Soaring rents, inflation, and the cost-of-living crisis have pushed London up the rankings as one of the most expensive cities to live and work in. London now ranks eighth in the global cost-of-living index, one spot higher than last year, just behind New York.

Hong Kong remains the most expensive city for expats and global workers, followed by Singapore in second place. Switzerland holds the next three positions, with Zurich, Geneva, and Basel occupying the third, fourth, and fifth spots. Copenhagen is the only European city in the top 20, while Paris and Berlin are ranked 29th and 31st, respectively.

UK cities outside of London fare much better. Edinburgh has dropped to 53rd from last year's 33rd position, Glasgow is at 68th, Birmingham at 78th, and Aberdeen has fallen to 82nd from 37th.

The cost of housing significantly impacts the cost-of-living rankings. Between 2023 and 2024, there was notable volatility in housing rental prices worldwide, with significant variations between cities.
A key factor driving the cost of housing is the supply shortage relative to demand. This mismatch is pushing prices up, particularly for international assignments.

The index revealed that average rents in London increased by 4%, New York by 7%, and Dubai by 21%. These rising costs are putting additional pressure on businesses, which must consider these expenses when relocating staff.

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