- by croatiaweek
- January 23, 2026
-
in
Entertainment
Split
According to the latest global ranking by cost-of-living platform Numbeo, Switzerland has been named the most expensive country in the world to live in, with Swiss cities dominating the top of the global list.
The analysis, based on data provided by more than 600,000 users worldwide, compares living costs in cities across the globe and highlights significant differences between regions.
It also shows where Croatian cities and neighbouring capitals rank in comparison to global and European hubs.
The top six most expensive cities in the world are all located in Switzerland. Zurich leads the ranking, followed by Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Lugano and Bern.
Among the world’s ten most expensive cities, three are in the United States: New York ranks seventh, Honolulu ninth and San Francisco tenth. Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, places eighth.
Croatian cities remain comparatively affordable
Compared to the world’s most expensive cities, those in Croatia and the wider region remain significantly more affordable.
Zagreb is Croatia’s most expensive city, ranking 201st globally with a cost of living index of 61.1. This places living costs in the Croatian capital nearly 40 per cent lower than in New York.
Other Croatian cities follow closely behind: Split ranks 211th, Rijeka 224th, and Osijek 254th on the global list.
The world’s cheapest cities
At the opposite end of the ranking are cities with the lowest living costs, all of which are located in India. Living expenses in these cities are on average around 80 per cent lower than in New York.
Coimbatore has been named the cheapest city in the world.
The top 20 most expensive cities globally are:
1. Zurich (Switzerland)
2. Geneva (Switzerland)
3. Basel (Switzerland)
4. Lausanne (Switzerland)
5. Lugano (Switzerland)
6. Bern (Switzerland)
7. New York (USA)
8. Reykjavik (Iceland)
9. Honolulu (USA)
10. San Francisco (USA)
11. Tel Aviv-Jaffa (Israel)
12. Seattle (USA)
13. Oslo (Norway)
14. Singapore (Singapore)
15. London (United Kingdom)
16. Washington, D.C. (USA)
17. San Jose (USA)
18. Boston (USA)
19. Charleston (USA)
20. Copenhagen (Denmark)
How Numbeo measures the cost of living
Numbeo calculates its Cost of Living Index based on everyday expenses such as grocery prices, restaurant costs, public transport, fuel and utility bills, including electricity, heating, water and internet. Rental prices are not included in this index and are measured separately through a dedicated Rent Index.
