Cost of Living Map of the World (2026)
210 countries shaded by cost of living, cheapest (green) to most expensive (red), on a single index where New York City = 100 — city-level data where we have it, national figures next, and an income-based estimate for the rest. Click any country for its full breakdown.
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Every country, ranked by cost
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How this map works
Each country gets the most reliable figure available, in three tiers. First, the average cost across its own cities (real local price data). Where we have no cities, the national figure. And where we have neither, an income-based estimate — because cost of living tracks income closely, especially among lower-income countries. All on the standard index where New York City = 100.
A guard runs on every figure: cost-of-living data is unreliable for small, low-income economies (thin, import-priced samples over-state costs — they'd wrongly paint some of the world's poorest countries bright red). So we distrust any "expensive" reading that doesn't match a country's earnings and fall back to the income estimate instead. Income estimates are capped below the top tier, so a modeled value never claims to be among the most expensive. Anything still grey has no figure we can stand behind.
This map is a factual reference, so it includes every country — including ones our relocation rankings leave out. Want it personalized to your budget and home city? Read our methodology.