
• Over a five-year period: -3%.

2. New York - $111,300

• Savills City Score: 87.4
• Number of residents: 20.2 million
• Annual expenses for one of them: $111,300.
• The number increased in 2015: 5%.
• Growth over the last 5 years: 39%.

1. London - $112,800

• Residence rating: 87.6
• Citizens in London: 14.9 million
• Spent per citizen per year: $112,800.
• The number of inhabitants during this period increased by: 2%.
• Over a five-year period: by 18%.

Remember, there were times when Moscow took first place in the rankings of the most expensive cities in the world? Where have those times gone? Moscow has long fallen out of the top ten, and after the depreciation of the ruble we will soon find ourselves in the rankings of the cheapest cities to live)))

Where is it expensive to live? Another housing affordability study, Demographia, was recently published. Experts assessed income levels and average housing prices in 406 cities around the world. And at the same time, they calculated how many years their residents need to save for own apartment or home. I wrote about the 9 most expensive cities in which people have to work for more than 9 years (excluding expenses on food, transport and clothing) in order to afford to buy real estate.

Median home price: $835,400
Average annual income: $90,400
How many years to save: 9.3

There are many reasons for the high cost of housing in San Francisco. The most important are the proximity of Silicon Valley with the headquarters of the best technology corporations and restrictive laws on the use of vacant land. As you may remember, San Francisco is located on a peninsula, so the only direction the city can continue to grow is up. At the same time, in many areas of the city there is a restriction on the construction of buildings higher than 12 meters. Therefore, it turns out that there is not a lot of housing in the city, but the demand for it is very high, and because of this, the prices for it are also very high.

San Francisco did not build up houses at the expense of parks, public spaces in residential areas and the overall urban landscape. This concern of the city for the improvement and well-being of residents also significantly increases the price of housing. In general, there are many people in the world who want to invest huge amounts of money in high-quality and beautiful houses in San Francisco. And as you know, demand creates supply, and therefore the city began to actively build luxury housing. There was simply no room left for simpler, cheaper houses; at some point, the middle class discovered that they could no longer afford to live in their city. The existing housing stock for the middle class provides only 18% of demand. All other people have to go live on the streets or move to other cities.

Median home price: $593,900
Average annual income: $63,900
How many years to save: 9.3

The main problem of Los Angeles is the huge demand for housing (perhaps the highest in the United States). Therefore, landlords are happy to raise prices for houses and apartments. Over the past few years, rental prices in Los Angeles have been constantly rising, and oddly enough, the number of people willing to pay huge amounts of money for it also continues to grow. There is less and less affordable housing for the middle class in the city, and there are more and more homeless people on its streets.

7. Honolulu

Photo: Geoff Livingston/Flickr

Median home price: $745,300
Average annual income: $78,900
How many years to save: 9.4

Honolulu is located on one of the Hawaiian islands, and it has the same problem as San Francisco: the city has nowhere else to grow. At the same time, people here are very concerned about preserving the natural landscape, so the authorities have introduced very strict construction rules. Prices on the island began to rise since World War II, and they quickly surpassed the cost of rent on the US mainland. It all started with the fact that cheap flights were launched to Hawaii and a tourism boom began there. Since then, the number of people wishing to move there has increased by permanent place residence is only growing. And even rising housing prices do little to curb this growth. Many locals have long sold their houses and apartments for huge amounts of money and moved to live on a cheaper mainland.

Median home price: $562,400
Average annual income: $59,400
How many years to save: 9.5

Let's move from the USA to Australia. Melbourne is considered the most liveable city in Australia, making it incredibly popular and expensive. Experts predict that by 2050 it will overtake Sydney in terms of population. And again, the huge demand for housing makes prices in the city less and less affordable. At the same time, Melbourne cannot actively build new residential buildings due to the fact that it requires huge investments. The reason for this is that small Australia is geographically isolated from other continents. And local manufacturers of building materials raise the price of their products, taking advantage of the fact that delivery of the same building materials from abroad costs a fortune.

5. San Jose

Photo: Don Ramey Logan/Wikimedia

Average home price: $1,000,000
Average annual income: $104,100
How many years to save: 9.6

And again the USA. The city with the most expensive housing in the States is San Jose. A huge amount of real estate in this city was bought by investors, and now it is rented out for huge sums of money. Only employees of companies located in nearby Silicon Valley can afford to film it. And the local middle class ends up losing again.

Median home price: $606,500
Average annual income: $60,600
How many years to save: 10.0

The problem in New Zealand's Auckland is not only rising rental prices, but also the fact that the level of wages in this city has remained virtually unchanged over the past few years. The problem of unaffordable housing in this city has doubled since 2004. A huge number of people want to settle here, but there is not enough housing and infrastructure for everyone, and landlords are starting to speculate on this.

3. Vancouver

Photo: Andrew Raun/Wikimedia

Median home price: $639,200
Average annual income: $54,300
How many years to save: 11.8

Vancouver's problem is a little more specific: a huge amount of housing here has been bought up not by ordinary investors, but by foreigners (mostly Chinese). This may seem strange, but everything becomes clear if you remember that Vancouver was built as a “gateway to America.” Therefore, there are a lot of immigrants and foreign investors in it, which provoked a rapid rise in real estate prices. All this puts enormous pressure on the poorer sections of the population.

Median home price: $818,500
Average annual income: $66,900
How many years to save: 12.2

Sydney takes second place in the ranking of cities with the most expensive real estate. The city has areas that can be developed with new housing. But the authorities, for many reasons, do not allow the expansion of the city, thereby provoking an increase in population density and housing prices. One of these reasons is an attempt to protect green areas around the city from mass development. Despite the huge cost of real estate, people continue to travel to Sydney because the city provides a huge number of jobs.

Median home price: $704,800
Average annual income: $39,000
How many years to save: 18.1

Hong Kong wins the ranking by a huge margin! In this city, the average person will have to save for their own home for more than 18 years. And this despite the fact that, compared to last year, housing in Hong Kong has become a little more affordable. The reason for such sky-high housing prices is high demand and lack of available land. The city government is not trying in any way to reduce the cost of real estate, because it itself makes good money from its purchase and sale transactions. But this allows us to keep the level of taxes in the city at a fairly low level. And if the cost of housing in Hong Kong falls significantly, the government will have to greatly increase tax revenues so as not to run out of money.

Bermuda.

Admit it, you often think about how expensive our lives have become. Prices are rising for absolutely everything, while wages are trying to catch up, but still remain behind. Can Russia be considered an expensive country? International experts, armed with data on countries' incomes and expenses, the size of tax deductions and prices for basic goods, they determined the top most expensive countries. We'll find out where the most dear life, and what are the most expensive countries in the world for vacation.

The most expensive countries in the world for living and tourism.

10 Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a small country surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany. It is so small that it will take no more than 30 minutes to walk to the opposite border. Despite its size, this country boasts a very stable economy, low level inflation and unemployment and high income levels. This tiny country is home to a major investment management center.

Luxembourg has a relatively high cost of living. So, one combo meal at McDonald's will cost you $9.46 dollars, and just one liter of milk will cost you $1.05. Chicken breast lovers won't be thrilled with $10 a kilo either. However, high wages help compensate for this situation.

But the lack of vacant areas adversely affects the cost of housing. So, a one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs approximately $1,500 per month. This is why many budget-conscious residents of Luxembourg prefer to live outside their country: in Belgium or France. This way, they can significantly reduce rental costs, but still work in Luxembourg and receive a decent salary.

9 New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Its closest neighbor is Australia. The country is heavily dependent on agricultural exports, which make up a significant portion of New Zealand's GDP. But since the island is located at a considerable distance from other countries, many imported goods attract a decent markup for imports. This is especially true for imported electronic equipment and clothing from world brands. So, if a pair of Nike sneakers in the USA costs $100, then in New Zealand you have to pay at least $190 for them.

If you ever want to visit this country or want to stay there forever, know that it will cost you a lot. For example, A double room in a hotel costs $70-150 per night. But if comfort is not so important to tourists and they still want to save money, they can choose a hostel where each night will cost $25-35. The prices in restaurants will not please you either: on average you will have to pay $20-30 per dish .

8 Denmark

Many people know that the most expensive life has been recorded for many years in a row in the Scandinavian countries. Therefore, some of them are included in our ranking, and the eighth place is occupied by Denmark, which is usually called the Kingdom of Denmark.

This country is always ranked among the leading countries in the world in terms of living standards, and is also often recognized as one of the happiest countries. It boasts high levels of social mobility and income equality. One of the highest per capita incomes plays an important role here.

However, all these benefits have one consequence: Denmark has one of the highest income tax rates in the world. In 2015, the lowest income tax was 29.68% of personal income, while people in the highest tax bracket paid 51.95% of their income to the government.

Denmark's high tax burden has the effect of driving up the prices of basic products, automatically ranking it among the most expensive countries in Europe. In Denmark, you'll pay $10.48 for a McDonald's set meal, $2.89 for a Coca-Cola or Pepsi, and $106.08 for Levi's jeans. In general, goods and services cost 40% more than in the United States.

Denmark will also not please tourists low prices: on average a hotel room will cost $90 per night, and for dinner in a restaurant for two people you will have to pay at least $85.

7 Singapore

Singapore differs from all other contenders for the ranking of the most expensive countries in the world in that it is a city-state located in Southeast Asia. It gained independence in 1965 and has since grown to become a global financial center.

It has been called one of the "Asian Tigers" due to its explosive economic growth in the 1960s. Being the Asian capital of business, Singapore has no shortage of tourists, both coming for business meetings and those wishing to get acquainted with Eastern culture.

This small country has no qualms about charging extortionate hotel and food bills. To avoid extra costs Travelers are strongly advised to spend as little as possible and not be afraid to try food in street cafes, which will not disappoint in either its quality or price.

Singapore also has extremely high taxes on all alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, so you can save a lot by avoiding them completely while traveling.

Other factors that contributed to Singapore's ranking as the most expensive country include Singapore's strong currency, high car costs and skyrocketing utility bills. High taxes have made car ownership so expensive that many middle-income families can't afford it. And this is not surprising: if a Volkswagen Golf in the USA costs $22,000, then in Singapore it will cost $87,718.21. Significant difference, isn't it?

6 Japan

Japan is one of the largest economic powers in East Asia and ranks third in terms of economic development after the United States and China. Japan has the most billionaires. This remarkable fact guarantees its inclusion in our list of the most expensive countries.

Its economy depends mainly on electronic products and gadget exports. This country is rightfully the center of international electronic brands. Its approximate GDP is $600 billion. Over the past few years, the country has had several problems related to economic growth. The Japanese central bank and government are doing everything they can to maintain growth, but so far little seems to be helping.

Despite this, the cost of living in the country remains very high. First of all, this concerns education, housing prices and transport. Thus, housing in Japan is considered the most expensive in the world, and the lack of excess space has led to an increase in the number of tiny apartments. But it is worth considering that the price of housing largely depends on the location. If a one-room apartment is located in the city center, then you will have to pay $755 a month for it, and if outside the center, then $477.

If you're thinking about traveling in Japan, the extra funds will definitely come in handy. The extremely high cost of real estate affects prices in hotels and restaurants. The hotel will cost you no less than $100. The average standard of living there is quite high. But the prices can outrage even wealthy people.

The price of oil, as a global indicator of the cost of living, is higher than in any other developed country. A well-known example of extremely high prices can be found in any supermarket: regular apples cannot be bought for less than $5, and for a kilogram of onions you will pay $3.14. But this does not apply to traditional Japanese foods. Seafood, soy, rice, noodles - all this can be bought for relatively little money.

The average salary after deducting all taxes is $2,300. Square meters housing costs from $4,000 to $8,000 (in the center).

By the way, most are grown in Japan.

5 Iceland

This remote island in the North Atlantic has a population of just 323,000. The island's remoteness forces it to import a huge amount of goods, as a result of which the country is subject to sharp fluctuations in exchange rates.

In 2011, Iceland was recognized as the country with the most expensive labor force in the world. But at the same time, the salary has many mandatory deductions, the largest of which are 12% of union dues and 37-46% of income tax. However, maternity leave is paid in full.

Agriculture is highly regulated. The import of many agricultural products is strictly prohibited, and the prices of local products are strictly controlled. Moreover, almost everything needed to operate even a small mechanized farm must be imported, so Icelandic farms often end up being expensive and inefficient. The Icelandic Economic Research Institute estimates that local milk costs consumers and the government twice as much as imported milk, but its import is prohibited.

But you still have to import equipment and many ingredients for food production, but this is very expensive. The remoteness of the island from the mainland plays an important role here. The average salary of $2,500 is almost equal to the Japanese salary.

Also, prices depend on where you eat. If this is a restaurant in the center of Reykjavik, then it will be expensive and for all listed reasons plus the cost of real estate in the center of the capital has never been low. Therefore, many visitors fall into a tourist trap: prices around will be high, because tourists have nowhere to go, and they are forced to pay. Therefore, the most expensive countries for tourists must include Iceland.

A McDonald's set meal will cost $13.59, compared to $7 in the United States. For Coca-Cola or Pepsi you will pay $2.49. A liter of gasoline will cost $1.69, and Levi's jeans will cost $156.08. A pack of Marlboro cigarettes costs $11!

However, not all food in Iceland is expensive. Fish and freshly baked bread are quite affordable.

4 Norway

Norway is a country whose prosperity mainly depends on its natural resources and tourism. The country's GDP is estimated at $180 billion.

Like Denmark, Norway is one of the most heavily taxed countries in the world, accounting for 45% of the country's GDP. This is almost 4 times more than in Hong Kong and almost twice more than in the USA. But what may be surprising for many countries is that people do not have to fill out tax forms themselves; they arrive ready-made in the mail. All that remains is to sign and pay. Agree, many would consider this a good thing.

But the amount of taxes significantly affects the price of goods. A combo meal at McDonald's costs about $12.50, a pound of apples costs $2.92, and a liter of milk costs $1.86. For gasoline you will pay $1.63. Food is very expensive, and the state monopoly on the sale of alcohol makes its prices almost sky-high. How about $40 for a 6-pack of local beer?

Food prices may scare visitors, but not local residents. They've found some very smart ways to save money. Firstly, having an average income, people do not often treat themselves to restaurant or prepared food, but prefer homemade food. Secondly, many people avoid buying fresh meat and only buy cheaper salami or sausage. Norwegians also use all sorts of natural methods of obtaining food: hunting deer and moose, fishing, collecting berries and even seagull eggs, and many families grow their own vegetables.

Due to its remote location, high prices are often associated with travel costs. Train tickets must be booked in advance, then you can save significantly on international travel. Staying in hostels, however, won't put a big dent in your wallet. But if visitors prefer to stay in hotels and inns, they will have to shell out at least $151 per night. All of the above easily includes Norway among the most expensive countries in the world for a holiday.

A bus ride costs $4, rent studio apartment$1100 in the center and $900 in other areas. The average salary is about $3,000.

But it's not all that scary. It’s not for nothing that Norway has been recognized 10 times “ The best country for life" according to UN reports. An important role here was played by the country's social security system, which guarantees high payments during pregnancy and childbirth, pensions, illness, and unemployment.

Medical care is absolutely free for pregnant women and children, and child benefits allow you to provide everything you need. Another important bonus of living in Norway is free school and university education. In many countries this is only a dream.

3 Bahamas.

What do Nicolas Cage, Oprah Winfrey, Johnny Depp, Sean Connery, Bill Gates and Tiger Woods have in common? In addition to the fact that these people are known far beyond the borders of their country, they are also among the lucky ones who own real estate in the Bahamas.

This truly paradise has many advantages. First of all, the most beautiful beaches attract millions of tourists every year around the world . Fans of active recreation can easily find entertainment to their liking: swimming, golf, tennis, water skiing, swimming with a dolphin, fishing, scuba diving, parasailing, softball, football, weightlifting. Secondly, the islands are relatively close to the coast of Florida. Thirdly, the climate there is almost ideal all year round, except perhaps in the summer when it can be too hot and humid.

The Bahamas consists of approximately 700 islands, of which only 30 are inhabited. It is one of the richest Caribbean countries with an economy dependent mainly on tourism and offshore financial services.

In the Bahamas, residents are exempt from income tax, capital gains tax, purchase and sales taxes, VAT or capital transfer tax. This is enjoyed by many Europeans who come to the Bahamas with the hope of earning good money, but at the same time forgetting about the severity of the tax burden. The only unlucky people in this regard are the Americans, who are required to pay taxes to their country, even if they decide to leave it for a long time.

This does not mean that no one pays any taxes in the Bahamas. Instead, there are huge import taxes (over 40%), making the cost of living there at least 50% higher than in the US or Europe. And it is precisely this fact that has placed the Bahamas among the top most expensive countries in the world.

Most goods are imported, and customs duties significantly (by about 60%) increase their prices. Milk and lettuce are about 2.5 times more expensive than in the US, and utility bills are 150% higher. A kilogram of orange costs $5.32 in stores, one and a half liter bottle water – $2.13. And the prices for cigarettes, apparently, are designed to force people to quit this bad habit: A pack of Marlboros will cost at least $9. High prices force most Bahamians to travel to Miami for shopping, and smuggling is a very profitable and popular business.

2 Switzerland

Switzerland is a country of beauty and romance, so it is not surprising that tourists like to come there on vacation. Switzerland has a lot to show: natural green landscapes, mountains, impressive waterfalls. But at the same time, it is a banking giant, which is considered the center of trade in Europe, so many business meetings take place in this country. Its GDP is approximately $550 billion.

Switzerland is the most dear country European country to visit. Prices for transportation ($3.5 per bus) and visiting attractions are very high.

But many tourists, and especially female tourists, will find it useful to know that in Switzerland you can save a lot on clothes: prices at international retailers such as H&M are much, much cheaper.

Switzerland has one of the highest minimum wages in the world. Interestingly, in the country there is minimal wage is not fixed by law, but trade unions have collective agreements with enterprise management. It's not uncommon to find a minimum wage of $25 an hour. It seems like it’s time to envy the comfortable life of ordinary Swiss people, but it’s worth remembering: it’s not for nothing that this country is among the most expensive countries to live in. Average salary - 3500$

High wages are not in the best possible way influences consumer prices in the country. A combination meal at McDonald's will cost 2 times more than in the USA. A small bottle of water costs $3.19; one kilogram of beef costs $44.36, and a liter of gasoline costs $1.4. One movie ticket -19$, and buying housing is very expensive: $7,000-$9,000 per meter.

1 Bermuda

The most expensive country in the world to live and visit is Bermuda. In the 17th century, this paradise was colonized by the British and still left the islands in their possession, i.e., in essence, this is also Great Britain, but with local self-government.

Bermuda is a cluster of 138 islands in the northern part Atlantic Ocean. Only about 20 of them are inhabited, and the 7 largest are connected by bridges and causeways to the main island of Bermuda.

The population is only about 65,000 people, Of these, only 30% come from Europe and America, the rest are blacks and mulattoes.

Bermuda boasts one of the most prosperous economies in the world with over 13,000 international companies operating within its borders. This allows local residents to earn some of the highest salaries in the world. Large income - about 60% of everything comes from tourism, mainly from vacationers from America (90%).

Average salary is $4500. Rent a one-room apartment in the center of the capital - about $3,000.

Summer all year round, endless beaches and fresh fruits, huge salaries - doesn’t it make you think of leaving your country forever? But it is worth remembering that Bermuda is the most expensive country in the world with the highest cost of living.

The first thing to blame for this is a large number of direct and indirect taxes, which significantly lighten the wallet of residents instantly after receiving their salary. Health insurance is so expensive that it has overtaken even the United States, yet there is no national health care or medical services available to everyone.

The need to import most goods is a problem for many islands, including Bermuda. But what’s most interesting is that only imported goods are subject to taxes here. But there are quite a few of them. The islands do not have natural resources such as oil, gold, gas or anything else.

Agriculture is very limited due to the lack of agricultural land. Therefore, a lot has to be bought from other countries, and the price of any product consists of its real value plus the cost of importing it. Here's a very illustrative example: there are some companies that bring furniture from IKEA to order. As you know, its price is low, but in Bermuda companies are forced to add an additional 75% to its cost in order to cover all import costs.

The problem of food due to high prices faces not only local residents, but also tourists who come here for a paradise holiday. Prices are steep for almost all products. So for a liter of milk you will have to pay $3, and chicken breast all $20.

You can buy housing in the most expensive country in the world based on the cost of $5,000 -$7,000 per meter.

There are extremely insufficient hotels and inns there, so visitors are often accommodated in preferably pre-booked apartments. If they are lucky, they will pay $75 per night, and if not, then at least $125. Moreover, the service is unlikely to please them - no one will definitely prepare breakfast for them, but the kitchen will allow you to do it yourself. To save a little on food, visitors are advised to avoid large and fashionable restaurants. It's better to choose small cafes, where prices are still high (at least $10-20 for each dish), but still comparatively more economical.