The 20 most expensive cities on the planet

#20 Chicago, Illinois

Monthly cost of food: $460

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,940

Price of monthly services: $770

Average local monthly rent: $1,400

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of 39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#19 Rome, Italy

Monthly cost of food: $497

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,740

Price of monthly services: $690

Average local monthly rent: $1,810

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#18 Milan, Italy

Monthly cost of food: $487

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $2,040

Price of monthly services: $710

Average local monthly rent: $1,260

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#17 Vienna, Austria

Monthly cost of food: $504

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $2,020

Price of monthly services: $680

Average local monthly rent: $950

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#16 Montreal, Canada

Monthly cost of food: $519

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,730

Price of monthly services: $690

Average local monthly rent: $1,360

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#15 Sydney, Australia

Monthly cost of food: $509

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,400

Price of monthly services: $680

Average local monthly rent: $1,640

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#14 Paris, France

Monthly cost of food: $523

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $2,430

Price of monthly services: $770

Average local monthly rent: $1,670

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#13 Munich, Germany

Monthly cost of food: $500

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,960

Price of monthly services: $710

Average local monthly rent: $970

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#12 Frankfurt, Germany

Monthly cost of food: $439

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,730

Price of monthly services: $710

Average local monthly rent: $1,280

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#11 Helsinki, Finland

Monthly cost of food: $497

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,810

Price of monthly services: $840

Average local monthly rent: $1,440

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#10 London, England

Monthly cost of food: $436

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,280

Price of monthly services: $760

Average local monthly rent: $1,980

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#9 Caracas, Venezuela

Monthly cost of food: $689

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,470

Price of monthly services: $690

Average local monthly rent: $2,100

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#8 Stockholm, Sweden

Monthly cost of food: $553

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $2,000

Price of monthly services: $890

Average local monthly rent: $1,180

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#7 Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Monthly cost of food: $525

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $2,400

Price of monthly services: $860

Average local monthly rent: $1,810

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#6 New York, New York

Monthly cost of food: $552

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $1,550

Price of monthly services: $1,000

Average local monthly rent: $3,350

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#5 Copenhagen, Denmark

Monthly cost of food: $567

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $2,100

Price of monthly services: $950

Average local monthly rent: $1,100

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#4 Geneva, Switzerland

Monthly cost of food: $714

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $2,000

Price of monthly services: $1,080

Average local monthly rent: $1,570

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#3 Tokyo, Japan

Monthly cost of food: $927

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $3,100

Price of monthly services: $930

Average local monthly rent: $1,630

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#2 Zurich, Switzerland

Monthly cost of food: $704

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $2,290

Price of monthly services: $1,120

Average local monthly rent: $2,550

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

#1 Oslo, Norway

Monthly cost of food: $599

Cost of a couple's wardrobe: $2,290

Price of monthly services: $1,270

Average local monthly rent: $1,970

Source: UBS

  • Food costs are based on a basket of  39 food items
  • Wardrobe costs are based on items from large department stores (Women's wardrobe includes 2-piece suit, blazer/jacket/dress, pantyhose, outdoor shoes; Men's wardrobe includes suit, blazer/jacket, shirt, jeans, socks, outdoor shoes)
  • Services costs are based on a basket of 27 services, including domestic help, visits to hairdressers and restaurants, and TV, phone and internet charges
  • Rent based on prices for normal local households

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