According to Mercer’s 2023 Cost of Living City Ranking, Karachi and Islamabad have emerged as the least expensive cities for expatriates.
On the other end of the spectrum, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich are identified as the most costly cities for international workers.
The study encompassed 227 cities across five continents. Mercer, a management consulting firm, analyzed the costs of over 200 items in each city, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.
The study also accounted for currency fluctuations against the US dollar.
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Havana saw a dramatic drop, falling 83 places, largely due to significant currency devaluations last year. Karachi and Islamabad were positioned at 226th and 227th, respectively, with Karachi slipping three spots from last year’s ranking.
Cities like Dushanbe in Tajikistan and Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan ranked slightly higher at 223 and 224.
10 least expensive cities for foreigners
- Havana
- Windhoek
- Durban
- Dushanbe
- Blantyre
- Karachi
- Bishkek
- Islamabad
- Lagos
- Abuja
Dubai saw a notable rise, moving up 13 places to reach 18th position, a change attributed to its swift post-pandemic recovery and an influx of wealthy individuals. The top 10 also featured Copenhagen and Nassau in the Bahamas.
10 most expensive cities for foreigners
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Basel, Switzerland
- Bern, Switzerland
- New York City
- London, United Kingdom
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Los Angeles
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