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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Japan's Mt Fuji, covered with snow, is seen through Shinjuku skyscrapers in Tokyo.

The last 12 months have seen considerable increases in the cost of food, oil and other commodities in many parts of the world.

Within Asia, some of the biggest increases seen in the local prices of items in ECA's basket of goods and services have been witnessed in Bangladesh (15 per cent), Vietnam (14.2 per cent) and India (13.3 per cent).

On average, prices have risen by just over eight per cent in Asia.

Here we take a look at 30 most expensive cities in the world based on ECA's data.

Note: ECA International's cost of living indices are calculated based upon surveys carried out annually in March and September using a basket of day-to-day goods and services.

The data refers to year-on-year movements between ECA's September 2011 and 2010 surveys.

City: Tokyo

Country: Japan

Global Ranking (2010): 1

Global Ranking (2011): 1

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

People ice skate on the rink on Karl Johann Street in Oslo.

City: Oslo

Country: Norway

Global Ranking (2010): 6

Global Ranking (2011): 2

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

A wakeboarder performs on Lake Leman on a hot autumn day in Geneva.

City: Geneva

Country: Switzerland

Global Ranking (2010): 8

Global Ranking (2011): 3

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

An aerial view of the 2005 World Exposition's Nagakute area in Nagoya.

City: Nagoya

Country: Japan

Global Ranking (2010): 3

Global Ranking (2011): 4

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

People walk on Zurich's main shopping street Bahnhofstrasse.

City: Zurich

Country: Switzerland

Global Ranking (2010): 7

Global Ranking (2011): 5

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Trainers perform with four white dolphins during a show at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, south of Tokyo.

City: Yokohama

Country: Japan

Global Ranking (2010): 4

Global Ranking (2011): 6

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

A volunteer sets up candles during Swiss national day in Berne.

City: Bern

Country: Switzerland

Global Ranking (2010): 10

Global Ranking (2011): 7

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Norway's Queen Sonja (facing camera) celebrates her birthday while wearing a paper crown made by a child during a garden party with children in Stavanger, southwest Norway.

City: Stavanger

Country: Norway

Global Ranking (2010): 9

Global Ranking (2011): 8

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

People sit in a ferry boat crossing the Rhine River in the northern Swiss city of Basel.

City: Basel

Country: Switzerland

Global Ranking (2010): 11

Global Ranking (2011): 9

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

A cityscape view of the western Japanese port city of Kobe.

City: Kobe

Country: Japan

Global Ranking (2010): 5

Global Ranking (2011): 10

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Office blocks under construction stand behind the Angolan central bank building in the capital Luanda.

City: Luanda

Country: Angola

Global Ranking (2010): 2

Global Ranking (2011): 11

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Boats are seen anchored at the 17th century Nyhavn district, home to many shops and restaurants in Copenhagen.

City: Copenhagen

Country: Denmark

Global Ranking (2010): 12

Global Ranking (2011): 12

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

People have a drink at 360, a three-tiered rooftop bar, in Caracas.

City: Caracas

Country: Venezuela

Global Ranking (2010): 16

Global Ranking (2011): 13

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Cafe in the square of the Three Blacksmiths, Helsinki.

City: Helsinki

Country: Finland

Global Ranking (2010): 15

Global Ranking (2011): 14

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

A surfer gets some air on Manly Beach in Sydney.

City: Sydney

Country: Australia

Global Ranking (2010): 25

Global Ranking (2011): 15

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

City: Moscow

Country: Russia

Global Ranking (2010): 14

Global Ranking (2011): 16

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Aerial view of the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

City: Canberra

Country: Australia

Global Ranking (2010): 23

Global Ranking (2011): 17

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

City: Libreville

Country: Gabon

Global Ranking (2010): 17

Global Ranking (2011): 18

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Pedestrians walk down the main shopping street in Stockholm's Gamla Stan or Old Town district.

City: Stockholm

Country: Sweden

Global Ranking (2010): 27

Global Ranking (2011): 19

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

City: Paris

Country: France

Global Ranking (2010): 24

Global Ranking (2011): 20

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

A woman reads a book beside a bronze statue in front of Sejong Centre for the Performing Arts in central Seoul.

City: Seoul

Country: South Korea

Global Ranking (2010): 22

Global Ranking (2011): 21

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

City: Rio de Janeiro

Country: Brazil

Global Ranking (2010): 19

Global Ranking (2011): 22

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Shoppers are seen at an outdoor shopping mall in Melbourne.

City: Melbourne

Country: Australia

Global Ranking (2010): 33

Global Ranking (2011): 23

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Twin locomotives pull the outback Australian train known as the Ghan.

City: Adelaide

Country: Australia

Global Ranking (2010): 44

Global Ranking (2011): 24

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

City: Perth

Country: Australia

Global Ranking (2010): 35

Global Ranking (2011): 25

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Longboard surfers walk into the water at Surfer's Paradise, 60 kilometres southeast of Brisbane.

City: Brisbane

Country: Australia

Global Ranking (2010): 36

Global Ranking (2011): 26

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

A tourist dives in a cage partially immersed in a crocodile pen in Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin.

City: Darwin

Country: Australia

Global Ranking (2010): 49

Global Ranking (2011): 27

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

City: Port Moresby

Country: Papua New Guinea

Global Ranking (2010): 85

Global Ranking (2011): 28

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

Revellers parade for Unidos de Vila Maria samba school during Carnival in Sao Paulo.

City: Sao Paulo

Country: Brazil

Global Ranking (2010): 26

Global Ranking (2011): 29

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30 most expensive cities in the world

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 08:31 IST

City: Kinshasa

Country: Democratic Republic of Congo

Global Ranking (2010): 13

Global Ranking (2011): 30