To find the world cities that are costliest for expatriates, Mercer, a global research firm that advises multinational firms on the price of relocating employees, studied 214 urban centers where international firms do business. They compared the costs of over 200 everyday items that have broad international appeal. Thanks to a depreciated dollar, no U.S. cities made the list this year. Three African cities that Mercer added to its survey scored highly.
10. Copenhagen, Denmark
2009 Ranking: 7
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $2,755.18
Cup of coffee: $6.06
Two movie tickets: $40.41
Fast-food hamburger: $10.28
9. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2009 Ranking: 5
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $4,248.45
Cup of coffee: $5.79
Two movie tickets: $19.31
Fast-food hamburger: $3.35
8. Zurich, Switzerland
2009 Ranking: 6
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $2,984.74
Cup of coffee: $5.13
Two movie tickets: $35.44
Fast-food hamburger: $10.54
7. Libreville, Gabon
2009 Ranking: not ranked
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $2,083.30
Cup of coffee: $4.17
Two movie tickets: not available
Fast-food hamburger: $27.08
6. Osaka, Japan
2009 Ranking: 2
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $2,218.21
Cup of coffee: $6.10
Two movie tickets: $39.93
Fast-food hamburger: $7.21
5. Geneva, Switzerland
2009 Ranking: 4
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $4,010.75
Cup of coffee: $5.13
Two movie tickets: $29.85
Fast-food hamburger: $10.54
4. Moscow, Russia
2009 Ranking: 3
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $3,600
Cup of coffee: $8.29
Two movie tickets: $26.53
Fast-food hamburger: $5.67
3. Ndjamena, Chad
2009 Ranking: not ranked
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: not available
Cup of coffee: $3.12
Two movie tickets: not available
Fast-food hamburger: $26.04
2. Tokyo, Japan
2009 Ranking: 1
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $4,436.42
Cup of coffee: $6.65
Two movie tickets: $39.93
Fast-food hamburger: $7.21
1. Luanda, Angola
2009 Ranking: not ranked
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $7,000
Cup of coffee: $3.80
Two movie tickets: $26.00
Fast-food hamburger: $17.50
10. Copenhagen, Denmark
2009 Ranking: 7
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $2,755.18
Cup of coffee: $6.06
Two movie tickets: $40.41
Fast-food hamburger: $10.28
9. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2009 Ranking: 5
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $4,248.45
Cup of coffee: $5.79
Two movie tickets: $19.31
Fast-food hamburger: $3.35
8. Zurich, Switzerland
2009 Ranking: 6
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $2,984.74
Cup of coffee: $5.13
Two movie tickets: $35.44
Fast-food hamburger: $10.54
7. Libreville, Gabon
2009 Ranking: not ranked
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $2,083.30
Cup of coffee: $4.17
Two movie tickets: not available
Fast-food hamburger: $27.08
6. Osaka, Japan
2009 Ranking: 2
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $2,218.21
Cup of coffee: $6.10
Two movie tickets: $39.93
Fast-food hamburger: $7.21
5. Geneva, Switzerland
2009 Ranking: 4
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $4,010.75
Cup of coffee: $5.13
Two movie tickets: $29.85
Fast-food hamburger: $10.54
4. Moscow, Russia
2009 Ranking: 3
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $3,600
Cup of coffee: $8.29
Two movie tickets: $26.53
Fast-food hamburger: $5.67
3. Ndjamena, Chad
2009 Ranking: not ranked
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: not available
Cup of coffee: $3.12
Two movie tickets: not available
Fast-food hamburger: $26.04
2. Tokyo, Japan
2009 Ranking: 1
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $4,436.42
Cup of coffee: $6.65
Two movie tickets: $39.93
Fast-food hamburger: $7.21
1. Luanda, Angola
2009 Ranking: not ranked
Monthly cost to rent a luxury two-bedroom apartment: $7,000
Cup of coffee: $3.80
Two movie tickets: $26.00
Fast-food hamburger: $17.50
