A study conducted by Mercer Consulting revealed the world's most expensive cities for foreign workers in 2021. According to the report, the evaluation of cities based on the cost of living for foreigners is based on key factors such as currency fluctuations, inflation, and instability in accommodation prices, which determine the living costs. The overall cost index reflects prices of more than 200 items, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.
According to the study, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, topped the list as the most expensive city in the Gulf, ranking 29th globally, up from 31st last year. Bahrain's capital, Manama, followed at 52nd compared to 71st last year. Doha ranked first among Gulf Cooperation Council countries as the cheapest city for residents, dropping 21 places to 130th globally, followed by Kuwait City at 113th.
Beirut was ranked third globally and first among Arab cities in living costs, climbing 45 spots this year compared to 2021. The study also indicated that the most expensive cities worldwide for expatriates are Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, in first place, followed by Hong Kong in second, Beirut in third, Tokyo in fourth, and Zurich in fifth.
Additionally, the study classified Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan as the cheapest city in the world for living costs, followed by Lusaka in Tanzania, Tbilisi in Georgia, Tunis, and Brasília.
