This article was first published 11 years ago

20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST

Image: An expat couple poses at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Photographs: Bobby Yip/Reuters

When employees are posted out of the country their salary package takes into consideration the cost of essential items, such as food and clothing. In some cities, such as Delhi and Mumbai, the cost of living is cheaper than in others.

Let's take a look at some of the most expensive cities for foreign workforce.

Note: The ranking does not include cost of house rent, utilities, school fees or car prices

Source: eca-international.com

...

More News Coverage

Mumbai Delhi Asia

Image: Ornamental 'hina' dolls on display at a shop in Tokyo, Japan.
Photographs: Michael Caronna/Reuters

Tokyo

Country: Japan

Regional rank in 2013: 1

Global rank in 2013: 10

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is the most expensive city in Asia for expatriates.

...

More News Coverage

Tokyo Asia Japan

Image: A woman holding shopping bags walks past a luxury watch poster outside a mall in Beijing, China.
Photographs: Jason Lee/Reuters

Beijing

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 2

Global rank in 2013: 15

Beijing, the capital of China, is the second most expensive city in Asia for expatriates.

...

More News Coverage

China Beijing Asia

Image: A man rides Toyota Motor's one-seater 'i-unit' vehicle in Nagoya, Japan.
Photographs: Toshiyuki Aizawa/Reuters

Nagoya

Country: Japan

Regional rank in 2013: 3

Global rank in 2013: 16

Nagoya, which has a population of about 3 million, is the largest city in the Chubu region of Japan.

...

More News Coverage

Nagoya Japan Asia Chubu

Image: Girls selling lighters walk along a street in downtown Shanghai, China.
Photographs: Aly Song/Reuters

Shanghai

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 4

Global rank in 2013: 18

Shanghai, which has a population of about 23.71 million, is a global financial centre.

...

More News Coverage

Shanghai China Asia

Image: A woman tries to put a Santa hat on her pet rabbit at a photo event to celebrate Christmas and the Year of the Rabbit in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan.
Photographs: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Yokohama

Country: Japan

Regional rank in 2013: 5

Global rank in 2013: 20

Yokohama, which has a population of about 3.69 million, is one of major ports in the country.

...

More News Coverage

Yokohama Asia Japan

Image: People walk past flowerpots made of old jeans during a recycling campaign at the Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul, South Korea.
Photographs: Jo Yong-Hak/Reuters

Seoul

Country: South Korea

Regional rank in 2013: 6

Global rank in 2013: 21

Seoul, which has a population of about 10.44 million, is the capital of South Korea.

...

Image: Shoppers browse at a clothing store in the Dotonbori shopping and amusement district in Osaka, Japan.
Photographs: Issei Kato/Reuters

Osaka

Country: Japan

Regional rank in 2013: 7

Global rank in 2013: 23

Osaka, which has a population of about 2.66 million, is home to such companies as Panasonic, Sharp and Sanyo.

...

More News Coverage

Osaka Sharp Panasonic Sanyo Asia

Image: A man dressed as a bowl of noodles greets office workers as he promotes a food fair at a shopping mall in Hong Kong.
Photographs: Bobby Yip/Reuters

Hong Kong

Country: Hong Kong

Regional rank in 2013: 8

Global rank in 2013: 28

Hong Kong, which has a population of about 7.07 million, is one of the biggest financial centres in the world.

...

More News Coverage

Hong Kong Asia

Image: A model presents a creation by Indian designer Devki Karer for label DEVKI's at a fashion show in Singapore.
Photographs: Tim Chong/Reuters

Singapore

Country: Singapore

Regional rank in 2013: 9

Global rank in 2013: 30

Singapore, which has a population of about 5.39 million, is one of the biggest financial centres in the world.

...

More News Coverage

Singapore Asia

Image: A child touches tiger decorations at a shopping mall in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.
Photographs: Joe Tan/Reuters

Guangzhou

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 10

Global rank in 2013: 38

Guangzhou, which has a population of about 14 million, is a key national transportation hub and trading port in China.

...

More News Coverage

China Guangzhou Asia

Image: Painters work on oil paintings in a studio at Dafen Oil Painting Village, in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province.
Photographs: Jason Lee/Reuters

Shenzhen

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 11

Global rank in 2013: 40

Shenzhen, which has a population of about 10.35 million, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

...

Image: College students attend a class at a cram school in Busan, about 420km southeast of Seoul, South Korea. About 70 college students study for an exam they hope will guarantee them a job for life with Samsung Group.
Photographs: Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

Busan

Country: South Korea

Regional rank in 2013: 12

Global rank in 2013: 41

Busan, which has a population of about 3.59 million, is the largest port city in South Korea.

...

More News Coverage

Busan South Korea Asia

Image: Workers from the Ulsan Construction and Plant Union bow every three steps during a march in Seoul, South Korea. About 600 members of the union and their supporters rallied to demand better working conditions.
Photographs: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Ulsan

Country: South Korea

Regional rank in 2013: 13

Global rank in 2013: 51

Ulsan, which has a population of about 1.14 million, has one of the highest GDP per capita in South Korea.

...

More News Coverage

South Korea Ulsan GDP Asia

Image: A curator points at dolls inside a display at the Doll Industry Museum in Taishan, Taipei County, Taiwan.
Photographs: Nicky Loh/Reuters

Taipei

Country: Taiwan

Regional rank in 2013: 14

Global rank in 2013: 69

Taipei, which has a population of about 2.65 million, is the capital of Taiwan.

...

More News Coverage

Taiwan Taipei Asia

Image: Zookeepers feed polar bear twin cubs at a photo opportunity at Laohutan Ocean Park in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
Photographs: China Daily/Reuters

Dalian

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 15

Global rank in 2013: 79

Dalian, which has a population of about 6.17 million, has been posting double-digit growth in GDP since 1992.

...

More News Coverage

Dalian GDP China Asia

Image: People walk outside the 'China House' in Tianjin, China. The house is decorated with hundreds of millions of ancient porcelain flakes, ancient bowls, dishes and vases, inlaid everywhere in the architecture.
Photographs: Reinhard Krause/Reuters

Tianjin

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 16

Global rank in 2013: 90

Tianjin, which has a population of about 12.93 million, has attracted around 300 of Fortune 500 companies to set up their base there.

...

More News Coverage

Tianjin China Asia

Image: Men wait for help by a stranded car on a flooded seaside road as they are surrounded by waves whipped up by typhoon Bolaven in Qingdao, Shandong province, China.
Photographs: China Daily/Reuters

Qingdao

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 17

Global rank in 2013: 91

Qingdao, which has a population of about 9 million, has the world's longest sea bridge, the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge.

...

More News Coverage

Jiaozhou Bay Bridge China Qingdao Asia

Image: Taxis line up to get their tanks filled on a ramp in Chongqing municipality, China.
Photographs: Stringer/Reuters

Chongqing

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 18

Global rank in 2013: 104

Chongqing, which has a population of about 28.84 million, is one of the 13 emerging megacities in the country.

...

More News Coverage

China Asia Chongqing

Image: A performer flips in the air during the Song Jiang Battle Array competition in Neimen, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan.
Photographs: Nicky Loh/Reuters

Kaohsiung

Country: Taiwan

Regional rank in 2013: 19

Global rank in 2013: 110

Kaohsiung, which has a population of about 3 million, is a major economic hub in Taiwan.

...

More News Coverage

Kaohsiung Taiwan Asia

Image: Students play the board game 'Go', known as 'Weiqi' in Chinese, at a primary school in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.
Photographs: China Daily/Reuters

Suzhou

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 20

Global rank in 2013: 112

Suzhou, which has a population of about 10.54 million, is one of the richest major cities in China.