Numbeo, a global leader in comparing cost of living worldwide, released its Cost of Living Index 2020. According to Numbeo, the most expensive city at the beginning of 2020 is Zurich in Switzerland. Other cities in Switzerland get spots no. 2-5 of the most expensive cities in Numbeo's list: Basel, Lausanne, Geneva, Bern.

But where do Croatian cities place on the lust of the most expensive cities to live in on the planet? According to the data the Croatian capital, Zagreb, is the most expensive city to live in the country, although it ranks only 233rd in the world, between Malaga in Spain in 232nd position and another Croatian city, Split, in 234th place.

The data shows that Zagreb has an overall cost of living index of 50.13, which when compared with the most expensive city in the world, Zurich, at 128.29 is quite a difference.

According to data from the Numbeo website the figures are calculated as follows - These indices are relative to New York City (NYC). Which means that for New York City, each index should be 100(%). If another city has, for example, rent index of 120, it means that on an average in that city rents are 20% more expensive than in New York City. If a city has rent index of 70, that means on an average in that city rents are 30% less expensive than in New York City.

Numbeo uses the following factors to work out their list - Cost of Living Index (Excl. Rent) is a relative indicator of consumer goods prices, including groceries, restaurants, transportation and utilities. Cost of Living Index doesn't include accommodation expenses such as rent or mortgage. If a city has a Cost of Living Index of 120, it means Numbeo estimates it is 20% more expensive than New York (excluding rent). Rent Index is an estimation of prices of renting apartments in the city compared to New York City. If Rent index is 80, Numbeo estimates that price of rents in that city is on an average 20% less than the price in New York. Groceries Index is an estimation of grocery prices in the city compared to New York City. To calculate this section, Numbeo uses weights of items in the "Markets" section for each city. Restaurants Index is a comparison of prices of meals and drinks in restaurants and bars compared to NYC.

Cost of Living Plus Rent Index is an estimation of consumer goods prices including rent comparing to New York City. Local Purchasing Power shows relative purchasing power in buying goods and services in a given city for the average wage in that city. If domestic purchasing power is 40, this means that the inhabitants of that city with the average salary can afford to buy on an average 60% less goods and services than New York City residents with an average salary.

Tokyo, ranked globally 18th (out of 440 cities), is the most expensive city in Asia. Cities in Africa are all in the bottom half of the list, with the most expensive ranked city being Pretoria in South Africa on the spot no. 252.

Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Osijek are the four Croatian cities that are used on the Numbeo list and Zagreb is the most expensive of all these cities. Dubrovnik however does not feature on the list and might well have been the most expensive city in Croatia if data had been collected.

This semi-annual publication is released twice per year - in January and in July.