New York
United States
Avg. monthly cost
$4,200
Cost index
100
Quality of Life
68
Safety
52
Healthcare
75
Updated Monthly • 10,000+ Cities • 195 Countries
Cost of Living Calculator & City Comparison for 10,000+ Cities Worldwide
Compare cost of living, rent, groceries, salaries and quality of life across thousands of cities worldwide. Real data, zero guesswork.
10,000+
Cities Tracked
195
Countries Covered
2M+
Data Points
500K+
Monthly Users
Popular Cost of Living Comparisons
Most searched city comparisons this month
Popular Countries
Compare living costs, salaries, rent prices, and quality of life by country.
Featured Cities
Most searched cities this month
68
London
United Kingdom
Avg. monthly cost
$3,800
Cost index
92
Quality of Life
74
Safety
55
Healthcare
82
Hong Kong
China (SAR)
Avg. monthly cost
$4,000
Cost index
95
Quality of Life
72
Safety
80
Healthcare
82
Bali
Indonesia
Avg. monthly cost
$1,100
Cost index
35
Quality of Life
78
Safety
70
Healthcare
55
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
Avg. monthly cost
$950
Cost index
32
Quality of Life
74
Safety
68
Healthcare
60
Singapore
Singapore
Avg. monthly cost
$3,500
Cost index
88
Quality of Life
84
Safety
90
Healthcare
88
Zurich
Switzerland
Avg. monthly cost
$4,800
Cost index
110
Quality of Life
92
Safety
88
Healthcare
95
Paris
France
Avg. monthly cost
$3,400
Cost index
86
Quality of Life
79
Safety
48
Healthcare
88
Tokyo
Japan
Avg. monthly cost
$3,200
Cost index
85
Quality of Life
86
Safety
88
Healthcare
90
Sydney
Australia
Avg. monthly cost
$3,300
Cost index
84
Quality of Life
88
Safety
76
Healthcare
84
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Avg. monthly cost
$2,900
Cost index
72
Quality of Life
80
Safety
86
Healthcare
78
Toronto
Canada
Avg. monthly cost
$3,100
Cost index
78
Quality of Life
82
Safety
72
Healthcare
86
Berlin
Germany
Avg. monthly cost
$2,400
Cost index
65
Quality of Life
86
Safety
68
Healthcare
90
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Avg. monthly cost
$3,000
Cost index
80
Quality of Life
88
Safety
70
Healthcare
88
Los Angeles
United States
Avg. monthly cost
$3,900
Cost index
94
Quality of Life
70
Safety
46
Healthcare
72
Melbourne
Australia
Avg. monthly cost
$3,000
Cost index
80
Quality of Life
90
Safety
78
Healthcare
85
Vienna
Austria
Avg. monthly cost
$2,600
Cost index
70
Quality of Life
92
Safety
80
Healthcare
90
Barcelona
Spain
Avg. monthly cost
$2,200
Cost index
62
Quality of Life
84
Safety
56
Healthcare
86
Chicago
United States
Avg. monthly cost
$3,200
Cost index
82
Quality of Life
65
Safety
38
Healthcare
74
Seoul
South Korea
Avg. monthly cost
$2,700
Cost index
75
Quality of Life
82
Safety
80
Healthcare
88
San Francisco
United States
Avg. monthly cost
$4,500
Cost index
105
Quality of Life
66
Safety
40
Healthcare
78
Stockholm
Sweden
Avg. monthly cost
$3,000
Cost index
82
Quality of Life
90
Safety
78
Healthcare
90
Munich
Germany
Avg. monthly cost
$2,900
Cost index
78
Quality of Life
88
Safety
78
Healthcare
90
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Avg. monthly cost
$1,200
Cost index
38
Quality of Life
74
Safety
60
Healthcare
72
Why Worldlivingcost?
Everything you need to plan your move or compare cities.
Real-Time Data
Prices updated monthly from contributors and official sources across every city.
Side-by-Side Compare
Compare any two cities instantly rent, groceries, transport, salaries and more.
50+ Indicators
Track cost of living, quality of life, safety, healthcare, pollution, and more.
Trusted Methodology
Transparent calculation methods. Know exactly how every index is computed.
Ready to find your perfect city?
Compare any two cities side by side and see the real cost breakdown.
What is Cost of Living?
Cost of living refers to the total amount of money needed to cover essential expenses in a specific city or country. This includes rent, groceries, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and entertainment. Cost of living varies significantly between cities — a comfortable lifestyle in Bangkok or Tbilisi can cost less than $1,000 per month, while the same lifestyle in New York or Zurich can exceed $4,000 per month.
How Does the Cost of Living Index Work?
Worldlivingcost uses New York City as the baseline index of 100. A city with a cost index of 50 is approximately 50% cheaper than New York across all major expense categories. A city with an index of 130 is 30% more expensive. The index is calculated from 50+ verified data points including rent, food, transport, and salaries, updated monthly from contributors and official government sources.
Cheapest Cities to Live in 2026
The most affordable cities to live in 2026 are concentrated in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Latin America. Cities like Lahore, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Tashkent, and Tbilisi offer monthly living costs between $400 and $800 for a single person including rent. Mid-range affordable cities such as Bangkok, Lisbon, Mexico City, and Belgrade offer excellent quality of life for $1,000 to $1,800 per month.
Best Cities for Remote Workers and Expats
Remote workers and digital nomads consistently choose cities that balance low cost with fast internet, good infrastructure, and high quality of life. Top choices in 2026 include Chiang Mai, Medellín, Lisbon, Bali, Mexico City, Tbilisi, and Belgrade. These cities offer monthly budgets under $2,000 with coworking spaces, expat communities, and straightforward visa options.
Cheapest Cities in Asia
Lahore, Karachi, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Colombo, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Tashkent offer the lowest costs in Asia. A single person can live comfortably on $400 to $800 per month including rent, food, and local transport.
Cheapest Cities in Europe
Tbilisi, Chisinau, Tirana, Skopje, Minsk, and Bucharest are among Europe's most affordable cities. Monthly living costs typically range from $700 to $1,200 for a single person, making them popular with expats and remote workers.
Cheapest Cities in Americas
Medellín, Guatemala City, Quito, La Paz, and Asunción offer the best value in the Americas. Monthly budgets of $800 to $1,400 cover a comfortable lifestyle including rent in a good neighborhood.
What Does Worldlivingcost Track?
Every city on Worldlivingcost is tracked across six major categories: restaurants and dining, groceries and markets, local transportation, utilities and internet, rent and housing, and average salaries. We also calculate eight quality indices per city including quality of life, safety, healthcare, climate, purchasing power, and traffic. All data is collected from verified contributors and government sources, cross-checked for accuracy, and updated monthly.
How to Use the Cost of Living Comparison Tool
Use the free city comparison tool to select any two cities and instantly see a side-by-side breakdown of every major expense category. You can also browse the city rankings to filter cities by cost, quality of life, safety, or continent, or explore the countries overview to compare cost of living at a country level.
Cost of Living by Country
Compare living expenses across 195 countries including rent, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and average salaries. Explore affordable countries for expats, remote workers, retirees, and students.
Cost of Living Calculator Guide
Use our free cost of living calculator to estimate monthly expenses and compare cities worldwide. Analyze housing costs, food prices, transportation, healthcare, and purchasing power.
Cost of Living vs Salary
Compare average salaries with living expenses to determine affordability. Understand purchasing power and income potential across major cities and countries.
Rent Prices by City
Explore apartment rental costs, housing affordability, and property prices across thousands of cities worldwide.
Quality of Life Rankings
Compare safety, healthcare, climate, purchasing power, traffic, and pollution scores to find the best cities to live in.
Healthcare Cost Comparison
Compare healthcare expenses and medical affordability across countries and cities worldwide.
Cost of Living for Students
Discover affordable cities and countries for international students, including rent, food, transportation, and daily expenses.
Cost of Living for Retirees
Find retirement-friendly destinations with low living costs, quality healthcare, safety, and excellent quality of life.