Transparency about our estimation model and its limits
Every city page starts from a national baseline: estimated average costs for twelve expense categories (rent, groceries, dining, transport, utilities, internet, leisure) plus an average net salary for that country.
The baseline is then adjusted by a city multiplier based on population: larger cities cost more, driven mainly by housing. National capitals receive an additional premium. Cities without population data default to a small-town multiplier. Rent scales more steeply with city size than other categories, reflecting how housing markets behave in practice.
They are planning estimates — useful for comparing cities against each other, budgeting a move at a rough level, and understanding relative affordability. Rankings between cities are more reliable than any single absolute figure.
They are not live market prices, not crowdsourced, and not a substitute for checking current listings before signing a lease or accepting a salary. Real prices in any city vary by neighborhood, season and personal lifestyle — sometimes widely.
Amounts are shown in the local currency and US dollars using approximate fixed exchange rates. Exchange rates move; the USD figures are indicative only.
City names, coordinates, states and populations come from open geographic datasets. Cost baselines are compiled from publicly available price references and adjusted periodically.