Top 10 Costliest Places to Live in Worldwide. If you’re planning to move abroad, there are several important factors to consider—visa rules, language differences, and the strength of the local expat community, to name a few. However, one of the biggest considerations is cost. The reality is that daily living expenses can vary dramatically from one country to another. In the world’s most expensive cities, high rents, costly groceries, and steep utility bills can start piling up before you even get fully settled.
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To find out which locations are the priciest to live in, we’ve consulted the Cost-of-Living Index by data firm Numbeo. Updated regularly throughout the year, the index offers a detailed comparison of everyday costs—like rent, dining, and groceries—across thousands of global destinations. All figures are benchmarked against New York City, which is assigned a score of 100. So, for instance, a city with a score of 120 means it’s roughly 20% more expensive to live there than in NYC.
Based on Numbeo’s 2025 mid-year report, here are the 10 most expensive countries and autonomous territories in the world.
1. Cayman Islands
Cost of living score: 108.2
The Caribbean territory is known for its lack of direct taxation and “offshore” accounts, attracting lots of wealthy expats—who, in turn, drive up the prices of housing, food, and most other costs. But if you can afford the price tags that come with the luxurious tourism infrastructure and pristine beaches, then the Cayman Islands might just be your next splurge-worthy address.
2. Switzerland
Cost of living score: 106.8
Switzerland dominates the top five spots on Numbeo’s city-level index, with Zurich appearing as the world’s most expensive city, followed by Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, and Bern—so it’s not too surprising that the entire country has a cost of living score higher than 100.
3. Iceland
Cost of living score: 94.5
Iceland is the safest country in the world (and one of the happiest), but it also happens to be one of the most expensive places to live. The remote nation relies heavily on imports, leading to high gas and grocery prices, and Reykjavik’s restaurant price index exceeds New York City’s.
4. Bahamas
Cost of living score: 85.4
There’s nothing quite as appealing as the idea of island living, but that tropical climate and proximity to stunning beaches carry a premium. Life in the Bahamas is particularly expensive, thanks to high rent in Nassau and a steady influx of tourists jacking up prices in resort areas.
5. Singapore
Cost of living score: 85.3
Singapore is famously tiny—the nation is about a quarter of the size of Rhode Island—which means any type of property ownership is in extremely high demand. That leads to astronomical housing and car prices, although the affordability of public transportation and hawker center dining can help ease some of the financial pressure.
6. Norway
Cost of living score: 78.9
Norway is another Scandinavian nation with high grocery and restaurant prices (scored 81.1 and 82.4, respectively, against NYC’s 100), as well as high housing costs in Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim. On the flip side, residents enjoy excellent public services, low crime rates, and unparalleled natural beauty right outside their doors.
7. Denmark
Cost of living score: 74.1
Copenhagen is currently the 15th most expensive city in the world, which bumps Denmark up in this ranking, even if the rest of the country isn’t nearly as costly. Taxes and restaurant prices are high (unsurprising, this is the land of Michelin stars after all), but the excellent social support leads to some of the happiest citizens on the planet.
8. Luxembourg
Cost of living score: 73.5
The small country of Luxembourg has a strong economy, which leads to a higher cost of living for citizens. Both groceries and restaurants are on the pricier side of the rankings, but higher wages (not to mention excellent healthcare and work benefits) tend to balance things out.
9. Hong Kong
Cost of living score: 72.2
You can dine out for next to nothing in Hong Kong if you steer clear of high-end restaurants, but the city is still a pricy place to live—especially when it comes to rent and housing. Still, most of its residents consider the business opportunities and vibrant nightlife well worth the cost.
10. Guernsey
Cost of living score: 70.2
The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a self-governing British Crown Dependency within the Channel Islands, located 27 miles off the coast of Normandy and 70 miles from the south of England. An archipelago consisting of seven small land masses, Guernsey certainly punches above its weight. The eponymous island of Guernsey only has one major town, St. Peter Port, which is filled with multimillion-dollar mansions and surrounded by rolling hills and idyllic beaches. Even still, rent, groceries, and dining out will cost you less here than in New York City.
