Israeli city is named the world’s most expensive city above Paris and Singapore

In a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Tel Aviv has taken the top spot for the first time in the world cost of living ranking, jumping up from 5th place last year.

This rank pushes last year’s winner, the one and only glamorous city of Paris down to joint second with Singapore followed by Zurich and Hong Kong

Tel Aviv’s climb to the top is mainly due to the soaring value of Israel’s currency and supply-chain problems.

The Israeili city has also seen price increases for approximately one tenth of goods in the city.

These increases are led by the rise in price of groceries and transport in local-currency terms. 

The survey also found that Tel Aviv was the second most expensive city for alcohol and transport, fifth for personal care items, and sixth for recreation.

This comes as the rate of inflation is the fastest recorded over the past five years with data collected by the EIU in August and September showing that prices on average have risen 3.5% in local currency terms.

The EIU survey collects this data by comparing costs for goods and services in 173 cities with the US dollar. 

Tel Aviv’s mayor, Ron Huldai made it clear that this isn’t necessarily good news as he warns the rising property prices (not included in EIU’s index) could see the city ‘explode’

“The fundamental problem is that in Israel there is no alternative metropolitan centre. In the United States, there is New York, Chicago, Miami and so on… There you can move to another city if the cost of living is too onerous,” Huldai said in an interview with Haaretz newspaper.

Compared to last year, most US cities have fallen in the list after the government responded to the covid-19 pandemic by injecting more money into the economy. 

The war-torn city of Damascus in Syria maintained its spot in last place on the list, making it the cheapest city in the world.

Top five most expensive cities

1. Tel Aviv
2. Paris and Singapore in joint place
3. Zurich
4. Hong Kong

Top five cheapest cities

1. Damascus
2. Tripoli
3. Tashkent
4. Tunis
5. Almaty

Source: EIU’s World Cost of Living index