Finance & Economics

The most expensive and cheapest countries to live in 2021

Let’s find out where in the world is the lowest price for food, rent, and utilities

Top cheapest countries to live in 2021. Source: pixabay.com

Stating that there’s a significant difference in prices all around the world – hardly the hottest news of the day. But could you ever imagine that while in some of the countries such basic expenses like the Internet can “eat up” more than $400 per month while in others it can cost you just a few bucks? Same with rent, food, or taxi. In some places, prices are usually several times higher than anywhere else.

PaySpace Magazine has prepared a list of countries with the lowest prices on-for food, rent, utilities, and transport, according to the Numbeo database (March 2021). At the other end of the spectrum, we’ve made another list of the regions in which you can expect the highest prices on common goods and services.

Countries with the most expensive and cheapest rent

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Source: pixabay.com

The top 3 countries with the most affordable rent are Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. Here, renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city center will cost you from $129 to $140.

  1. Bangladesh – $129.30
  2. Nepal – $130.80
  3. Pakistan – $140.39
  4. India – $162.65
  5. Algeria – $176.19
  6. Tunisia – $186.72
  7. Turkey – $190.29
  8. Egypt – $195.84
  9. Brazil – $219.49
  10. North Macedonia – $220

The most expensive rent is in Hong Kong and Singapore. Here you will have to spend on it over $2000 each month.

  1. Hong Kong – $2,195.64
  2. Singapore – $2,088.47
  3. Switzerland – $1,591.91
  4. Qatar – $1,474.30
  5. Iceland – $1,406.17
  6. Ireland – $1,369.16
  7. United States – $1,342.26
  8. United Arab Emirates – $1,279.19
  9. Netherlands – $1,270.41
  10. Australia – $1,256.86

Countries with the most expensive and cheapest utilities

Namche Bazar, Namche, Nepal. Source: unsplash.com

Nepal, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are in the top of the countries with the cheapest utilities, including electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage utilisation expenses.

  1. Nepal – $25.29
  2. Nigeria – $25.32
  3. Uzbekistan – $26.19
  4. Egypt – $33.94
  5. Kenya – $35.64
  6. Bolivia – $36.20
  7. Algeria – $36.87
  8. Iran – $37.44
  9. Mexico – $39.51
  10. Tunisia – $39.81

The most expensive utilities are in Germany, Slovenia, and Austria.

  1. Germany – $264.73
  2. Slovenia – $241.73
  3. Austria – $238.28
  4. Hong Kong – $236.54
  5. Israel – $225.53
  6. United Kingdom – $213.24
  7. Switzerland – $208.32
  8. Czech Republic – $204.98
  9. Puerto Rico – $203.07
  10. Estonia – $201.73

Countries with the most expensive and cheapest monthly pass

Train to Ella, Sri Lanka. Source: unsplash.com

The cheapest monthly pass for public transport is in Sri Lanka. Here it will cost you just $5. Meanwhile, in Ireland, you will have to pay for the pass $129.74.

  1. Sri Lanka – $5.03
  2. Pakistan – $7.74
  3. Vietnam – $8.70
  4. Algeria – $9.55
  5. India – $9.66
  6. Georgia – $9.70
  7. Nepal – $9.72
  8. Moldova – $10.07
  9. Ukraine – $10.73
  10. Tunisia – $10.83

Besides Ireland, the most expensive passes are also in Australia and New Zealand.

  1. Ireland – $129.74
  2. Australia – $114.48
  3. New Zealand – $112.10
  4. Netherlands – $102.61
  5. Iceland – $100.64
  6. Sweden – $92.01
  7. Japan – $91.23
  8. United Kingdom – $89.64
  9. Singapore – $89.17
  10. Norway – $88.63

Countries with the most expensive and cheapest Internet

Ukraine has the cheapest Internet. Source: unsplash.com

The most inexpensive Internet is in Ukraine. According to Numbeo, the average monthly tariff plan for unlimited Internet data will cost you here just over $5.

  1. Ukraine – $5.13
  2. Russia – $6.39
  3. Romania – $8.94
  4. Moldova – $9.65
  5. India – $10.89
  6. Belarus – $11.16
  7. Vietnam – $11.20
  8. Kazakhstan – $11.34
  9. Bulgaria – $12.20
  10. Lithuania – $12.54

The most expensive Internet is in Ethiopia – more than $400 per month.

  1. Ethiopia – $424.38 $
  2. United Arab Emirates – $97.84
  3. Qatar – $86.89
  4. Oman – $79.65
  5. Iceland – $69.91
  6. Honduras – $69.08
  7. Guatemala – $67.68
  8. Saudi Arabia – $67.35
  9. United States – $65.61
  10. Switzerland – $63.51

Countries with the lowest and highest mobile tarrifs

Egypt has the lowest mobile tariffs. Source: unsplash.com

The most affordable rates for prepaid phone plans are in Egypt, India, and Sri Lanka. In these countries, one minute of prepaid mobile communication will cost only one cent.

  1. Egypt – $0.01
  2. India – $0.01
  3. Sri Lanka – $0.01
  4. Bangladesh – $0.02
  5. Pakistan – $0.02
  6. Iran – $0.02
  7. Nepal – $0.02
  8. Uzbekistan – $0.02
  9. Ethiopia – $0.02
  10. Russia – $0.02

The highest mobile tariffs per month are in Greece, Lebanon, and Malta.

  1. Greece – $0.44
  2. Lebanon – $0.38
  3. Malta – $0.35
  4. Japan – $0.33
  5. Ireland – $0.32
  6. Australia – $0.31
  7. New Zealand – $0.27
  8. Canada – $0.27
  9. Switzerland – $0.24
  10. Albania – $0.24

Countries with the most expensive and cheapest taxi

Mobility-as-a-Service

Normal taxi ride in Norway will cost you around $12. Source: unsplash.com

The most affordable taxi is in Tunisia with a typical fare of around 18 cents.

  1. Tunisia – $0.18
  2. Sri Lanka – $0.30
  3. Iran – $0.48
  4. Chile – $0.48
  5. Indonesia – $0.49
  6. Jordan – $0.49
  7. Egypt – $0.51
  8. Vietnam – $0.52
  9. Algeria – $0.54
  10. Uzbekistan – $0.60

Meanwhile, a normal taxi ride in Norway will cost you 64 times more expensive than in Tunisia.

  1. Norway – $11.59
  2. Denmark – $7.93
  3. Finland – $7.02
  4. Switzerland – $6.92
  5. Malta – $5.90
  6. Italy – $5.90
  7. Cyprus – $5.90
  8. Japan – $5.84
  9. Sweden – $5.79
  10. Belgium – $5.54

Countries with the most expensive and cheapest restaurants

India has the most inexpensive restaurants. Source: pixabay.com

The most inexpensive dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant can be ordered in India. Here it will cost you just around $11.

  1. India – $11.04
  2. Bangladesh – $11.53
  3. Pakistan – $11.93
  4. Sri Lanka – $12.56
  5. Nepal – $12.95
  6. Turkey – $13.53
  7. Indonesia – $13.87
  8. Malaysia – $14.47
  9. Algeria – $14.99
  10. Tunisia – $16.24

The most expensive mid-range restaurants are in Switzerland – more than $100 for a meal for two people.

  1. Switzerland – $106.46
  2. Iceland – $96.32
  3. Denmark – $95.15
  4. Norway – $92.68
  5. Finland – $82.56
  6. Sweden – $81.02
  7. Israel – $75.05
  8. Belgium – $74.89
  9. Trinidad And Tobago – $73.58
  10. Netherlands – $70.77

Countries with the most expensive and cheapest McDonald’s

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The most expensive McDonald’s is in Israel. Source: pexels.com

The cheapest McDonald’s is in Uzbekistan, Turkey, and the Philippines. In these countries, a Combo Meal menu will cost you about $3.

  1. Uzbekistan – $3.00
  2. Turkey – $3.07
  3. Philippines – $3.10
  4. Algeria – $3.16
  5. Russia – $3.29
  6. Ethiopia – $3.44
  7. North Macedonia – $3.44
  8. Indonesia – $3.47
  9. Kosovo (Disputed Territory) – $3.54
  10. Tunisia – $3.61

The most expensive McDonald’s is in Israel – $15 for McMeal.

  1. Israel – $15.01
  2. Switzerland – $14.90
  3. Norway – $13.79
  4. Iceland – $13.77
  5. Denmark – $12.37
  6. France – $10.03
  7. Belgium – $10.03
  8. Lebanon – $10.00
  9. Netherlands – $9.44
  10. Malta – $9.44

Countries with the lowest and highest food prices

Where is the most affordable food? Source: unsplash.com

PaySpace Magazine has compiled a list of staple foods and found out which countries have the highest and lowest prices for these categories of goods.

A kilogram of rice is the cheapest in Sri Lanka ($0.57), Bangladesh ($0.69), and Nepal ($0.70). The most expensive rice is in Japan ($4.61), South Korea ($4.10), and the United States ($3.97).

The cheapest apples you can find in Turkey. Here 1 kg of this fruit will cost you just $0.73. Other countries with the lowest prices of apples are Ukraine and Moldova – just $0.81. And the most expensive apples are in South Korea ($7.11), Japan ($6.78), and Puerto Rico ($5.79).

The lowest prices of a dozen chicken eggs are in India ($0.93), Pakistan ($0.96), and Tunisia ($1.01). While the highest is in Lebanon ($6.30), Switzerland ($5.93), and Iceland ($5.35).

The cheapest potatoes to find cost between $0.36-0.38. These are the average prices in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Algeria. The most expensive 1 kg of potatoes are in Japan ($3.72), South Korea ($3.56), and Puerto Rico ($3.23).

A loaf of white bread (500g) is the cheapest in Tunisia ($0.14), Algeria ($0.17), and Uzbekistan ($0.27). The most expensive bread is in Iceland ($3.30), Norway ($3.29), and Switzerland ($2.94).

The cheapest kilogram of the chicken file to buy is in Brazil ($2.32), Pakistan ($2.37), and Thailand ($2.43), the most expensive – in Switzerland ($27.20), Iceland ($15.54), and Norway ($14.44).

One and a half-liter bottle of water is cheapest in Algeria ($0.23), Uzbekistan ($0.25), and Tunisia ($0.26). The most expensive water is in Norway ($2.37), Costa Rica ($2.03), Iceland, and the US ($1.81).

The cheapest milk (1 liter) is in Tunisia ($0.44), Algeria ($0.61), Belarus, and Brazil ($0.65), the most expensive is in Lebanon ($3.71), Taiwan ($3.21), and Hong Kong ($3.02).

In general, according to MoveHub, the 5 most expensive countries to live in include Bermuda, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and the Bahamas. At the same time, Pakistan, Egypt, Ukraine, India, and Tunisia are among the cheapest ones.

Source: movehub.com

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