Tel Aviv, Zurich, and Tokyo – Where Living Costs the Most on the Planet

A Deutsche Bank analytical report compared the cost of living in 69 cities worldwide. Zurich and Geneva lead in the cost of goods and services: a cappuccino for $7.13, a taxi ride for $32. Tel Aviv topped the ranking for the cost of a McDonald's combo meal ($20.90). Tokyo surprised with affordability amid the weakening yen.

An analytical report by the Deutsche Bank Research Institute, published by Walla, compared the cost of basic goods and services in 69 major cities worldwide. The undisputed leaders in costliness were the Swiss cities of Zurich and Geneva. In Zurich, a cup of cappuccino costs $7.13, a 5 km taxi ride costs $32, and a movie ticket costs $24.90. Tel Aviv unexpectedly topped the ranking for the cost of a McDonald's combo meal at $20.90, attributed to the strengthening of the shekel and the development of high-tech industries. New York remains the most expensive city for rent: a one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs $4,285 per month. Tokyo, on the other hand, is surprisingly affordable due to the weakening yen: rent for a three-level apartment is less than a third of New York's, and an iPhone can be bought cheaper than anywhere else in the world. The study also found that the most expensive cigarettes are in Sydney ($44.50 for a pack of Marlboro), and the most expensive wine is in Singapore ($23.20 per bottle).