World's Most Expensive Cities, 2006

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

The survey measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment. Produced by Mercer, a global human resources and financial consulting firm, the survey is used to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees.

Rankings  
March 2006 March 2005 City
1. 4. Moscow, Russia
2. 5. Seoul, South Korea
3. 1. Tokyo, Japan
4. 9. Hong Kong, China
5. 3. London, United Kingdom
6. 2. Osaka, Japan
7. 6. Geneva, Switzerland
8. 8. Copenhagen, Denmark
9. 7. Zurich, Switzerland
10. 10. Oslo, Norway
10. 13. New York, United States
12. 15. St. Petersburg, Russia
13. 11. Milan, Italy
14. 19. Beijing, China
15. 22. Istanbul, Turkey
15. 12. Paris, France
17. 34. Singapore, Singapore
18. 13. Dublin, Ireland
19. 20. Sydney, Australia
20 30 Shanghai, China
21 17 Rome, Italy
21 54 Kiev, Ukraine
21 16 Vienna, Austria
24 39 Tel Aviv, Israel
25 20 Helsinki, Finland
25 73 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
27 22 Douala, Cameroon
28 29 Taipei, Taiwan
29 44 Los Angeles, United States
30 64 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
31 96 Lagos, Nigeria
32 52 Beirut, Lebanon
32 50 Hanoi, Vietnam
34 119 São Paulo, Brazil
34 50 San Francisco, United States
36 18 Stockholm, Sweden
37 56 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
38. 52 Chicago, United States
39 57 Miami, United States
40 124 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
41 123 Lusaka, Zambia
41 24 Amsterdam, Netherlands
43 45 White Plains, United States
44 63 Shenzhen, China
45 26 Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
45 36 Dakar, Senegal
47 82 Toronto, Canada
48 71 Jakarta, Indonesia
48 31 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
50 28 Prague, Czech Republic
The figures are based on a survey conducted in March 2006, and the 2006 comparisons are based on a similar survey conducted in March 2005.
Source: Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Web: www.mercerhr.com .

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