27 cities in the world where expatriates feel happy with costs of living.
ELENA HOLODNY, BUSINESS INSIDER
THE INDEPENDENT TRAVEL
InterNations recently released its 2017 list of the best cities for living and working abroad.
City rankings are based on survey responses from nearly 8,000 people in 40 countries.
For each city, we also compiled cost-of-living estimates from Numbeo's database.
If you're thinking about living abroad, the best people to ask for tips might be the people who have already done it: expats.
InterNations, an expatriate network and global guide, put together a list of the best cities for living and working abroad, according to expats they surveyed.
To compile the data, InterNations surveyed 7,985 expats living in 40 countries. A city had to be mentioned at least 45 times to be included. City rankings were determined based on the quality and cost of urban living, quality of work life and finances, and ease of settling into the city.
We also noted the cost of necessities (and beer) there, based on figures from Numbeo. All amounts are in US dollars and are current as of November.
Here are the best overall cities for expats in 2017.
27. Stockholm, Sweden
Cost of living compared with New York City: 12.8% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $1,406.43 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $74.58
Commuter pass: $98.96
Cappuccino: $4.33
Domestic beer: $7.15
26. Cape Town, South Africa
Cost of living compared with New York City: 59.1% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $716.30 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $58.33
Commuter pass: $24.20
Cappuccino: $1.62
Domestic beer: $2.07
25. Kampala, Uganda
Cost of living compared with New York City: 65.4%
Monthly:
Rent: $234.87 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $51.57
Commuter pass: $29.90
Cappuccino: $2.10
Domestic beer: $1.10
24. Munich, Germany
Cost of living compared with New York City: 21.8% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $1,057.55 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $257.57
Commuter pass: $75.83
Cappuccino: $3.36
Domestic beer: $4.43
23. Zurich, Switzerland
Cost of living compared with New York City: 36.4% higher
Monthly:
Rent: $1,842.98 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $167.61
Commuter pass: $84.36
Cappuccino: $4.93
Domestic beer: $7.03
22. Vienna, Austria
Cost of living compared with New York City: 25.8% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $922.85 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $195.74
Commuter pass: $52.51
Cappuccino: $3.64
Domestic beer: $4.20
21. Seoul, South Korea
Cost of living compared with New York City: 17% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $824.89 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $149.51
commuter pass: $49.11
Cappuccino: $4.10
Domestic beer: $3.13
20. Hamburg, Germany
Cost of living compared with New York City: 23% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $854.88 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $259.92
Commuter pass: $102.92
Cappuccino: $3.34
Domestic beer: $4.43
19. The Hague, Netherlands
Cost of living compared to New York City: 18.7% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $987.94 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $149.17
Commuter pass: $81.67
Cappuccino: $3.10
Domestic beer: $4.67
18. Berlin, Germany
Cost of living compared with New York City: 29.7% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $874.85 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $270.39
Commuter pass: $94.49
Cappuccino: $3.06
Domestic beer: $3.62
17. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cost of living compared with New York City: 28% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $1,882.28 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $172.85
Commuter pass: $66.66
Cappuccino: $4.45
Domestic beer: $10.67
16. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Cost of living compared with New York City: 8.8% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $1,610.99 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $268.13
Commuter pass: $46.67
Cappuccino: $3.71
Domestic beer: $5.83
15. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Cost of living compared with New York City: 34.5% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $1,816.94 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $103.92
Commuter pass: $21.78
Cappuccino: $4.90
Domestic beer: $9.53
14. Auckland, New Zealand
Cost of living compared with New York City: 17% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $1,208.88 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $131.34
Commuter pass: $138.01
Cappuccino: $3.11
Domestic beer: $6.04
13. Budapest, Hungary
Cost of living compared with New York City: 52.2% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $499.23 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $180.43
Commuter pass: $35.56
Cappuccino: $1.51
Domestic beer: $1.68
12. Muscat, Oman
Cost of living compared with New York City: 48.5% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $755.79 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $59.87
Commuter pass: $25.97
Cappuccino: $4.39
Domestic beer: $7.79
11. Mexico City, Mexico
Cost of living compared with New York City: 62.8%
Monthly:
Rent: $482.29 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $39.07
Commuter pass: $15.70
Cappuccino: $2.02
Domestic beer: $1.57
10. Frankfurt, Germany
Cost of living compared with New York City: 21.2%
Monthly:
Rent: $1,059.52 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $242.30
Commuter pass: $101.23
Cappuccino: $3.28
Domestic beer: $4.67
9. Basel, Switzerland
Cost of living compared with New York City: 29.9% higher
Monthly:
Rent: $1,351.15 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $208.64
Commuter pass: $80.30
Cappuccino: $5.29
Domestic beer: $8.03
8. Bangkok, Thailand
Cost of living compared with New York City: 45.8% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $636.70 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $83.45
Commuter pass: $30.25
Cappuccino: $2.18
Domestic beer: $2.01
7. Johannesburg, South Africa
Cost of living compared with New York City: 56.9% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $480.83 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $68.83
Commuter pass: $34.50
Cappuccino: $1.67
Domestic beer: $2.07
6. Barcelona, Spain
Cost of living compared with New York City: 34%
Monthly:
Rent: $990.58 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $153.77
Commuter pass: $58.35
Cappuccino: $2.00
Domestic beer: $3.27
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cost of living compared with New York City: 16.1% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $1,646.41 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $179.19
Commuter pass: $104.92
Cappuccino: $3.18
Domestic beer: $5.25
4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Cost of living compared with New York City: 55.6% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $540.08 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $52.45
Commuter pass: $29.85
Cappuccino: $2.53
Domestic beer: $3.58
3. Madrid, Spain
Cost of living compared with New York City: 35.2%
Monthly:
Rent: $919.92 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $138.04
Commuter pass: $63.65
Cappuccino: $1.97
Domestic beer: $3.26
2. Prague, Czech Republic
Cost of living compared with New York City: 49.5% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $703.08 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $184.45
Commuter pass: $25.09
Cappuccino: $2.12
Domestic beer: $1.60
1. Manama, Bahrain
Cost of living compared with New York City: 42.1% lower
Monthly:
Rent: $940.43 for a one-bedroom in the city center
Utilities: $84.00
Commuter pass: $39.74
Cappuccino: $4.59
Domestic beer: $9.27
