Cost of living for a family of four across 10 major cities in Asia

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Cost of living for a family of four across 10 major cities in Asia

According to Numbeo data, monthly rent in downtown Shanghai is about $2,700.

Zorazhuang | E+ | Getty Images

Living in a big city can be expensive, so it's best to do your research before you take the big step.

In Asia, Hong Kong and Singapore are the cities with the highest cost of living. According to Numbeo, an online database of user information, a family of four can expect to spend an estimated $9,000 a month in one of these cities.

As global financial centers, Singapore and Hong Kong attract expats from around the world, which can drive up prices, according to a June report by recruitment consultancy Mercer.

“Singapore is one of the most attractive locations for people looking to advance their careers,” Tracey Ma, Regional Mobility Leader, APAC at Mercer, told CNBC Make It. Factors such as the country's “strong” economic situation and numerous opportunities could attract expats to the country, she said.

In addition, there is a booming real estate market in these two cities.

“Hong Kong has always been one of the most expensive rental markets in the world due to the limited supply of housing and the amount of people moving there,” Ma said.

Singapore will also experience a “rocket-like increase” in apartment rents from 2022, but prices have begun to stabilize in recent months, Ma said.

According to Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority, private residential rents in the island nation fell for the second consecutive quarter, recording a 1.9% decline in the first quarter of 2024, following a 2.1% decline in the last quarter of 2023.

Here's a more general overview of how much it costs a family of four to live in ten major cities in Asia (according to data from Numbeo):

Singapore

Population: 6.1 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $4,025

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $5,308

Total living costs: $9,333/month

Hong Kong

Population: 7.7 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $4,137

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $4,997

Total living costs: $9,134/month

Seoul, South Korea

Population: 10 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $4,123

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $2,528

Total living costs: $6,651/month

Tokyo, Japan

Population: 37 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $3,431

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $2,634

Total living costs: $6,065/month

Shanghai, China

Population: 29.9 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $2,311

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $2,716

Total living costs: $5,027/month

Bangkok, Thailand

Population: 11.2 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $2,304

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $1,664

Total living costs: $3,968/month

Manila, Philippines

Population: 14.9 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $2,209

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $1,619

Total living costs: $3,828/month

Jakarta, Indonesia

Population: 11.4 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $1,732

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $1,260

Total living costs: $2,992/month

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Population: 9.6 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $1,746

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $1,157

Total living costs: $2,903/month

Delhi, India

Population: 33.8 million

Estimated monthly living expenses (excluding rent): $1,383

Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center: $727

Total living costs: $2,110/month

Globally, Geneva, Switzerland tops the cost of living at $6,201 per month for a family of four. Zurich ranks second in Numbeo's 2024 Cost of Living Index, followed by New York City, San Francisco, and Boston.

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