The October 2009 International Cost of Living Ranking covers 209 countries.

Below we have listed the 10 most expensive countries to live in, the biggest movers up and down in country ranking and the 5 most expensive countries per basket item.

There is no change to the first and last places. Japan remains the most expensive place for an expatriate to live with the highest overall cost of living index and Zimbabwe with the lowest cost of living index.

The 10 most expensive ranked international cost of living locations as at October 2009, together with the previous year's rank as at October 2008, is as follows:

October 2009 Rank Country, City (October 2008 Rank)[Change in Rank]

1. Japan, Tokyo (1) [0]
2. China, Hong Kong (33) [-31]
3. Switzerland, Geneva (4) [-1]
4. Central African Republic, Bangui (46) [-42]
5. Switzerland, Zurich (8) [-3]
6. Denmark, Copenhagen (3) [3]
7. Venezuela, Caracas (32) [-25]
8. United Arab Emirates, Dubai (34) [-26]
9. Chad, N'Djamena (15) [-6]
10. Norway, Oslo (2) [8]

Biggest Movers Up

The biggest movers up in the rankings as a result of an increase in relative cost of living are:

1. Solomon Islands, Honiara by 152 places
2. Canada, Calgary by 134 places
3. Kiribati, South Tarawa by 109 places
4. Timor-Leste, Dili by 106 places
5. Montenegro, Podgorica by 93 places
6. Vanuatu, Port Vila by 91 places
7. Saudi Arabia, Riyadh by 83 places
8. Rwanda, Kigali by 83 places
9. Cape Verde, Praia by 75 places
10. Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa by 61 places

Biggest Movers Down

The biggest movers down in the rankings as a result of a decrease in relative cost of living are:

1. Tonga, Nuku'Alofa by 172 places
2. Poland, Warsaw by 158 places
3. Vietnam, Hanoi by 126 places
4. Fiji, Suva by 99 places
5. Paraguay, Asuncion by 91 places
6. Hungary, Budapest by 85 places
7. Equatorial Guinea, Malabo by 82 places
8. Albania, Tirana by 77 places
9. Kenya, Nairobi by 73 places
10. Gambia, Banjul by 66 places

Top 5 most expensive international locations for each basket group

The 13 baskets, the result of extensive research of actual spending habits, allow our cost of living indices to reflect a reality-based international expenditure pattern. Comparing the cost of living between 2 locations, the difference in the aggregate cost of all the items in each of the 13 baskets are compared in each location using the average price in each location for the same quantity of each item. Cost of living is the difference in the local cost of the basket in the same currency. The baskets are weighted according to expat spending norms.

Alcohol & Tobacco is most expensive in:

1. Kiribati, South Tarawa
2. Qatar, Doha
3. Korea Republic of, Seoul
4. Comores, Moroni
5. Norway, Oslo

Clothing is most expensive in:

1. Croatia, Zagreb
2. Russia, Moscow
3. China, Beijing
4. United Arab Emirates, Dubai
5. Qatar, Doha

Communications is most expensive in:

1. Guinea-Bissau, Bissau
2. New Caledonia, Noumea
3. Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou
4. Latvia, Riga
5. Cameroon, Douala

Education is most expensive in:

1. Venezuela, Caracas
2. Angola, Luanda
3. Brazil, Brasilia
4. Bermuda, Hamilton
5. Central African Republic, Bangui

Furniture & Appliances are most expensive in:

1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Mali, Bamako
3. Cameroon, Douala
4. New Caledonia, Noumea
5. Chad, N'Djamena

Groceries are most expensive in:

1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Japan, Tokyo
3. Denmark, Copenhagen
4. Solomon Islands, Honiara
5. Congo, Brazzaville

Healthcare is most expensive in:

1. Japan, Tokyo
2. China, Hong Kong
3. Kiribati, South Tarawa
4. Angola, Luanda
5. Bermuda, Hamilton

Household is most expensive in:

1. China, Hong Kong
2. Japan, Tokyo
3. Taiwan, Taipei
4. Venezuela, Caracas
5. United Arab Emirates, Dubai

Miscellaneous costs related to general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, and office supplies is most expensive in:

1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Norway, Oslo
3. Finland, Helsinki
4. New Caledonia, Noumea
5. Qatar, Doha

Personal Care is most expensive in:

1. Kiribati, South Tarawa
2. Gambia, Banjul
3. Algeria, Algiers
4. Comores, Moroni
5. Slovakia, Bratislava

Recreation and Culture is most expensive in:

1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
3. Mozambique, Maputo
4. Chad, N'Djamena
5. Vanuatu, Port Vila

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels are most expensive in:

1. United Arab Emirates, Dubai
2. Greece, Athens
3. Qatar, Doha
4. Belgium, Brussels
5. Slovenia, Ljubljana

Transport is most expensive in:

1. Timor-Leste, Dili
2. Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi
3. Cameroon, Douala
4. Solomon Islands, Honiara
5. Norway, Oslo