Singapore remains the most expensive city in the world

Singapore remains the most expensive city in the world, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living. Hong Kong remains second, closely followed by Zurich.

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Photo: Connected to India

The survey compared more than 400 individual prices across over 150 products and services and is the basis of the ranking of the world’s major cities by cost of living.

The latest survey has also seen a return to the top 10 most expensive cities for Tokyo and Osaka. The Japanese capital, which was the world’s most expensive city until 2012, has moved seven places up the ranking owing to a sustained recovery in the strength of the Japanese yen.

The Economist Intelligence Unit
Chart courtesy: The Economist Intelligence Unit

The cheapest city this year was found to be Damascus in Syria. The war-torn, tourist no-go zone fell 14 places to claim its title from Almaty in Kazakhstan, which was last year's cheapest metropolis.

Ongoing economic uncertainty thanks to the 2016 Brexit referendum has toppled the strength of the British pound, pushing London to 30th on the list – a drop of six places since last year, making it the cheapest it has been in two decades.

The Economist Intelligence Unit
Chart courtesy: The Economist Intelligence Unit

 

The Economist Intelligence Unit
Chart courtesy: The Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit
Chart courtesy: The Economist Intelligence Unit

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