Hong Kong remains the most expensive city in the world for foreign workers, according to the ranking published annually by the HR services company Mercer on Monday. Brussels ranks in 37th position.
Hong Kong is ahead of the city-state of Singapore. Then follow four Swiss cities: Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern. The top 10 most expensive cities for expatriates are completed by New York (United States), London (United Kingdom), Nassau (Bahamas) and Los Angeles (United States).
London saw the biggest rise in this ranking, going from 17th place last year to eighth this year. It is mainly the cost of living and rents that have driven up prices in the British capital, according to Mercer.
Brussels, the only Belgian city taken into account in the ranking, climbed four places between 2023 and 2024 and finds itself 37th. However, life remains cheaper than in other major European capitals. Thus, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin rank 29th, 30th and 31st respectively.
On the other side of the ranking, Nigeria’s capital Abuja is considered the cheapest city for foreign workers, among the 226 metropolises included in this index.
The prices of 200 goods and services are compared to produce this annual ranking: the prices of housing, transport, food, clothing, household items and leisure are taken into account in particular.
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