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Travel

World’s most expensive cities for expats in 2021

Published 12:06 AM EDT, Tue June 22, 2021
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<strong>World's most expensive cities for expats in 2021: </strong>Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, is the world's most expensive city for expats, according to the 2021 Mercer Cost of Living Survey. It was number two on last year's list. Click through the gallery to see the rest of the top 10.
World's most expensive cities for expats in 2021: Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, is the world's most expensive city for expats, according to the 2021 Mercer Cost of Living Survey. It was number two on last year's list. Click through the gallery to see the rest of the top 10.
Igor Sasin/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Hong Kong:</strong> Last year's priciest city, Hong Kong fell one spot to land in second place on this year's list. The annual Mercer report ranks cities across the world based on the comparative cost of expenses including housing, transportation, food and entertainment.
Hong Kong: Last year's priciest city, Hong Kong fell one spot to land in second place on this year's list. The annual Mercer report ranks cities across the world based on the comparative cost of expenses including housing, transportation, food and entertainment.
Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Beirut, Lebanon:</strong> Perhaps the biggest change from last year's Mercer survey sees Beirut rising from the 45th most expensive city for international workers in 2020 to the third priciest for 2021.
Beirut, Lebanon: Perhaps the biggest change from last year's Mercer survey sees Beirut rising from the 45th most expensive city for international workers in 2020 to the third priciest for 2021.
Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Tokyo, Japan: </strong>Japan's capital and last year's third priciest city, Tokyo dropped one spot and is now the world's fourth most expensive city for expats, according to Mercer.
Tokyo, Japan: Japan's capital and last year's third priciest city, Tokyo dropped one spot and is now the world's fourth most expensive city for expats, according to Mercer.
Kiichiro Sato/AP
<strong>Zurich, Switzerland: </strong>Switzerland has three cities on this year's top 10 list. The most expensive of the trio is Zurich, which grabs the number five spot on the 2021 Mercer Cost of Living Survey.
Zurich, Switzerland: Switzerland has three cities on this year's top 10 list. The most expensive of the trio is Zurich, which grabs the number five spot on the 2021 Mercer Cost of Living Survey.
Christian Ender/Getty Images
<strong>Shanghai, China: </strong>As the only major global economy to achieve growth in 2020, China's cities have moved up the rankings across the board. Shanghai rose one spot to come in at number six on this year's Mercer list.
Shanghai, China: As the only major global economy to achieve growth in 2020, China's cities have moved up the rankings across the board. Shanghai rose one spot to come in at number six on this year's Mercer list.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
<strong>Singapore: </strong>This year's rankings have also been impacted by changing business models in the wake of the pandemic. Last year's number five, Singapore fell two spots and is now the world's seventh most expensive city for expats.
Singapore: This year's rankings have also been impacted by changing business models in the wake of the pandemic. Last year's number five, Singapore fell two spots and is now the world's seventh most expensive city for expats.
Ore Huiying/Getty Images
<strong>Geneva, Switzerland: </strong>The second Swiss city on Mercer's 2021 list, Geneva is now the world's eighth most expensive city for overseas workers. <strong> </strong>
Geneva, Switzerland: The second Swiss city on Mercer's 2021 list, Geneva is now the world's eighth most expensive city for overseas workers.
Markus Schreiber/AP
<strong>Beijing, China: </strong>Last year's number 10 city, China's capital rose a spot to land at ninth on the 2021 Mercer Cost of Living Survey.
Beijing, China: Last year's number 10 city, China's capital rose a spot to land at ninth on the 2021 Mercer Cost of Living Survey.
Zhang Qiao/VCG/Getty Images
<strong>Bern, Switzerland: </strong>Rounding out the top 10 is Switzerland's capital city, Bern.
Bern, Switzerland: Rounding out the top 10 is Switzerland's capital city, Bern.
Francois Glories/Abaca/Sipa USA/AP
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