Frequently Asked Questions

All figures on this site are approximate, illustrative estimates for general informational and comparison purposes only. They are not precise real-time pricing. Actual costs vary significantly by neighborhood, lifestyle, currency exchange rates, and the time of year. We compile these estimates manually from public sources and update them periodically; however, we recommend verifying current prices with local sources before making any financial decisions.

Our dataset is manually compiled and reviewed periodically — typically every 6 to 12 months. Cost of living data goes stale over time due to inflation, currency fluctuations, and changing local market conditions. We include a date stamp in our dataset file so you can see when it was last updated. This site does not use live pricing APIs, so figures should be treated as a general guide rather than daily-updated values.

All prices on this site are shown in US Dollars (USD). This makes it easy to compare cities on a single baseline, but keep in mind that exchange rate fluctuations can significantly impact real-world costs if you earn or hold a different currency. If you need live currency conversion, we recommend using a dedicated currency converter tool.

The Cost Index is a relative score where New York City = 100. It is calculated by combining several weighted cost categories including rent, groceries, transportation, and utilities. A city with a Cost Index of 50 is roughly half as expensive as New York City. The index is meant as a quick comparison reference — your personal costs will depend on your specific spending habits and lifestyle choices.

Our v1 dataset covers 35+ major global cities across six continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. We focus on cities that are popular destinations for expats, digital nomads, students, and professionals. We plan to expand the dataset over time.

We compare six key cost categories: average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center, average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment outside the city center, estimated monthly groceries for one person, the cost of a monthly public transit pass, and average monthly utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage). These categories represent the most common recurring living expenses.

This data is intended for general informational and comparison purposes only. It can give you a useful starting point for understanding relative costs between cities, but it should not be the sole basis for a relocation or budget decision. We strongly recommend researching current, location-specific costs — including visiting the city if possible — before making any financial commitments.

Our data is self-compiled from publicly available cost-of-living reports, government statistics, expat forums, and general market research. We do not scrape or reproduce data from any proprietary or crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms. Each figure is an approximate estimate intended to give a general sense of relative costs between cities.

No, this site focuses on pre-tax living expenses (rent, groceries, transit, utilities) and does not include income tax, sales tax/VAT, or social security comparisons. Tax rates vary dramatically by country and individual circumstances, so a separate tax analysis is recommended if that is an important factor in your comparison.

We appreciate feedback! While this site does not currently have a user submission system, we periodically review and update our dataset. If you notice significantly outdated figures or would like to suggest a city, you can reach out — though please note this is a passive-income portfolio site and response times may vary.