Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Hong Kong ranks as the most expensive city for expats in 2024. getty Thinking about living abroad or taking a work assignment in another country? Many factors come into play when it comes to an international move—considerations such as which countries are the safest in the world and how a country’s tourism economy ranks on a global scale . Cost of living is also a highly weighted consideration for most people.
But which countries are most expensive for expats? Mercer, a leading consulting firm in human resources and financial services, released its 2024 cost of living survey , revealing that Hong Kong remains the most expensive city in the world for international employees. “The comprehensive ranking serves as a valuable compass, providing guidance through the intricate landscape of living expenses in cities worldwide,” according to Mercer. This year’s methodology evaluated 226 cities, stacking up the comparative costs of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothes, household goods, and entertainment.
Singapore, Marina Bay, Garden By the bay, botanic garden, Supertree Grove and Cloud Forest getty Of the top 10 most expensive cities for expats, half are located in Western Europe, Mercer points out, with Switzerland being home to four. But it's Southeast Asia cities that headline the list of the most expensive places for international workers to live, with Singapore followi.