Travel2 minute read
Working Abroad Index 2026
See how far your money goes in 75 cities.
* Updated 31 July 2026, based on July 2026 pricing.
Working Abroad Index 2026
See how far your money goes in 75 cities.
* Updated 31 July 2026, based on July 2026 pricing.
Working Abroad Index 2026
See how far your money goes in 75 cities.
* Updated 31 July 2026, based on July 2026 pricing.
The 2026 Working Abroad Index
Compare monthly living costs across 75 cities, from rent to coworking.
Leave empty to show every city. Filters by monthly total excluding coworking.
Global ranking
Cities by monthly cost
New York City
$4,640
San Francisco
$4,289
Boston
$4,006
London
$3,751
Los Angeles
$3,426
Miami
$3,403
Washington DC
$3,383
Seattle
$3,301
Singapore
$3,221
Dublin
$3,200
Amsterdam
$3,165
Luxembourg
$3,002
Chicago
$2,910
Copenhagen
$2,653
Atlanta
$2,638
Dubai
$2,627
Nashville
$2,562
Utrecht
$2,548
Bristol
$2,547
Rotterdam
$2,528
Brighton
$2,522
Munich
$2,426
Vancouver
$2,411
Austin
$2,409
Stockholm
$2,362
Edinburgh
$2,300
Manchester
$2,296
Paris
$2,295
Milan
$2,248
Berlin
$2,235
Toronto
$2,225
Frankfurt
$2,159
Madrid
$2,093
Barcelona
$2,085
Brussels
$2,041
Hamburg
$2,007
Lisbon
$2,006
Vienna
$2,001
Florence
$1,948
Cologne
$1,929
Cardiff
$1,911
Valletta
$1,909
Belfast
$1,804
Prague
$1,800
Valencia
$1,766
Warsaw
$1,765
Rome
$1,742
Helsinki
$1,729
Ljubljana
$1,726
Malaga
$1,718
Tokyo
$1,712
Lyon
$1,710
Bratislava
$1,666
Marseille
$1,624
Tallinn
$1,469
Zagreb
$1,434
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
$1,427
Nicosia
$1,425
Seoul
$1,396
Mexico City
$1,384
San Miguel de Allende
$1,362
Budapest
$1,349
Vilnius
$1,322
Athens
$1,315
Riga
$1,246
Sofia
$1,229
Taipei
$1,215
Medellin
$1,188
Mérida
$1,087
Bucharest
$1,057
Oaxaca
$989
Bangkok
$928
Kuala Lumpur
$903
Ho Chi Minh City
$751
Chiang Mai
$692
How we built this index
* For this study, the monthly cost of living in 75 top destinations for expats, spread across 41 different countries, was compared. The average monthly costs for rent, groceries, and utilities (gas, water, electricity, cell phone, and internet) are based on figures from the Numbeo database.Monthly housing costs are based on the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, both in and outside the city center. The calculation of costs for gas, water, and electricity is based on an 85 m² apartment.The monthly cost of a workspace was determined by comparing the offerings of coworking spaces and private offices on CoWorker and calculating an average for each city. For two cities, no offerings could be identified.Public transportation costs are sourced from the official websites of the respective transit agencies; discounts and special fares are not included. In Germany, a Deutschlandticket was chosen instead of a BVG monthly pass. All fare zones are located in the immediate vicinity of the city.The cost of mobile internet includes calling and 10 GB of data. For home internet, only plans with a speed of at least 60 megabits per second and unlimited data usage were considered.US pages show US dollars using the 22 July 2026 ECB euro–dollar rate.
The 2026 Working Abroad Index
Compare monthly living costs across 75 cities, from rent to coworking.
Leave empty to show every city. Filters by monthly total excluding coworking.
Global ranking
Cities by monthly cost
New York City
$4,640
San Francisco
$4,289
Boston
$4,006
London
$3,751
Los Angeles
$3,426
Miami
$3,403
Washington DC
$3,383
Seattle
$3,301
Singapore
$3,221
Dublin
$3,200
Amsterdam
$3,165
Luxembourg
$3,002
Chicago
$2,910
Copenhagen
$2,653
Atlanta
$2,638
Dubai
$2,627
Nashville
$2,562
Utrecht
$2,548
Bristol
$2,547
Rotterdam
$2,528
Brighton
$2,522
Munich
$2,426
Vancouver
$2,411
Austin
$2,409
Stockholm
$2,362
Edinburgh
$2,300
Manchester
$2,296
Paris
$2,295
Milan
$2,248
Berlin
$2,235
Toronto
$2,225
Frankfurt
$2,159
Madrid
$2,093
Barcelona
$2,085
Brussels
$2,041
Hamburg
$2,007
Lisbon
$2,006
Vienna
$2,001
Florence
$1,948
Cologne
$1,929
Cardiff
$1,911
Valletta
$1,909
Belfast
$1,804
Prague
$1,800
Valencia
$1,766
Warsaw
$1,765
Rome
$1,742
Helsinki
$1,729
Ljubljana
$1,726
Malaga
$1,718
Tokyo
$1,712
Lyon
$1,710
Bratislava
$1,666
Marseille
$1,624
Tallinn
$1,469
Zagreb
$1,434
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
$1,427
Nicosia
$1,425
Seoul
$1,396
Mexico City
$1,384
San Miguel de Allende
$1,362
Budapest
$1,349
Vilnius
$1,322
Athens
$1,315
Riga
$1,246
Sofia
$1,229
Taipei
$1,215
Medellin
$1,188
Mérida
$1,087
Bucharest
$1,057
Oaxaca
$989
Bangkok
$928
Kuala Lumpur
$903
Ho Chi Minh City
$751
Chiang Mai
$692
How we built this index
* For this study, the monthly cost of living in 75 top destinations for expats, spread across 41 different countries, was compared. The average monthly costs for rent, groceries, and utilities (gas, water, electricity, cell phone, and internet) are based on figures from the Numbeo database.Monthly housing costs are based on the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, both in and outside the city center. The calculation of costs for gas, water, and electricity is based on an 85 m² apartment.The monthly cost of a workspace was determined by comparing the offerings of coworking spaces and private offices on CoWorker and calculating an average for each city. For two cities, no offerings could be identified.Public transportation costs are sourced from the official websites of the respective transit agencies; discounts and special fares are not included. In Germany, a Deutschlandticket was chosen instead of a BVG monthly pass. All fare zones are located in the immediate vicinity of the city.The cost of mobile internet includes calling and 10 GB of data. For home internet, only plans with a speed of at least 60 megabits per second and unlimited data usage were considered.US pages show US dollars using the 22 July 2026 ECB euro–dollar rate.
The 2026 Working Abroad Index
Compare monthly living costs across 75 cities, from rent to coworking.
Leave empty to show every city. Filters by monthly total excluding coworking.
Global ranking
Cities by monthly cost
New York City
$4,640
San Francisco
$4,289
Boston
$4,006
London
$3,751
Los Angeles
$3,426
Miami
$3,403
Washington DC
$3,383
Seattle
$3,301
Singapore
$3,221
Dublin
$3,200
Amsterdam
$3,165
Luxembourg
$3,002
Chicago
$2,910
Copenhagen
$2,653
Atlanta
$2,638
Dubai
$2,627
Nashville
$2,562
Utrecht
$2,548
Bristol
$2,547
Rotterdam
$2,528
Brighton
$2,522
Munich
$2,426
Vancouver
$2,411
Austin
$2,409
Stockholm
$2,362
Edinburgh
$2,300
Manchester
$2,296
Paris
$2,295
Milan
$2,248
Berlin
$2,235
Toronto
$2,225
Frankfurt
$2,159
Madrid
$2,093
Barcelona
$2,085
Brussels
$2,041
Hamburg
$2,007
Lisbon
$2,006
Vienna
$2,001
Florence
$1,948
Cologne
$1,929
Cardiff
$1,911
Valletta
$1,909
Belfast
$1,804
Prague
$1,800
Valencia
$1,766
Warsaw
$1,765
Rome
$1,742
Helsinki
$1,729
Ljubljana
$1,726
Malaga
$1,718
Tokyo
$1,712
Lyon
$1,710
Bratislava
$1,666
Marseille
$1,624
Tallinn
$1,469
Zagreb
$1,434
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
$1,427
Nicosia
$1,425
Seoul
$1,396
Mexico City
$1,384
San Miguel de Allende
$1,362
Budapest
$1,349
Vilnius
$1,322
Athens
$1,315
Riga
$1,246
Sofia
$1,229
Taipei
$1,215
Medellin
$1,188
Mérida
$1,087
Bucharest
$1,057
Oaxaca
$989
Bangkok
$928
Kuala Lumpur
$903
Ho Chi Minh City
$751
Chiang Mai
$692
How we built this index
* For this study, the monthly cost of living in 75 top destinations for expats, spread across 41 different countries, was compared. The average monthly costs for rent, groceries, and utilities (gas, water, electricity, cell phone, and internet) are based on figures from the Numbeo database.Monthly housing costs are based on the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, both in and outside the city center. The calculation of costs for gas, water, and electricity is based on an 85 m² apartment.The monthly cost of a workspace was determined by comparing the offerings of coworking spaces and private offices on CoWorker and calculating an average for each city. For two cities, no offerings could be identified.Public transportation costs are sourced from the official websites of the respective transit agencies; discounts and special fares are not included. In Germany, a Deutschlandticket was chosen instead of a BVG monthly pass. All fare zones are located in the immediate vicinity of the city.The cost of mobile internet includes calling and 10 GB of data. For home internet, only plans with a speed of at least 60 megabits per second and unlimited data usage were considered.US pages show US dollars using the 22 July 2026 ECB euro–dollar rate.
Disclaimer
Important information, methodology, and eligibility can change. Check the latest source details and terms before relying on this report.
Disclaimer
Important information, methodology, and eligibility can change. Check the latest source details and terms before relying on this report.
Disclaimer
Important information, methodology, and eligibility can change. Check the latest source details and terms before relying on this report.
Open an account before life gets busy
Get set up from your phone so everyday payments are ready when you arrive.
Open an account before life gets busy
Get set up from your phone so everyday payments are ready when you arrive.
Open an account before life gets busy
Get set up from your phone so everyday payments are ready when you arrive.
Keep spending clear in a new country
Track card payments, subscriptions, and daily costs from one app.
Keep spending clear in a new country
Track card payments, subscriptions, and daily costs from one app.
Keep spending clear in a new country
Track card payments, subscriptions, and daily costs from one app.
Separate money for every goal
Use dedicated accounts to organize rent, savings, travel, and emergencies.
Separate money for every goal
Use dedicated accounts to organize rent, savings, travel, and emergencies.
Separate money for every goal
Use dedicated accounts to organize rent, savings, travel, and emergencies.
Pay and get paid with less admin
Manage transfers, cards, and account details in the same place.
Pay and get paid with less admin
Manage transfers, cards, and account details in the same place.
Pay and get paid with less admin
Manage transfers, cards, and account details in the same place.
Stay secure wherever you are
Use instant notifications and card controls to keep an eye on your money.
Stay secure wherever you are
Use instant notifications and card controls to keep an eye on your money.
Stay secure wherever you are
Use instant notifications and card controls to keep an eye on your money.
Find the right bunq plan
Compare personal and business options for the way you live and work abroad.
Find the right bunq plan
Compare personal and business options for the way you live and work abroad.
Find the right bunq plan
Compare personal and business options for the way you live and work abroad.
Join 22 million people banking with bunq
Sign up from your phone
1.
Download the bunq app
Get the app for iOS or Android.
2.
Fill in your details
Fill in your name, address, email, and phone number.
3.
Verify your ID
Verify your ID with a quick video selfie and start banking right away.
Join 22 million people banking with bunq
Sign up from your phone
1.
Download the bunq app
Get the app for iOS or Android.
2.
Fill in your details
Fill in your name, address, email, and phone number.
3.
Verify your ID
Verify your ID with a quick video selfie and start banking right away.
Join 22 million people banking with bunq
Sign up from your phone
1.
Download the bunq app
Get the app for iOS or Android.
2.
Fill in your details
Fill in your name, address, email, and phone number.
3.
Verify your ID
Verify your ID with a quick video selfie and start banking right away.
Keep exploring
Check out some of these related articles, packed with useful insights and tips to help you bank smarter while working abroad.
Keep exploring
Check out some of these related articles, packed with useful insights and tips to help you bank smarter while working abroad.
Keep exploring
Check out some of these related articles, packed with useful insights and tips to help you bank smarter while working abroad.