2019年全球生活成本指数（英文版）_12页_2mb

Worldwide Cost of Living 2019 Summary

Core Content

The Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2019 by The Economist Intelligence Unit provides an analysis of the cost of living across 133 global cities. It highlights the impact of currency fluctuations, inflation, and economic conditions on living expenses. The report also includes historical comparisons and insights into the future outlook for the cost of living.

Main Findings

Top 10 Most Expensive Cities

• Singapore, Paris, and Hong Kong share the title of the world's most expensive city for the first time in the survey's history.
• New York and Los Angeles are the only North American cities in the top 10, with New York moving up 6 places and Los Angeles 4 places.
• Zurich, Geneva, and Copenhagen are among the most expensive in Western Europe.
• Asia and Europe together account for the majority of the top 10, with Osaka (Japan) and Seoul (South Korea) joining the list.
• Tel Aviv (Israel) is the sole Middle Eastern representative in the top 10.

Cost of Living Trends

• The global cost of living index fell to 69% (New York = 100) in 2019, down from 73% in 2018.
• This is still significantly lower than 82% (five years ago) and 89% (ten years ago).
• The US dollar's strength in 2018 led to higher costs in US cities relative to other global cities.

Top 10 Most Expensive Cities by Category

• Asian cities dominate the grocery category, with Seoul being the most expensive.
• European cities have the highest costs in household, personal care, recreation, and entertainment.
• Zurich and Geneva are the most expensive for beer and business suits, respectively.

Bottom 10 Cheapest Cities

• Caracas (Venezuela) is the cheapest city in the world, with a cost of living index of 15%.
• Damascus (Syria) is the second cheapest, but inflation and economic turmoil have kept prices low.
• Bangalore, Chennai, and Karachi (India) and Almaty (Kazakhstan) remain among the cheapest cities.
• Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan) have seen significant declines in their rankings due to economic and political instability.

Key Insights

• Currency fluctuations are a major driver of changes in the cost of living rankings.
• Emerging markets like Turkey and Argentina experienced sharp currency devaluations, leading to dramatic drops in their rankings.
• Inflation and economic turmoil in countries like Venezuela, Argentina, and Brazil caused cities to fall significantly in the rankings.
• South Asian cities remain some of the cheapest, but political instability has introduced risks to their livability.
• Asia accounts for four of the top 10 most expensive cities, while Europe accounts for five, and Western Europe dominates the most expensive cities.
• Caracas has seen a sharp decline due to hyperinflation and economic collapse, while Nouméa (New Caledonia) has risen due to limited competition in local markets.
• The US dollar's strength led to US cities becoming more expensive globally, while oil prices and commodity shocks have a direct impact on the cost of living, especially in developing economies.

Future Outlook

• The report predicts a slower global growth in 2019 and a further decline in 2020.
• US-China trade tensions are expected to continue affecting global trade and prices.
• The US dollar is likely to weaken against the euro and yen in late 2019, potentially reducing the cost of living in US cities.
• Emerging economies are expected to become relatively more expensive as economic growth and commodity prices recover.
• Political and economic shocks could lead to localized inflation in certain regions.

Methodology

• The survey compares more than 400 prices across 160 products and services in 133 cities.
• Prices are collected from supermarkets, mid-priced stores, and specialty outlets.
• Data is converted to US dollars using current exchange rates and weighted to create comparative indices.
• The survey is biannual, conducted in March and September, with results published in June and December.

Additional Resources

• The full report includes detailed regional analysis, historical price trends, and city-to-city comparisons.
• Users can access CityData, a database with historical price data from 1990 and semi-annual updates.
• The data can be used for expatriate compensation planning, business travel cost estimation, and economic analysis.

Conclusion

The 2019 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey highlights the global convergence of living costs, with currency fluctuations and inflation playing a key role in shaping the rankings. While Asia and Europe dominate the most expensive and cheapest cities, the report underscores the impact of economic and political instability on living costs and livability. The future outlook suggests continued volatility and the potential for further cost adjustments due to global economic trends and currency movements.