Expensive countries to live in around the world

As the saying often goes, there’s no Heaven on Earth. When it seems like a new locale has everything someone could want, people often discover that everything they want doesn’t come cheap. And when a new place to live does come cheap, it’s usually because something is either seriously wrong with it or the neighborhood surrounding it.

And while this rule of thumb can easily apply to neighborhoods and cities, it’s sometimes true that life in entire countries will exist outside of certain price ranges. So anyone looking for a change in scenery would do well to see how each international possibility affects their budget. Keep reading to learn more.

The Netherlands

Those who want to settle down in the land of tulips should be aware that the average single person can expect a monthly cost of living of $1,668, while a family of four can expect rates closer to $5,866.

That information comes courtesy of Numbeo.

Sweden

Sweden is often near the top of lists for international quality of life, but it is estimated that the price tag for that quality is $1,540 a month for a single person and $5,627 a month for a family of four.

Ireland

According to the cost of living database Numbeo, the monthly costs a family of four will experience in Ireland can reach $5,737. The average single person’s cost of living can be estimated at $1,633 a month.

Iceland

The average person can expect their general living expenses in Iceland to add up to about $2,211 a month. At the same time, Numbeo estimated a family of four could see their expenses go as high as $8,287 a month.

Japan

Although the low value of the Japanese yen can make the cost of living seem steeper than it is, a single person can still expect to pay $1,268 a month for living expenses, while a family of four would pay $4,485 a month.

The United States

Although the experience of someone living in California, New York, or Hawaii will be significantly more expensive than someone living in Mississippi, Kansas, or Oklahoma, the United States can nonetheless be a very expensive place to live.

According to Expatistan, the average monthly living expenses for a single person total $1,665, while they’re estimated at $5,922 for a family of four.

Qatar

According to international insurance provider Global Health Foyer Group, 80% of Qatar’s population lives in its capital city of Doha. Here, the average one-bedroom apartment costs about $2,188 a month, while tenants of a three-bedroom apartment can expect to pay about $4,229 a month.

Although housing is usually the most significant expense one can incur in Qatar, the provider estimates the other costs of living for a family of four as $4,393 a month.

Belgium

According to Numbeo, a single person living in Belgium can expect an average cost of living of $1,572 a month, while a family of four would need their budget to account for $5,549 a month.

Finland

According to Numbeo, the reputed high quality of life in Finland comes at a cost of about $1,558 a month for a single person and $5,663 for a family of four.

Canada

Although Canada has a lot going for it, people who move there will quickly find that life there can get expensive quickly. According to Numbeo, the average cost of living is the equivalent of $1,463 a month for a single person and $5,247 a month for a family of four.

Singapore

Singapore has a reputation as one of the world’s most expensive cities to live in, and as a city-state, its cost of living is comparable to other heavy-hitting countries. Specifically, Numbeo estimated that the average single person could expect a monthly cost of living of $1,645, while a family of four would likely have to fork over $5,960 a month.

New Zealand

New Zealand is a gorgeous nation of unique cultures, but it’s not exactly a cheap country to live in. According to Numbeo, the monthly cost of living for a single person is approximately $1,394 a month, while a family of four will need at least $5,025 per month to live there.

Israel

Those trying to make a living in Israel would face an average monthly cost of living of $1,682, which balloons to $5,940 when considering the lifestyle of a family of four.

United Kingdom

The cost of living in the U.K. varies significantly from place to place. So, while a single person can expect their living expenses to hover around $1,651 a month in Manchester, that number goes up to $1,9988 a month in London. By a similar token, a family of four would need to account for about $5,780 a month to live in Manchester and $7,000 to live in London.

South Korea

According to Numbeo, the 1,490,813 won monthly cost of living a single person can expect in South Korea is still fairly hefty even after it’s converted to $1,477. Meanwhile, a family of four would need about $5,321 a month to cover expenses.

Australia

There are so many unique and wonderful things about Australia, but the cost of living is not one of them. According to Expatistan, a single person needs to cover an estimated $1,480 in living expenses per month, while a family of four would need to budget for $5,250 a month.

France

France may be a land famous for its culture and cuisine, but it’s also a place people can expect to pay a lot of money to move to. According to Numbeo, an average single person’s cost of living is $1,547 a month there, while a family of four would need to budget $5,494 a month.

United Arab Emirates

According to Numbeo, the average monthly living expenses for a family of four are about $4,910, while a single person can expect to budget about $1,411 a month.

Austria

Austria may be a beautiful nation to live in, but it’s also a pretty expensive one. Numbeo estimated an average monthly cost of living of $1,797 for a single person and $6,162 for a family of four.

Lebanon

According to Numbeo, the average cost of living for a single person in Lebanon is about $1,067 per month. At the same time, a family of four would need to account for $3,707 in monthly living expenses.

Denmark

According to Wise, the average cost of living comes down to $1,806 a month for a single person in Copenhagen and $6,496 for a family of four living there.

Norway

According to Numbeo, this often-enviable Scandinavian nation has a not-so-enviable average monthly cost of living of $1,885 for a single person and $6,715 or a family of four.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a bustling metropolis, but it’s also one of the most expensive places in the world to live in, with a monthly cost of living of $1,567. And according to Numbeo, that rate is only for a single person. The average family of four can expect monthly living expenses of $5,547.

Monaco

This royal city-state is about as expensive to live in as it looks, with an estimated monthly cost of living of $3,183 for a single person and $11,521 for a family of four.

Barbados

According to Numbeo, Barbados is only really a paradise for those who can afford the $1,639 cost of living a single person has to deal with there. For a family of four, that cost rises all the way to $5,969 a month.

Luxembourg

As often seems the case with small nations, Luxembourg has a fairly hefty cost of living, with about $1,748 in monthly living expenses for a single person and $6,116 for a family of four.

Bermuda

Like some other tropical nations, Bermuda has a staggering cost of living at $3,057 per month for single people and $11,219 for families of four.

Liechtenstein

One of the world’s smallest nations to live in is also among its most expensive, as a single person in Liechtenstein can expect to incur living expenses of $2,559 a month. For a family of four, that number shoots up to $9,477.

Macao

This island nation on China’s south coast is a little more reasonable in cost than some of its contemporaries, but a $1,346 monthly cost of living for a single person and $4,876 for a family of four is still nothing to sneeze at.