| The October 2009 International Cost of Living Ranking, | | | | 3. Brazil, Brasilia |
| one of the most comprehensive in the world, covers | | | | 4. Bermuda, Hamilton |
| 276 cities in 209 countries across 13 basket groups. | | | | 5. Central African Republic, Bangui |
| Below we have listed the Top 10 most expensive | | | | Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, |
| countries to live in, the biggest movers up and down in | | | | household equipment and household appliances such |
| country ranking and the 5 most expensive countries | | | | as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, |
| per basket item. | | | | microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and |
| There is no change to the first and last places. Japan | | | | washing machine is most expensive in: |
| remains the most expensive place for an expatriate to | | | | 1. Central African Republic, Bangui |
| live with the highest overall cost of living index and | | | | 2. Mali, Bamako |
| Zimbabwe with the lowest cost of living index. | | | | 3. Cameroon, Douala |
| The Top 10 most expensive ranked international cost | | | | 4. New Caledonia, Noumea |
| of living locations as at October 2009, together with | | | | 5. Chad, N'Djamena |
| the previous year's rank as at October 2008, is as | | | | Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and |
| follows: | | | | cleaning material items such as baby consumables, |
| October 2009 Rank Country, City (October 2008 | | | | baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning |
| Rank)[Change in Rank] | | | | products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit |
| 1. Japan, Tokyo (1) [0] | | | | juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared |
| 2. China, Hong Kong (33) [-31] | | | | meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices |
| 3. Switzerland, Geneva (4) [-1] | | | | & herbs is most expensive in: |
| 4. Central African Republic, Bangui (46) [-42] | | | | 1. Central African Republic, Bangui |
| 5. Switzerland, Zurich (8) [-3] | | | | 2. Japan, Tokyo |
| 6. Denmark, Copenhagen (3) [3] | | | | 3. Denmark, Copenhagen |
| 7. Venezuela, Caracas (32) [-25] | | | | 4. Solomon Islands, Honiara |
| 8. United Arab Emirates, Dubai (34) [-26] | | | | 5. Congo, Brazzaville |
| 9. Chad, N'Djamena (15) [-6] | | | | Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and |
| 10. Norway, Oslo (2) [8] | | | | medical insurance such as general practitioner |
| Biggest Movers Up | | | | consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, |
| The biggest movers up in the rankings as a result of | | | | non-prescription medicine, and private medical |
| an increase in relative cost of living are: | | | | insurance / medical aid contributions is most expensive |
| 1. Solomon Islands, Honiara by 152 places | | | | in: |
| 2. Canada, Calgary by 134 places | | | | 1. Japan, Tokyo |
| 3. Kiribati, South Tarawa by 109 places | | | | 2. China, Hong Kong |
| 4. Timor-Leste, Dili by 106 places | | | | 3. Kiribati, South Tarawa |
| 5. Montenegro, Podgorica by 93 places | | | | 4. Angola, Luanda |
| 6. Vanuatu, Port Vila by 91 places | | | | 5. Bermuda, Hamilton |
| 7. Saudi Arabia, Riyadh by 83 places | | | | Household costs for housing, water, electricity, |
| 8. Rwanda, Kigali by 83 places | | | | household gas, household fuels, local rates and |
| 9. Cape Verde, Praia by 75 places | | | | residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house |
| 10. Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa by 61 places | | | | flat rental, household electricity consumption, household |
| Biggest Movers Down | | | | gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, |
| The biggest movers down in the rankings as a result | | | | and local property rates / taxes / levies is most |
| of a decrease in relative cost of living are: | | | | expensive in: |
| 1. Tonga, Nuku'Alofa by 172 places | | | | 1. China, Hong Kong |
| 2. Poland, Warsaw by 158 places | | | | 2. Japan, Tokyo |
| 3. Vietnam, Hanoi by 126 places | | | | 3. Taiwan, Taipei |
| 4. Fiji, Suva by 99 places | | | | 4. Venezuela, Caracas |
| 5. Paraguay, Asuncion by 91 places | | | | 5. United Arab Emirates, Dubai |
| 6. Hungary, Budapest by 85 places | | | | Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and |
| 7. Equatorial Guinea, Malabo by 82 places | | | | general goods and services such as domestic help, dry |
| 8. Albania, Tirana by 77 places | | | | cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and |
| 9. Kenya, Nairobi by 73 places | | | | magazines, and postage stamps is most expensive in: |
| 10. Gambia, Banjul by 66 places | | | | 1. Central African Republic, Bangui |
| Top 5 most expensive international locations for each | | | | 2. Norway, Oslo |
| basket group | | | | 3. Finland, Helsinki |
| Our 13 basket groups are the result of extensive | | | | 4. New Caledonia, Noumea |
| research of actual spending habits, this allows our cost | | | | 5. Qatar, Doha |
| of living indices to reflect a reality-based international | | | | Personal Care costs for personal care products and |
| expenditure pattern. When comparing the cost of living | | | | services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun |
| between 2 locations, the difference in the aggregate | | | | block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, |
| cost of all the items in each of the 13 basket groups | | | | toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is most |
| are examined in each location, this is done by using the | | | | expensive in: |
| average reported price in each location for the same | | | | 1. Kiribati, South Tarawa |
| quantity of each item. Cost of living is the relative | | | | 2. Gambia, Banjul |
| differential of the local cost of the basket groups and | | | | 3. Algeria, Algiers |
| the ruling exchange rate between the 2 selected | | | | 4. Comores, Moroni |
| locations. The 13 basket groups are weighted | | | | 5. Slovakia, Bratislava |
| according to Expatriate expenditure norms. | | | | |
| Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages | | | | Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera |
| such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, | | | | film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and |
| whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such | | | | theatre tickets is most expensive in: |
| as cigarettes is most expensive in: | | | | 1. Central African Republic, Bangui |
| 1. Kiribati, South Tarawa | | | | 2. Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby |
| 2. Qatar, Doha | | | | 3. Mozambique, Maputo |
| 3. Korea Republic of, Seoul | | | | 4. Chad, N'Djamena |
| 4. Comores, Moroni | | | | 5. Vanuatu, Port Vila |
| 5. Norway, Oslo | | | | |
| Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such | | | | Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as |
| as business suits, casual clothing, children's clothing and | | | | business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), |
| footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, | | | | hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is |
| and underwear is most expensive in: | | | | most expensive in: |
| 1. Croatia, Zagreb | | | | 1. United Arab Emirates, Dubai |
| 2. Russia, Moscow | | | | 2. Greece, Athens |
| 3. China, Beijing | | | | 3. Qatar, Doha |
| 4. United Arab Emirates, Dubai | | | | 4. Belgium, Brussels |
| 5. Qatar, Doha | | | | 5. Slovenia, Ljubljana |
| Communication costs for various communication costs | | | | Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, |
| such as home telephone rental and call charges, | | | | vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance |
| internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / | | | | such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, |
| cellular phone contract and calls is most expensive in: | | | | public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle |
| 1. Guinea-Bissau, Bissau | | | | Insurance, and vehicle purchase is most expensive in: |
| 2. New Caledonia, Noumea | | | | 1. Timor-Leste, Dili |
| 3. Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou | | | | 2. Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi |
| 4. Latvia, Riga | | | | 3. Cameroon, Douala |
| 5. Cameroon, Douala | | | | 4. Solomon Islands, Honiara |
| Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high | | | | 5. Norway, Oslo |
| school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary | | | | The definitions of each basket and the full cost of living |
| study fees is most expensive in: | | | | rankings for all 276 locations are available on the |
| 1. Venezuela, Caracas | | | | website. |
| 2. Angola, Luanda | | | | |