In Numbeo’s 2026 Asia Cost of Living Index, Tel Aviv-Yafo ranks first at 91.4, followed by Singapore at 87.7. The index compares everyday consumer costs with New York City at 100 and excludes rent, so these are relative index points—not monthly budgets or a rent-inclusive ranking. Numbeo’s Asia region includes cities in Israel, the UAE and Cyprus; other geographic definitions and ranking methods produce different results. See Numbeo’s 2026 Asia city table and its index definitions.
Numbeo’s 12 most expensive cities in Asia in 2026
The ranking below follows Numbeo’s 2026 Asia Cost of Living Index, which excludes rent. A higher score indicates higher prices for the index’s consumer goods and services relative to New York City, whose benchmark score is 100. The scores are not a measure of total household spending.
| Rank | City | Cost of Living Index | Cost of Living Plus Rent Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel | 91.4 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 2 | Singapore | 87.7 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 3 | Ramat Gan, Israel | 83.7 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 4 | Jerusalem, Israel | 83.0 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 5 | Haifa, Israel | 80.0 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 6 | Petah Tikva, Israel | 76.3 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 7 | Beersheba, Israel | 75.9 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 8 | Hong Kong | 75.2 | 69.8 |
| 9 | Seoul, South Korea | 68.2 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 10 | Limassol, Cyprus | 63.9 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 11 | Dubai, UAE | 61.8 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
| 12 | Nicosia, Cyprus | 58.0 | not stated (Numbeo 2026 Asia city table) |
Numbeo reports separate indices for rent, groceries, restaurant prices and local purchasing power. Hong Kong’s 69.8 is its Cost of Living Plus Rent Index score in the same 2026 table; that combined measure should not be confused with its rent-exclusive score of 75.2. The table provides a useful comparison of relative prices, but its scores alone do not show what a particular household would spend.
Does the ranking include rent?
No. The headline Cost of Living Index excludes rent. Numbeo also publishes a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index, which combines everyday costs with rent. For someone choosing where to live, the combined index is a more relevant starting point than the rent-exclusive ranking, but neither substitutes for checking housing options and a budget suited to a household’s needs.
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Why do other rankings name different cities?
“Most expensive” depends on the basket being measured, the benchmark and currency conversion, the period covered, the population being compared, and the geographic definition of Asia. Numbeo’s 2026 table is the basis for the twelve-city list above; other rankings answer different questions and should not be merged into one ordered list.
International-assignee rankings use a different lens
Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living City Ranking named Hong Kong and Singapore its top two cities globally for international employees. Its comparison covered 226 cities and more than 200 items, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment, using New York City as the base. The intended audience and basket differ from Numbeo’s consumer-cost index, and Mercer’s ranking is from 2024 rather than 2026. Read Mercer’s ranking information.
Currency changes can alter relative affordability
ECA International reported in August 2026 that Tokyo fell from 16th to 35th in its global international-assignee ranking even as local-currency costs rose 3.2%. The example shows how a weaker currency can reduce costs when converted for employers or assignees paid in another currency; it does not mean local prices fell. ECA’s finding applies to its ranking and audience, not to a universal measure of affordability. Read ECA’s August 2026 release.
Other published lists have their own scope
APRIL International’s 2026 article names Singapore, Hong Kong and Macao at the top of its cited global table. It is a vendor-authored guide, so treat it as that publication’s ranking presentation rather than as a replacement for Numbeo’s defined 2026 Asia index. Read APRIL International’s guide.
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Quick Recap
How to use the list when planning a move
- Separate prices from housing. Start with the rent-inclusive measure if housing is part of your decision, then investigate actual rents in locations that fit your needs.
- Make the comparison personal. Your household size, preferred neighborhood, transport, food choices and income currency affect the budget; a citywide index does not calculate your costs.
- Check the date and audience. A consumer index, an international-assignee ranking and a vendor-published list may be useful for different purposes, but do not treat their rank numbers as a single scale.
- Use a budget, not a rank, for a decision. Estimate recurring expenses and income in the currency you will actually use, and account for how exchange rates may change what those costs mean to you.
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