Exorbitant Costs Of Living, 10 Most Expensive Cities In The World 2025

JAKARTA - Singapore, London, and Hong Kong will again occupy the top as the most expensive cities in the world by 2025. However, major changes are starting to appear, with several cities from Asia and the Middle East starting to rise. This has succeeded in rivaling Europe and America.

This data comes from the 2025 Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report annual report released by Julius Baer Group, a Swiss wealth management company. This report assesses the high cost of living in various major cities in the world, based on the price of 20 premium goods and services commonly consumed by super-rich people, such as luxury properties, international education, expensive watches, exclusive dinners, and business class flights.

Here are the 10 most expensive cities in the world in 2025, as reported by the Business Insider page.

1. Singapore

2. London

3. Hong Kong

4. Monaco

5. Zurich

6. Shanghai

7. Dubai

8. New York

9. Paris

10. Milan

Several new cities stole the show because they managed to quickly rise to the rankings, especially in the Asian and Middle East regions. Dubai rose five places to 7th position, approaching strong cities such as Monaco and Zurich.

Bangkok and Tokyo also jumped six positions, each ranked 11th and 17th. This increase was driven by increased mode, goods and property costs.

The growing upper middle class in Bangkok has had a direct impact on the development of the city's luxury goods market, said Rishabh Saksena, Co-Head of global asset specialist Julius Baer.

"The increase in wealth encourages demand for luxury goods and services, including luxury shopping centers, high-end restaurants, to spas," he added.

In addition, Bangkok also benefits from Asia's attractiveness as a global tourist destination. Meanwhile, Tokyo showed a similar trend.

"Tokyo has generally been known as an area that is rich in culture and has a strong luxury market, especially in terms of fashion, luxury food, and exclusive experience," said Saksena.

"The global taste change among the rich who now value the experience more than physical goods makes Tokyo even more attractive," he added.

On the other hand, Shanghai, which was ranked first in 2022, has now dropped to sixth. This shows that its dominance has begun to fade.Srypto Paulo and Mexico City also experienced a significant decline in rankings.

"Dubai is starting to chase major European cities such as London, Monaco, and Zurich, this trend is likely to continue as the United Arab Emirates offers a strong home appeal for the rich," the report said.

Behind this movement, there is an increasing desire among super-rich people for stability, health, and cities that focus on the future.

The report also notes that Dubai's appeal lies in tax gains, luxury infrastructure, and a booming property market, while Bangkok and Tokyo are driven by regional economies and cultural wealth.