Singapore remains world's most expensive city for 4th year running

Singapore is the world's most expensive city for expatriates to live in for the fourth year running, according to the latest findings of the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Worldwide Cost of Living Survey released on Tuesday.

The survey, which compares the price of over 150 items in 133 cities around the world, found that Singapore was 20 percent more expensive than New York and 5 percent pricier than China's Hong Kong, which lies in second place.

Singapore's unenviable title comes largely because the certification of entitlement system makes running a car there significantly more expensive than anywhere in the world, with clothing prices and utility prices also relatively high. But the Asian hub also offers better value for money in other areas such as grocery shopping, recreation and domestic help.

Jon Copestake, editor of the survey, commented Singapore is reflective of a regional trend, with Asian hubs now making up many of the world's most expensive cities. In addition to China's Hong Kong, Singapore is joined in the top 10 by the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka in 4th and 5th place respectively, and the South Korean capital Seoul in 6th place.

The two Japanese cities in particular have jumped back up the ranking in the last 12 months thanks to a resurgent yen. Only one year ago, Tokyo was in 11th position with a cost of living on a par with that of Shanghai.

Meanwhile, Seoul has seen a steady rise up the rankings over the last decade. Seven years ago it was ranked as low as 50th, but it has moved steadily up as the economy and the Korean won has strengthened and prices have risen in line with incomes.

Conversely, weakening consumer sentiment and falls in the Renminbi's value against the U.S. dollar have seen Chinese cities moving in the opposite direction. Beijing fell 16 places to 47th, while the eight Chinese cities surveyed fell by an average of 11 places each. Shanghai, China's business center, is now ranked 16th overall, down from 11th last year and on a par with the cost of living in the New Zealand cities of Auckland and Wellington.

In fact, Auckland and Wellington were among the fastest risers up the global ranking. Australian cities also became relatively more expensive with Sydney and Melbourne moving up six places each into 14th and 15th place respectively.