Where is life cheaper: a ranking of world capitals by cost of living

Introduction

Have you ever wondered which cities in the world have the highest or lowest quality of life? We conducted a detailed study in which we compared the cost of living in the ten largest capitals. The results of our analysis are presented in this article. We looked at life in well-known cities such as Washington, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Vienna, Madrid, Lisbon, andRome.

In the course of the research, we applied a number of criteria, such as:

• Food prices;
• Transportation expenses;
• Cost of clothing;
• Rent and real estate;
• Utility payments and internet expenses.

At the end of the article, there is a ranking of cities based on collected data on the cost of living. For our analysis, we used international databases.

Washington (USA)

Grocery prices:

• milk — €0.92;
• chicken fillet (1 kg) — €10.62;
• eggs (12 pieces) — €2.59;
• Bananas - €1.45.

Rent and housing costs:

You can buy an apartment with an area of 90 square meters in Washington for a price starting from€331,380to€635,040.

The rent for a one-bedroom apartment ranges from€1800to€2350while a three-room will cost in the range€3217-€4230.

The expenses for utilities and internet amount to€208.87.

Transport:

• Monthly pass - €97.12;
• Taxi fare (1 km) — €1.52;
• A liter of gasoline costs €0.68;

Sports and clothing:

• A monthly fitness subscription costs €85.79;
• Jeans - €57.27;
• Sneakers — €83.82.

The total cost of living in Washington is approximately€1550per month excluding rent.

London (United Kingdom)

Grocery prices:

• milk — €1.27;
• chicken meat (1 kg) — €8.22;
• eggs (12 pieces) — €2.94;
• Bananas - €1.59.

Rent and housing costs:

You can buy 90 square meters in London for a sum starting from€731,340to€1,414,440.

The rent for a one-bedroom apartment varies from€1687to€2286, while a three-room apartment will cost in the range of€2796-€4269.

Utilities and internet make up€283.

Transport:

• Monthly pass - €201.57;
• The cost of a taxi ride (1 km) is €2.29;
• A liter of gasoline costs €1.67.

Sports and clothing:

• Fitness center - €59.52 per month;
• Jeans - €90.72;
• Sneakers — €96.29.

The total living expenses amount to about€1827excluding rent.

Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Prices for the products:

• milk — €1.23;
• chicken (1 kg) — €9.26;
• eggs (12 pieces) — €3.28;
• Bananas - €1.94.

Renting and buying housing:

To purchase a 90 square meter property in Amsterdam, a budget of around€400,000-€800,000.

The rent for a one-bedroom apartment ranges from€1500to€2000, and a three-room apartment starts from€2200to€2800.

The expenses for utilities and internet amount to about€200.

Transport:

• A monthly pass costs about€100;
• A taxi ride —€1.50for a kilometer;
• A liter of gasoline —€1.60.

Sports and clothing:

• A monthly fitness subscription costs around€40;
• The price of jeans is approximately€70;
• The sneakers cost around€90.

The overall cost of living in Amsterdam can reach€1800excluding rent.

Conclusion

These key aspects of the cost of living research in various capitals around the world will help you better understand financial expenses, both for everyday costs and additional needs, depending on the chosen city. Stay with us for more information on comparing living conditions in different countries and their capitals.

In today's times, the cost of rent and living in various cities across Europe has become a key topic for many citizens. For example, in Amsterdam, to rent a one-bedroom apartment, one must be prepared to pay between €1,481 and €1,838, while a three-bedroom home will cost between €2,321 and €3,083. It's also important to consider utility bills and internet, which together amount to approximately €248.

Transportation costs

As for transportation costs, a monthly public transport pass in Amsterdam costs €112.53, while a taxi ride within the city will cost about €2.71 per kilometer. A liter of gasoline can be purchased for €1.91. For those who prefer an active lifestyle, a gym membership will cost around €45.56. When it comes to shopping expenses, a pair of jeans from a store will set you back €111.32, while sports shoes will cost approximately €117.72. Overall, the average monthly living expenses in Amsterdam, excluding rent, amount to about €1,789.

Other cities in the Netherlands with more affordable real estate prices can also be highlighted.

Prices in Paris

Moving on to Paris in France, the prices for basic products look as follows:

• Milk: €1.24
• Chicken meat (1 kg): €14.27
• Eggs (12 pieces): €4.51
• Bananas: €2.44

Rent remains quite high as well: a 90 square meter apartment will cost between €954,990 and €1,272,600. The rent for a one-bedroom apartment ranges from €1,010 to €1,409, while a three-bedroom home will require between €2,040 and €3,182. Utility bills and internet will cost around €218, and a monthly transit pass will be €86.56. Taxi rides are priced at €1.73 per kilometer, and a liter of gasoline costs €1.79.

Fitness and shopping in Paris

To maintain physical activity, a gym membership typically costs around €45.33. Clothing prices vary, with a pair of jeans averaging €100.89 and sneakers costing about €105.48. Overall, the cost of living in Paris is around €1,734, excluding rental expenses.

Prices in Berlin

Berlin in Germany also has its own price picture. Here, milk can be bought for €1.07, a kilogram of chicken for €8.04, and a dozen eggs for €2.53. What are the housing prices in Berlin? Buying an apartment with an area of 90 square meters will cost between €379,530 and €613,800. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment ranges from €756 to €1,020, while for a three-bedroom apartment, you need to pay between €1,390 and €1,967.

Cost of living in Europe

In different corners of Europe, the cost of essential goods and housing rentals can vary significantly. Let's take a closer look at a few cities to understand what financial expenses local residents can expect.

Warsaw

Let's start with Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Here:

• A kilogram of chicken fillet will cost€4.39.
• You'll have to pay for a dozen eggs.€2.20.
• You can find bananas at a price.€1.31.

When it comes to the real estate market, buying a 90-square-meter apartment will cost from€228,780to€363,060The rental price for a one-bedroom apartment varies within a range.€578-€740...while for a three-room apartment you will have to pay at least...€1023to€1409.

Utility services and internet connection usually cost€190As for transportation:

• The monthly pass will cost€27.74.
• The taxi will cost€0.63for a kilometer.

A liter of gasoline can be purchased for€1.24A monthly fitness subscription will cost€29.20If we talk about the price of clothing, a pair of jeans in the store costs about€90.14and sports sneakers —€79.88As a result, the average monthly living expenses can amount to approximately€907excluding rent.

Vienna

Now let's turn our attention to Vienna, the capital of Austria. Here:

• A kilogram of chicken meat will cost€9.73.
• A pack of 12 eggs costs€3.28.
• You can buy bananas for€2.05.

The prices for real estate are also high: for an apartment with an area of 90 square meters, you will have to pay at least€472,950to€797,850The rent for a one-bedroom apartment here varies from€737to€1030...and for three-room apartments, you will have to pay starting from...€1337to€1879.

Utility bills and internet in Vienna amount to about€270A monthly pass will cost€55.40and the price per kilometer for a taxi is€1.64A liter of gasoline costs about€1.38a monthly membership card for the fitness club —€31.61In terms of fashion, a pair of jeans costs about€91.29and the sneakers will cost€95.83The overall cost of living in Vienna is approximately€1361not including rent.

Lisbon

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, presents the following picture:

• A liter of milk costs only€0.77.
• A kilogram of chicken will cost€5.71.
• The locals pay for 12 eggs.€2.17.
• Bananas are priced€1.27.

The prices for real estate also vary: a 90-square-meter apartment can be purchased for€264,060-€448,200and the rent for a one-bedroom apartment will be€744-€945Three-room apartments cost€1206-€1809.

Utilities and internet cost about€240monthly travel pass — in€46.17the cost of the taxi ride —€0.54A liter of gasoline in Lisbon costs a kilometer.€1.78and a gym membership —€38.25The jeans are priced at€88.23and the sneakers — in€82.14Overall, life in Lisbon costs€980if we don't take into account the rental payments.

Rome

As for Rome, the capital of Italy, here:

• Milk costs€1.65.
• A kilogram of chicken meat —€9.94.
• 12 eggs will cost€4.19.
• You can buy bananas for€1.95.

The prices for apartments in Rome fluctuate: a 90-square-meter apartment costs from€334,530to€714,780The rent for a one-bedroom apartment will be€738-€1082For three-room apartments, you will have to pay starting from€1391to€2290.

Utility bills and internet cost about€240A monthly pass in Rome will cost€40.40the cost of a taxi ride —€1.73a kilometer away, and gas costs€1.75for a liter. A fitness subscription can be obtained for€74.99and the jeans will cost€95.75sneakers —€97Thus, the total amount for living in Rome is approximately€1310not including rental expenses.

Conclusion

During our research comparing the cost of living in the ten largest capitals of the world, it became clear to me that the choice of residence often depends on many factors beyond finances. At first glance, the differences in the cost of living between cities like London and Warsaw may seem shocking. However, it is important to consider not only the costs of food, housing rent, and transportation, but also the quality of life, available services, and the atmosphere of each capital.

An affordable life in Warsaw, for example, can be attractive to young people and those seeking new opportunities. As our data shows, renting housing in Berlin and Madrid also offers more affordable conditions compared to London and Paris. For many people, an important aspect is the developed infrastructure of the cities and the presence of international communities. This makes capitals like Berlin and Amsterdam particularly appealing.

At the same time, we must not forget about the prices of food and utilities, as they can significantly impact the overall budget. London, for example, despite high incomes, can be unbearable for many due to the incredible rental and everyday expenses. Against this backdrop, cities where living would be cheaper could open new horizons for comfortable living.

Key points

• Choice of the capitalLiving is not just a financial issue.
• Need accounting.personal needs, lifestyle and values.
• Every city has its unique charm and a multitude of opportunities.
• Even in the most expensive capitals, you can findoptionsthat fit your budget.

In concluding my research, I can say that the results will help you approach the choice of a place to live more consciously, allowing you to analyze and weigh all the "pros" and "cons" considering your priorities. I hope that the data from our study will assist you in making a more informed decision about your living situation, enabling you to analyze and weigh all the "pros" and "cons" based on your priorities.

Every city has its unique charm and a multitude of opportunities, and even in the most expensive capitals, you can find options that fit your budget if you look beyond the surface. In conclusion, let's not forget that while the economic aspect is important, the true value of living in a capital lies in the ability to realize our dreams, connect with interesting people, and gain new knowledge — this is what makes each capital unique.