2018年全球生活成本调查（英文）_14页

Worldwide Cost of Living 2018 Summary

Core Content

The Worldwide Cost of Living 2018 report, published by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), ranks global cities based on their cost of living. The survey compares over 400 prices across 160 products and services in 133 cities, using New York as the base city with an index of 100.

Main Findings

• Top 10 Most Expensive Cities:

  • Singapore retains its title as the most expensive city for the fifth consecutive year.
  • Paris and Zurich share the second position, with Seoul, Hong Kong, and Sydney also in the top ten.
  • Tokyo and Osaka have dropped out of the top ten due to low inflation.
  • Tel Aviv has moved up significantly, now ranked 9th, due to currency appreciation and high car-related costs.

• Key Trends:

  • Currency Fluctuations: Played a major role in the ranking changes. For example, the weakening US dollar pushed New York down to 13th place.
  • Regional Representation: Europe accounts for half of the top ten, while Asia has four cities. Tel Aviv is the only Middle Eastern city in the top ten.
  • Price Increases: The global cost of living index rose slightly to 74% compared to New York, up from 73% in 2017, but still below the 85.5% level from five years ago.

• Cheapest Cities:

  • Damascus (Syria) and Caracas (Venezuela) are the two cheapest cities, with Damascus falling 14 places due to inflation and currency depreciation.
  • Almaty (Kazakhstan), Lagos (Nigeria), and New Delhi (India) are also among the cheapest.
  • Despite being cheap, these cities often face economic and political instability, which can affect their livability.

• Category Insights:

  • Asian cities are the most expensive for general grocery shopping.
  • European cities dominate in household, personal care, recreation, and entertainment costs.
  • Singapore is still the most expensive for car ownership and operation, while it is relatively cheaper in categories like personal care and household goods.

Key Points

• Currency Depreciation: Led to significant drops in the cost of living index for cities like Tashkent and Cairo.
• Currency Appreciation: Pushed cities like Tel Aviv and Mexico City up the ranking.
• Economic and Political Instability: Often correlates with lower cost of living but can reduce livability.
• Long-term Trends: The cost of living is expected to continue changing due to economic and political shocks, with emerging economies likely to see increased costs as growth and commodity prices recover.

EIU Services

• Subscription Services:

  • Country Analysis: Detailed economic and political forecasts for different markets.
  • Risk Analysis: Identifies threats and provides implications for organizations.
  • Industry Analysis: Forecasts and insights for six key industries in 60 major economies.

• EIU Consulting:

  • Offers bespoke solutions for consumer, healthcare, and public policy sectors.
  • Includes services like EIU Canback for consumer-facing industries and Bazian & Clearstate for healthcare.

• The Economist Corporate Network:

  • Provides macro and industry-focused analysis for organizational leaders.
  • Features interactive conferences, C-suite discussions, and high-quality research.

Methodology

• The survey collects over 50,000 individual prices across 160 products and services.
• Prices are converted into US dollars using current exchange rates and weighted to create comparative indices.
• The index is based on international spending patterns, not specific national habits.

Additional Information

• The report includes historical data for the same cities from the past 5 and 10 years.
• It provides comparative analysis across regions and categories.
• The full report and data set can be accessed through The EIU Store at store.eiu.com/product/worldwide-cost-of-living-2018/.

Conclusion

The 2018 report highlights the significant impact of currency fluctuations and economic policies on the cost of living. While some cities have become more expensive, others have become cheaper due to economic instability. The EIU continues to be a trusted source for global cost-of-living data and analysis, offering comprehensive insights for businesses and policymakers.