If you’re looking to move abroad, there are a lot of factors to consider, from visa requirements and language barriers to the global expat community. But the feasibility of living in another country often boils down to money—it’s a simple fact that the price tag of daily life is a lot steeper (or cheaper) in some places compared to others. The most expensive places to live in the world come with sky-high rents and food and utility prices that will start adding up before you can even settle down.
To determine which destinations will drain your bank account fastest, we’ve turned to the Cost of Living Index from data company Numbeo, which is constantly updated throughout the year. The expansive database compares expenses across thousands of places worldwide, measuring everyday costs such as rent, groceries, and restaurants. Those scores are then weighed against New York City as the baseline at 100—for example, if a destination has a score of 120, that means its prices are 20% higher than in NYC.
Based on Numbeo’s 2025 mid-year report, here are the 10 most expensive countries and autonomous territories in the world.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.