the study The cost of living crisis: How big is the gap between expenditures and incomes around the world? (Cost of Living Crisis: How Big is the Difference Between Payments and Receipts Around the World?, in free translation) Cities with the world’s highest cost of living appear. To form the ranking, the research used a calculation that subtracts from the average salary the value of renting an apartment. The lower the balance, the higher the cost of living in the city.
Read the study: The cost of living crisis: How big is the gap between expenditures and incomes around the world?
Using Lisbon as an example, the study showed that renting a three-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around €1,377. The average monthly salary is €878 and the cost of living is around €475, the final value found was a negative balance of €974, which is equivalent to R$5307.12 at the current exchange rate of the euro.
In this ranking, of the ten most expensive cities, 5 are in Europe, 4 are in Latin America and 1 is in Asia.
The study also shows which cities are the least expensive to live in. In this list, there are 7 cities in the UK, one in Australia, one in the US and one in Switzerland. Bern, the capital of Switzerland, is the cheapest place to live with a positive balance of €1208, which is equivalent to R$6582.13.
Check out the lists below:
Cheapest cities in the world to live in
1. Bern – Yours
2. Derby – United Kingdom
3. Coventry – United Kingdom
4. Canberra – Australia
5. Stoke on Trent – United Kingdom
6. Washington – United States
7. Glasgow – United Kingdom
8. Cardiff – United Kingdom
9. Leicester – United Kingdom
10. Wolverhampton – United Kingdom
The most expensive cities in the world to live in
1. Rome – Italy
2. London – United Kingdom
3. Lisbon – Portugal
4. Mexico City – Mexico
5. Paris – France
6. Seoul – South Korea
7. Dublin – Ireland
8. Santiago – Chile
9. San Jose – Costa Rica
10. Bogot – Colombia
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.