The world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide, Numbeo has reported that Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore are considered to be the cheapest cities to live in.
According to Numbeo’s report, Karachi ranked as the cheapest among the three cities.
Karachi is the least expensive city globally, being 81% cheaper than New York City. Following Karachi, the cities of Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan are the second and fourth most affordable cities, respectively.
In contrast, Geneva in Switzerland is the most expensive city in the world, with costs 1.7% higher than New York City. Zurich in Switzerland and New York City are ranked the second and third most expensive cities, respectively.
Lahore is slightly more expensive than Karachi. Islamabad, on the other hand, is ranked the fourth cheapest city in the world.
Moving to India, Mumbai ranks significantly lower in cost compared to New York, and Delhi also features as a more affordable city relative to the American economic hub. Similarly, Chennai has a lower cost of living index, and Bangalore is affordable in terms of living costs. Kolkata is also listed among the cheaper cities.
Expanding the geographic scope, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is more economical than many global cities. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is also comparatively low in cost of living.
Geneva, Switzerland tops the list as the most expensive city, with a Cost of Living Index of 101.7, indicating its costs are 1.7% higher than New York City. The city also has a high Rent Index of 59.6 and a Groceries Index of 111.4, reflecting its high living expenses. However, its Local Purchasing Power Index of 152.2 suggests residents have significant purchasing power.
Zurich, Switzerland is the second most expensive city, with a Cost of Living Index of 100.4. While its Rent Index is lower at 53.5, its Groceries Index and Restaurant Price Index are still high, at 105.9 and 102.8, respectively. Notably, Zurich has the highest Local Purchasing Power Index of 181.2 among the cities listed.
New York City, USA serves as the baseline, with all indices set at 100.0 for comparison.
Read more
Islamabad and Karachi ranked ‘least expensive’ cities for expats
