Waquar Habib
Singapore has come at the top for the ninth time in the list of the most expensive cities of the world. It is a costly city due to limited land for agriculture, strict controls on car numbers, and high prices of essential goods like clothing, groceries, and health insurance.
Zurich moved from sixth to second this year due to high prices for household items and recreational activities, reinforcing Switzerland's reputation for high living costs.
Geneva is the third most expensive city in the world, with high prices for groceries and clothing. The main reason is that Switzerland is a well-run country, and its public services, such as healthcare, education, and social services, are all of excellent quality.
This city, tied with Singapore previously, is still among the world's most expensive due to high rental costs and prices of goods and services. It's now tied with Geneva as the third most expensive city in the world.
Hong Kong is the fifth most expensive city globally. Rising costs of goods and services, high property prices, and the return of tourists have increased hotel and fine dining prices.
LA is one of the world's costliest cities due to its high living costs and status as a major US urban centre. Some neighbourhoods require almost a six-figure salary to live comfortably in.
Paris is an expensive city due to the high prices of groceries and clothing, limited housing supply, the presence of wealthy individuals, and a thriving retail industry.
Copenhagen's limited housing leads to high living costs due to expensive administration. However, the cost is worth it since the city is efficiently run, one of the happiest and safest cities in the world.
Tel Aviv is expensive due to global inflation, supply chain issues, a strong currency, high interest rates, and rising prices for essentials like groceries, alcohol, war, and transportation. High rents and energy costs also contribute to the high cost of living.
San Francisco is among the most expensive cities due to high living costs from limited supply and high demand for homes. Its geographical location, surrounded by water on three sides, creates limited land availability for development.