NEW DELHI: A new year, a new list, and yet Mumbai remains at the top spot as the most
expensive city
in India for expats. In a recent
survey
published by consultancy firm Mercer, Mumbai has in fact climbed up 11 spots to be ranked 136th globally.
Delhi also featured in the top 200 and climbed up 4 spots from last year to 164th place.
Chennai’s ranking has fallen by five positions, now placing it at 189.
Similarly, Bengaluru has experienced a decline of six spots, landing at 195. Hyderabad’s position remains unchanged, holding steady at 202.
In contrast, Pune has climbed eight places to reach 205. Kolkata has also made progress, rising four spots to secure the 207th position.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong has once again claimed the top spot as the most expensive city for expatriates, according to a recent survey by Mercer. The second in the list is Singapore.
Following closely behind are Zurich, Geneva, and Basel, all located in Switzerland.
The survey, which evaluates the cost of living in 227 cities across the globe, takes into account factors such as housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.
“The ranking combines the cost of living and rental accommodation costs in each location, and currency movements are measured against the US dollar,” explained Mercer.
New York City, known for its high living costs, secured the seventh position on the list. Tel Aviv, which held the sixth spot last year, dropped to tenth place in the 2024 rankings. Cities in the Asia-Pacific region dominated the top ten, with Tokyo coming in fifth and Beijing ninth.
Mercer’s survey serves as a valuable resource for companies and governments in determining compensation strategies for their expatriate employees. The data helps ensure that employees maintain their purchasing power when stationed abroad. “The volatile global markets and rising inflation are reflected in the cost of living rankings,” said Mercer’s Vince Cordova.
