And You Thought New York Was Expensive!

Well try moving to Oslo, baby, and see how that grabs you! You'll be wishing for one of those overpriced $6 beers in Williamsburg when you are paying $9.40 for some Carlsburg lager at a bar swathed in the perpetual darkness of a Norwegian winter! Check out this CNN Money article for the full list of the world's most expensive cities-- New York doesn't even make the top ten (we're 27th!) We used their data to calculate the highly unscientific list of prices below (yes, yes, yes-- we understand that some goods are more expensive than others, and that exchange rates do play into it-- but bear with us):

If you're looking for some city cheapness, the article recommends Asuncion, Paraguay, or Karachi, Pakistan. We'd also recommend the Bronx-- but five minutes ago we heard the last block had been gentrified, so you're shit out of luck there.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jake Dobkin in News on February 2, 2006 11:12 AM

Comments [rss]

Scott

I too take this survey with a grain of salt - it seems too formulaic. I know from Icelandic, Finnish and Norweigan people that the beer is exceedingly expensive, but they didn't mention anything about the rent being more than in London! (this all took place in London.) In fact, they all testify that London is the most expensive city they have dealt with.

Other things they should examine, in my opinion:

<li>The cost of a university education (half those countries = $0)

</li><li>Housing Rent per square foot

</li><li>Car Parking Rent

</li><li>Cost of a dentist/doctor's appointment (again, $0)

</li><li>Taxi fares

</li><li>Internet Access (by speed and by bandwidth)</li>

I have the feeling that the exchange rate has a lot to do with this entire study. If we all got paid in some universal currency, I'm sure things would be different - but I don't think we'll see a new upper class of Scandanavians arrive in NYC anytime soon.

zincink

This month is baby killing season in the Bronx so your likely to survive at least a week if you are over the age of 5...

I like the laundry mats, bodegas, and little shops. Please don't ruin it...we like it the way it is..

none

These rankings are for expats & business travelers only. The calculation is done by what it would cost to live like an american in that city. Hamburgers, beer, etc

New york doesn't make it because its cheap to live like an american in new york.

If you trade beer for sake, and burgers for sushi, and coffee for tea, tokyo would drop quite a bit.

some of the prices looked at:

Rent of a luxury two bedroom unfurnished apartment (per month)

Bus or subway ride

Music CD

1 issue of international daily newspaper

1 cup of coffee, including service

Fast food hamburger meal

maia

Yeah, well take a look at the standards of living in those cities and then let's compare!

sanjay

This is kind of stupid.

Really, all it reflects is that the dollar has gone down in value.

The right question is, how much does it cost the average resident, at average wages, to earn enough to buy these things.

It is a good piece for encouraging tourism to the U.S., though. Or, perhaps, a shopping guide for American tourists.

timThompson

Since when was Switzerland a city, and why does it get a separate listing from Zurich?

Anonymous

to the writer of this column

fuck off.

stay in williamsburg or harlem and get herpes. come to the bronx and i'll throw you in front of the 1 train.

jake

Norway has arguably the highest quality of life worldwide,

free health care, free education & a great social saftey net.

So they have to spend a little more on beer?

nisey79

"We'd also recommend the Bronx-- but five minutes ago we heard the last block had been gentrified, so you're shit out of luck there."

Um, the Bronx is part of New York City; I'm quite sure that they meant the five boroughs as a whole comprising New York, not just Manhattan.

However, if Manhattan was taken separately for matters of this poll, it would probably bump up a few spots on the list.