The world's most expensive cities to live in revealed
Anna Tobin
25 June 2019
These cities have the highest cost of living
The CBRE's latest Global Living Residential Report collates the cost of living in the world's major cities. It looks at the cost of: a meal for two in a mid-range restaurant; a regular cappuccino; a gallon of milk; a cinema ticket for an international release; a monthly fitness club membership; a gallon of gasoline/petrol; utility fees for electricity, heating, water and garbage for a 915 square foot apartment; a local transport ticket; a 1km taxi journey; and a pair of jeans. We've crunched the numbers to reveal which cities cost the most to live in.
29. Beijing
One of the most heavily-populated cities in the world, Beijing is home to around 21.7 million people. A cappuccino is pretty pricey here at $4.40 (£3.18), but you can get a reasonable three-course meal for $23.80 (£17.21). A one-way local transport ticket costs just $0.47 (£0.34) and monthly utility bills average $52.36 (£37.86). But with an average full-time annual salary of $7,914 (£5,722), not many workers will be able to justify a daily cappuccino.
28. Cape Town
Sandwiched between mountains and the sea, Cape Town in South Africa is one of the cheapest cities to watch a movie in at just $5.75 (£4.16) a ticket and to buy a cappuccino in at $1.80 (£1.30). Your utility bills would amount to around $66.72 (£48.24). The average annual full-time salary is $16,111 (£11,649), but unemployment is high here at 22.7%.
27. Istanbul
The fifth largest city in the world, Istanbul comes 27th in the list. The Turkish city was found to be the cheapest place to buy a mid-range three-course meal at $22.65 (£16.38) and a gallon of milk here costs just $0.83 (£0.60), which probably explains why a cappuccino is a reasonable $2.30 (£1.66) here too. The average full-time annual salary is just $7,019 (£5,075) though.
26. Johannesburg
The second South African city to make the list, the 4.9 million residents of South Africa's most populous city benefit from the second lowest fitness club fees in the list at $33.59 (£24.29) a month. A cappuccino is affordable here too at £1.81 (£1.31). A mid-range meal out for two costs $38.30 (£27.69) and a trip to the cinema costs $5.75 (£4.16). The average annual full-time salary in Johannesburg is $16,752 (£12,112).
25. Montreal
The price of a reasonable three-course meal in Canada's second most populous city will cost you $50.30 (£36.37), more than double the equivalent in Istanbul. Fitness is at its cheapest here though. Montreal has the lowest fitness club fees in the list at $33.44 (£24.18) a month. A pair of mid-range jeans is reasonably priced too at $53.01 (£38.33). The average annual full-time salary is $40,580 (£29,340).
24. Vancouver
The city with the fastest-growing economy in Canada, a mid-range three-course meal in Vancouver will cost you $56.58 (£40.91) and if you want to catch a blockbuster movie a ticket will set you back around $11.33 (£8.19), but both occasional treats should be manageable with the average full-time annual salary in the city around $41,616 (£30,091).
23. Shanghai
In at 23 is Shanghai, home to the world’s busiest container port. The price of a cappuccino is pretty steep here at $4.67( £3.38), but then the price of milk is high here too at $2.57 (£1.86) a gallon. Taxis are cheap though at $0.44 (£0.32) per km and a three-course meal will cost around $31.74 (£22.95). With the average full time annual salary at just $8,188 (£5,920) a trip to to the movies will be a rare treat for most at $9.53 (£6.89) a ticket.
22. Bangkok
The Thai capital is the cheapest place in the chart to take a taxi. It costs just $0.19 (£0.14) for a 1km taxi ride here. A one-way ticket on local transport is a bargain too at $1.20 (£0.87), as is a mid-range three-course meal out at $24.84 (£17.96). A monthly fitness club membership is quite pricey though at $75.53 (£54.61) and your apartment utility bills would average $87.24 (£63.08). The average annual full-time salary in Bangkok is $8,054 (£5,823).
21. Toronto
Going to the movies in Toronto is not cheap. A ticket for a global release will cost you $11.73 (£8.48), more than twice the $5.67 (£4.10) it costs in Istanbul. A mid-range three course meal for two is quite steep at $58.67 (£42.42), also more than twice the cost of similar in Istanbul. Staying fit is reasonably priced here though at $44.59 (£32.24) a month for fitness club membership, easily affordable with the annual average full-time salary hitting $43,936 (£31,767).
20. Lisbon
Slipping into the top 20 is the Portuguese capital Lisbon. It's one of the steepest places to buy mid-range jeans, as a pair will set you back around $97.03 (£70.16). Food costs aren't too bad though. A mid-range three-course meal for two will cost about $37.01 (£26.76), a cappuccino $1.65 (£1.19) and a gallon of milk just $0.77 (£0.56). The average annual full-time salary in Lisbon is quite low at $13,827 (£9,997).
19. Miami
The 19th most expensive city to live in is Miami, which is the cheapest place to buy a mid-range pair of jeans. They cost around $42.60 (£30.80) here. It's the second most expensive city after New York City to eat out in however. A standard meal for two costs around £78.83 (£57). The average full-time annual salary in Miami is $38,465 (£27,812).
18. Los Angeles
Despite, or perhaps because of, being the home of Hollywood, LA is one of the most expensive cities in the world to catch a movie. A ticket costs $15.77 (£11.40). A cappuccino isn't cheap either at $4.33 (£3.13) and it's particularly pricey considering that a gallon of milk is a reasonable $1.09 (£0.79). A pair of jeans is only $49.33 (£35.67) though. The annual average full-time salary in Los Angeles is $45,488 (£32,889).
17. Chicago
The third largest city in America is the 17th most expensive global city to live in. A mid-range meal for two costs $63.06 (£45.60), but it's the third cheapest city in which to buy a gallon of milk at $0.86 (£0.62). In light of this a cappuccino seems relatively expensive at $4.09 (£2.96). The average annual full-time salary in Chicago is $51,323 (£37,110).
16. Doha
The capital city of Qatar is at 16. As is to be expected from a country with huge oil and natural gas reserves, gasoline/petrol is cheapest here at $0.46 (£0.33) per gallon and a 1km taxi ride comes in at $0.58 (£0.42). Doha is the most expensive place to join a gym though with fitness club membership costing $129.43 (£93.59) a month. A cinema ticket is a lot less here than Los Angeles though at $10.14 (£7.33), and basic utility bills cost $80.37 (£58.11). The average annual full-time salary here is a very high $129,000 (£92,300).
15. Moscow
The Russian capital lies at 15. As the world's largest oil producer it makes sense that gasoline/petrol is cheap here at $0.72 (£0.52) a gallon and after Bangkok it's the second cheapest city to take a taxi in at $0.22 (£0.16) per 1km. Jeans are pricey here though at $100.57 (£72.72) a pair, especially when the annual full-time salary is $16,139 (£11,669).
14. Singapore
The city state of Singapore is 14th on the list. The price of a gallon of milk here is pricey at $2.27 (£1.64) and a cappuccino isn't cheap either at $2.96 (£4.09). The price of gym membership could put many off joining too at $102.18 (£73.88). The average annual full-time salary in Singapore is $35,720 (£25,828).
13. Rome
Italy's capital city Rome is the 13th most expensive city to live in. Although milk is reasonably expensive at $1.85 (£1.34) a gallon, Italy's favourite hot drink, the cappuccino, remains a manageable $2.07 (£1.50). Jeans are fairly priced as well at $49.33 (£35.67). Basic utility bills are steep though at $185.02 (£133.78). The average full-time annual salary is $36,041 (£26,060).
12. Abu Dhabi
The capital of the United Arab Emirates is at 12. With a gallon of gasoline here costing $0.53 (£0.38), a 1km taxi journey is equally cheap at $0.53 (£0.38). Eating out is pretty affordable too. A mid-range three course meal for two costs $50.80 (£36.73). Basic utility bills are expensive though at $110.65 (£80.01) and monthly fitness membership is $77.16 (£55.79). The average annual full-time salary is around $40,000 (£29,000) but there is no income tax to pay.
11. Madrid
The Spanish capital city of Madrid is at number 11. A mid-range meal for two here will cost $55.51( £40.14), but a cappuccino is much more reasonable at $2.07 (£1.50). A 1km taxi journey is affordable too at $0.67 (£0.93). Mid-range jeans don't come cheap though at $97.56 (£70.54). The average annual full-time salary is $33,916 (£24,523).
10. New York City
America's largest city, New York City just enters the top ten. It is the most expensive city in the list in which to buy a mid-range three course meal for two at $80.20 (£57.99). A gallon of gasoline is quite cheap here though at $0.73 (£0.53) and a gallon of milk costs $1.11 (£0.80). The average full-time annual salary here is $55,314 (£39,995).
9. Barcelona
The Spanish city Barcelona is at number 9. A gallon of milk here costs just $0.97 (£0.70) and a cappuccino is $2.13 (£1.54). It's not the city to come to for cheap jeans though, with the average pair costing $94.14 (£68.07). Utilities are expensive here too at $160.66 (£116.17). The average annual salary is $32,368 ($23,404).
8. Sydney
Australia's largest city Sydney is eighth. It's an expensive place to see a movie with tickets costing $16.32 (£11.80). A one-way local transport ticket is expensive too at $3.26 (£2.36), while a mid-range three-course meal for two is priced at $65.28 (£47.20). The average full-time annual salary is high, however, at $62,710 (£45,343).
7. Melbourne
The second largest city in Australia, Melbourne is seventh in the league. Milk is reasonable here at $1.06 (£0.77) and a cappuccino costs $3.24 (£2.34). Utility bills are costly at $168.60 (£121.91), as are a pair of mid-range jeans at $81.80 (£59.15). The average annual full-time salary in Melbourne is $61,468 (£44,445).
6. Milan
At number 6 is the Italian city of Milan. Here a cappuccino is a bargain at $1.73 (£1.25), but a mid-priced meal for two costs a hefty $74 (£53.51). Monthly fitness club membership is expensive too at $72.07 (£52.11) and utility bills will cost $136.92 (£99.00). The average full-time annual salary is $40,420 (£29,226).
5. Hong Kong
A mid-range three course meal for two in Hong Kong costs a lot less than in some cities in the table at $47.15 (£34.09). Monthly fitness club membership is quite high though at $82.47 (£59.63) and utility bills are very pricey at $175.46 (£126.87) and it's by far the most expensive city in which to buy a gallon of milk at $3.14 (£2.27). The average annual full-time salary is $24,145 (£17,457).
4. Dublin
Ireland's capital Dublin is fourth. A mid-priced meal for two here costs a pricey $74 (£53.51). Utility bills are not easy to swallow here at $179.14 (£129.53) and it's the third most expensive city to buy a one-way local transport ticket at $3.33 (£2.41). Jeans are a real treat here too at $96.13 (£69.51). Figures aren't available for Dublin, but the average annual full-time salary in Ireland as a whole is $41,070 (£29,695).
3. Dubai
The fastest-growing city in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai comes third. A monthly gym membership here costs $102.51 (£74.12) and utility bills will hurt those on a tight budget at $182.25 (£131.78). A 1km taxi ride is cheap though at $0.57 (£0.41) and a gallon of gasoline costs just $0.53 (£0.38). Unemployment is very low here too at 0.3%. The average annual full-time salary is around $38,000 (£27,500).
2. Paris
The French capital is the second most expensive city to live in. A mid-range meal out for two here costs $61.68 (£44.60), a cappuccino costs $4.25 (£3.07) and a mid-range pair of jeans is a whopping $103.16 (£74.59). Unemployment is quite high at 8.7%, but those that are in work can expect to earn an average annual full-time salary of $57,200 (£41,359).
1. London
The city with the highest cost of living in the CBRE report is London. A mid-range three course meal here costs $75.70 (£54.74). It's the most expensive place to see a movie at $16.53 (£11.95) and the most expensive place for utilities at $189.91 (£137.32). It's the priciest place for a single public transport ticket too at $3.44 (£2.49) and a 1km taxi ride is $6.20 (£4.48), over twice as much Miami, the city with the second highest fare. The average annual full-time salary is $44,788 (£32,383).
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