The Real Cost of Living in 10 Major Cities: A Neighborhood Breakdown (2026)

Published 2026-02-25 · salary:converter Research · 3,400+ neighborhoods analyzed
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salary:converter Research Team

Data-driven insights on salaries, cost of living, and relocation decisions for 182 cities worldwide.

City-level averages hide enormous variation. In most major cities, the most expensive neighborhood costs 50-100% more than the most affordable one. This guide breaks down the real cost of living across every neighborhood in 10 of the world's most popular cities for expats and remote workers.

Each neighborhood is rated using a multiplier against the city average (1.00x). Below 1.00 is cheaper than average; above 1.00 is more expensive.

New York

30 neighborhoods · Most expensive: SoHo / Tribeca · Most affordable: The Bronx · Gap: 47% · Potential monthly savings: $2,205

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
SoHo / Tribeca 135.0 1.35x +35%
Manhattan (Upper East Side) 130.0 1.30x +30%
West Village 128.0 1.28x +28%
Manhattan (Midtown) 125.0 1.25x +25%
Greenwich Village 125.0 1.25x +25%
Upper West Side 122.0 1.22x +22%
Financial District 120.0 1.20x +20%
Chelsea 118.0 1.18x +18%
DUMBO 115.0 1.15x +15%
Murray Hill 112.0 1.12x +12%
Manhattan (Lower East Side) 110.0 1.10x +10%
Hell's Kitchen 110.0 1.10x +10%
Brooklyn (Park Slope) 108.0 1.08x +8%
Hoboken (NJ) 108.0 1.08x +8%
Brooklyn (Williamsburg) 105.0 1.05x +5%
Prospect Heights 105.0 1.05x +5%
Fort Greene 102.0 1.02x +2%
Greenpoint 100.0 1.00x +0%
Queens (Long Island City) 95.0 0.95x -5%
Queens (Astoria) 90.0 0.90x -10%
Brooklyn (Bushwick) 88.0 0.88x -12%
Red Hook 88.0 0.88x -12%
Forest Hills 88.0 0.88x -12%
Crown Heights 85.0 0.85x -15%
Harlem 82.0 0.82x -18%
Bay Ridge 82.0 0.82x -18%
Flushing 80.0 0.80x -20%
Jackson Heights 78.0 0.78x -22%
Staten Island 75.0 0.75x -25%
The Bronx 72.0 0.72x -28%

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London

35 neighborhoods · Most expensive: Mayfair · Most affordable: Barking · Gap: 53% · Potential monthly savings: £1,450

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
Mayfair 126.9 1.45x +45%
Chelsea 120.7 1.38x +38%
Kensington 118.1 1.35x +35%
Marylebone 115.5 1.32x +32%
Hampstead 113.8 1.30x +30%
Notting Hill 112.0 1.28x +28%
Soho 106.8 1.22x +22%
Richmond 103.2 1.18x +18%
Canary Wharf 100.6 1.15x +15%
Islington 98.0 1.12x +12%
Angel (Islington) 98.0 1.12x +12%
Shoreditch 96.3 1.10x +10%
Fulham 96.3 1.10x +10%
Chiswick 96.3 1.10x +10%
Camden 91.9 1.05x +5%
Battersea 91.9 1.05x +5%
Putney 91.9 1.05x +5%
Vauxhall 91.9 1.05x +5%
Wimbledon 89.2 1.02x +2%
Bermondsey 87.5 1.00x +0%
Balham 85.8 0.98x -2%
Clapham 83.1 0.95x -5%
Dalston 83.1 0.95x -5%
Kentish Town 83.1 0.95x -5%
Hackney 80.5 0.92x -8%
Greenwich 78.8 0.90x -10%
Brixton 77.0 0.88x -12%
Ealing 74.4 0.85x -15%
Peckham 71.8 0.82x -18%
Tooting 71.8 0.82x -18%
Walthamstow 70.0 0.80x -20%
Stratford 68.2 0.78x -22%
Lewisham 68.2 0.78x -22%
Croydon 63.0 0.72x -28%
Barking 59.5 0.68x -32%

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Tokyo

30 neighborhoods · Most expensive: Chiyoda (Marunouchi) · Most affordable: Katsushika · Gap: 47% · Potential monthly savings: ¥146,390

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
Chiyoda (Marunouchi) 104.4 1.35x +35%
Azabu 104.4 1.35x +35%
Minato (Roppongi) 100.5 1.30x +30%
Daikanyama 98.9 1.28x +28%
Shibuya 96.6 1.25x +25%
Ebisu 94.3 1.22x +22%
Shinjuku 91.2 1.18x +18%
Meguro 88.9 1.15x +15%
Shinagawa 86.6 1.12x +12%
Bunkyo 85.0 1.10x +10%
Setagaya 83.5 1.08x +8%
Ikebukuro 83.5 1.08x +8%
Koto (Toyosu) 81.2 1.05x +5%
Akihabara 77.3 1.00x +0%
Kichijoji (Musashino) 75.8 0.98x -2%
Toshima 73.4 0.95x -5%
Taito 73.4 0.95x -5%
Nakano 71.1 0.92x -8%
Asakusa 71.1 0.92x -8%
Sumida 69.6 0.90x -10%
Suginami 68.0 0.88x -12%
Ota 68.0 0.88x -12%
Chofu 65.7 0.85x -15%
Nerima 63.4 0.82x -18%
Arakawa 63.4 0.82x -18%
Itabashi 61.8 0.80x -20%
Edogawa 60.3 0.78x -22%
Machida 60.3 0.78x -22%
Adachi 58.0 0.75x -25%
Katsushika 55.7 0.72x -28%

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Singapore

24 neighborhoods · Most expensive: Sentosa · Most affordable: Sengkang · Gap: 49% · Potential monthly savings: S$1,949

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
Sentosa 122.8 1.40x +40%
Marina Bay 118.4 1.35x +35%
Orchard Road 114.0 1.30x +30%
Raffles Place 109.6 1.25x +25%
Dempsey Hill 107.0 1.22x +22%
Bukit Timah 103.5 1.18x +18%
Tanjong Pagar 100.9 1.15x +15%
Holland Village 98.2 1.12x +12%
Tiong Bahru 96.5 1.10x +10%
Novena 92.1 1.05x +5%
Katong 89.5 1.02x +2%
Clementi 77.2 0.88x -12%
Queenstown 77.2 0.88x -12%
Bishan 74.5 0.85x -15%
Serangoon 74.5 0.85x -15%
Toa Payoh 71.9 0.82x -18%
Jurong East 70.2 0.80x -20%
Tampines 68.4 0.78x -22%
Ang Mo Kio 68.4 0.78x -22%
Bedok 68.4 0.78x -22%
Woodlands 65.8 0.75x -25%
Pasir Ris 65.8 0.75x -25%
Punggol 63.1 0.72x -28%
Sengkang 63.1 0.72x -28%

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Dubai

24 neighborhoods · Most expensive: Palm Jumeirah · Most affordable: International City · Gap: 54% · Potential monthly savings: AED 4,891

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
Palm Jumeirah 101.4 1.40x +40%
Downtown Dubai 97.7 1.35x +35%
DIFC 94.1 1.30x +30%
Dubai Marina 92.7 1.28x +28%
JBR 88.3 1.22x +22%
City Walk 88.3 1.22x +22%
Business Bay 85.4 1.18x +18%
Jumeirah 83.3 1.15x +15%
Dubai Hills 79.6 1.10x +10%
Arabian Ranches 78.2 1.08x +8%
JLT 76.0 1.05x +5%
The Greens 68.8 0.95x -5%
Damac Hills 65.2 0.90x -10%
Al Barsha 63.7 0.88x -12%
Mirdif 61.5 0.85x -15%
Jumeirah Village Circle 59.4 0.82x -18%
Sports City 57.9 0.80x -20%
Deira 56.5 0.78x -22%
Al Nahda 56.5 0.78x -22%
Motor City 56.5 0.78x -22%
Al Quoz 54.3 0.75x -25%
Silicon Oasis 52.1 0.72x -28%
Discovery Gardens 52.1 0.72x -28%
International City 47.1 0.65x -35%

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Paris

26 neighborhoods · Most expensive: Champs-Élysées (8th) · Most affordable: Saint-Denis · Gap: 50% · Potential monthly savings: €831

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
Champs-Élysées (8th) 65.7 1.40x +40%
Tour Eiffel (7th) 64.7 1.38x +38%
Saint-Germain (6th) 63.3 1.35x +35%
Le Marais (3rd/4th) 61.0 1.30x +30%
Passy (16th) 61.0 1.30x +30%
Latin Quarter (5th) 58.6 1.25x +25%
Neuilly-sur-Seine 58.6 1.25x +25%
Opéra (9th) 53.9 1.15x +15%
La Défense 51.6 1.10x +10%
Levallois-Perret 51.6 1.10x +10%
Boulogne-Billancourt 50.7 1.08x +8%
Bastille (11th) 49.2 1.05x +5%
Oberkampf (11th) 47.8 1.02x +2%
Issy-les-Moulineaux 47.8 1.02x +2%
République (10th) 46.9 1.00x +0%
Batignolles (17th) 46.0 0.98x -2%
Pigalle (9th) 44.6 0.95x -5%
Bercy (12th) 44.6 0.95x -5%
Vincennes 44.6 0.95x -5%
Montmartre (18th) 43.1 0.92x -8%
Alésia (14th) 43.1 0.92x -8%
Vaugirard (15th) 42.2 0.90x -10%
Nation (12th) 41.3 0.88x -12%
Buttes-Chaumont (19th) 39.9 0.85x -15%
Belleville (20th) 38.5 0.82x -18%
Saint-Denis 32.8 0.70x -30%

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Sydney

24 neighborhoods · Most expensive: Double Bay · Most affordable: Bankstown · Gap: 45% · Potential monthly savings: A$1,813

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
Double Bay 96.9 1.30x +30%
Mosman 95.4 1.28x +28%
CBD 93.1 1.25x +25%
Bondi 90.9 1.22x +22%
Pyrmont 87.9 1.18x +18%
Surry Hills 85.7 1.15x +15%
Paddington 85.7 1.15x +15%
Darlinghurst 83.4 1.12x +12%
Coogee 83.4 1.12x +12%
Kirribilli 83.4 1.12x +12%
Manly 82.0 1.10x +10%
Balmain 82.0 1.10x +10%
Glebe 80.5 1.08x +8%
Newtown 78.2 1.05x +5%
Neutral Bay 78.2 1.05x +5%
Redfern 76.0 1.02x +2%
Chatswood 70.8 0.95x -5%
Lane Cove 68.5 0.92x -8%
Marrickville 67.0 0.90x -10%
Cronulla 67.0 0.90x -10%
Parramatta 61.1 0.82x -18%
Ryde 61.1 0.82x -18%
Hornsby 58.1 0.78x -22%
Bankstown 53.6 0.72x -28%

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Berlin

24 neighborhoods · Most expensive: Grunewald · Most affordable: Rudow · Gap: 46% · Potential monthly savings: €610

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
Grunewald 66.6 1.30x +30%
Mitte 62.5 1.22x +22%
Dahlem 62.5 1.22x +22%
Charlottenburg 58.9 1.15x +15%
Prenzlauer Berg 57.3 1.12x +12%
Wilmersdorf 56.3 1.10x +10%
Kreuzberg 55.3 1.08x +8%
Schöneberg 53.8 1.05x +5%
Zehlendorf 53.8 1.05x +5%
Friedrichshain 52.2 1.02x +2%
Friedenau 50.2 0.98x -2%
Moabit 47.1 0.92x -8%
Steglitz 45.1 0.88x -12%
Neukölln 43.5 0.85x -15%
Pankow 43.5 0.85x -15%
Tempelhof 42.0 0.82x -18%
Treptow 42.0 0.82x -18%
Wedding 39.9 0.78x -22%
Köpenick 39.9 0.78x -22%
Lichtenberg 38.4 0.75x -25%
Spandau 36.9 0.72x -28%
Reinickendorf 36.9 0.72x -28%
Britz 36.9 0.72x -28%
Rudow 35.8 0.70x -30%

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Bangkok

24 neighborhoods · Most expensive: Thonglor · Most affordable: Bearing · Gap: 41% · Potential monthly savings: ฿9,855

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
Thonglor 47.6 1.28x +28%
Sukhumvit (Asoke) 46.5 1.25x +25%
Silom / Sathorn 45.4 1.22x +22%
Thong Lo Soi 45.4 1.22x +22%
Siam 43.9 1.18x +18%
Phrom Phong 43.9 1.18x +18%
Ekkamai 42.8 1.15x +15%
Sathorn 42.8 1.15x +15%
Ari 40.9 1.10x +10%
Ratchadaphisek 37.9 1.02x +2%
Rama 9 37.9 1.02x +2%
Pratunam 35.3 0.95x -5%
Phra Khanong 34.2 0.92x -8%
Bangrak 34.2 0.92x -8%
Chatuchak 33.5 0.90x -10%
On Nut 32.7 0.88x -12%
Saphan Kwai 32.7 0.88x -12%
Khao San 31.6 0.85x -15%
Bangsue 31.6 0.85x -15%
Ladprao 30.5 0.82x -18%
Pinklao 30.5 0.82x -18%
Udom Suk 29.8 0.80x -20%
Bang Na 29.0 0.78x -22%
Bearing 27.9 0.75x -25%

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São Paulo

24 neighborhoods · Most expensive: Jardins · Most affordable: Ipiranga · Gap: 40% · Potential monthly savings: R$1,574

Neighborhood COLI Multiplier vs Average
Jardins 54.3 1.30x +30%
Itaim Bibi 52.2 1.25x +25%
Alto de Pinheiros 51.0 1.22x +22%
Vila Olímpia 50.2 1.20x +20%
Higienópolis 50.2 1.20x +20%
Pinheiros 49.3 1.18x +18%
Brooklin 49.3 1.18x +18%
Vila Madalena 48.1 1.15x +15%
Morumbi 48.1 1.15x +15%
Moema 46.8 1.12x +12%
Perdizes 46.0 1.10x +10%
Campo Belo 45.1 1.08x +8%
Paraíso 43.9 1.05x +5%
Consolação 42.6 1.02x +2%
Vila Mariana 42.6 1.02x +2%
Bela Vista 38.5 0.92x -8%
Aclimação 38.5 0.92x -8%
Lapa 36.8 0.88x -12%
Liberdade 35.5 0.85x -15%
Butantã 35.5 0.85x -15%
Santana 34.3 0.82x -18%
Tatuapé 33.4 0.80x -20%
Centro 32.6 0.78x -22%
Ipiranga 32.6 0.78x -22%

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Methodology

All data is compiled from Numbeo, Expatistan, OECD, and ECB combined with local rent indices, consumer surveys, and expatriate community reports. Neighborhood multipliers reflect relative cost differences within each city, covering housing, food, transportation, and general consumer prices.

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Data Sources

The data in this article is sourced from:

All cost of living indices use New York City as the baseline (COLI = 100). Salary ranges are global baselines adjusted by local cost of living. Data as of 2026-02-28. Figures are estimates for informational purposes only.