Living abroad is exciting, but if you’re planning to move to Zurich, Switzerland, get ready to spend big.
According to Numbeo’s 2025 mid-year cost of living index, Zurich is the most expensive city in the world. The index compares daily expenses like food, dining, transport, and utilities (but not rent). Using New York City as the baseline score of 100, Zurich scored 112.5, indicating that everyday costs are even higher than in New York.
In Zurich, grocery and restaurant prices are among the highest in the world. Still, rent is cheaper compared to New York, with Zurich’s rent index at 68.1.
Switzerland dominates the list, with Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Lugano, and Bern taking the next five spots. New York ranked 7th, followed by Reykjavik (Iceland), Honolulu, and San Francisco.
Despite its high prices, Zurich is considered a great place to live. Mercer ranked it as the best location for expats, and it was also named the smartest city in the world last year.
For travelers, the good news is that other major European cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen scored under 100, making them cheaper than Zurich.
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