These Are Southeast Asia's Most Expensive Cities to Live In

The cost of living in Singapore is the highest compared to other cities in Southeast Asia. According to the *Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2018*, the cost of living index in Singapore is 91.49 points, significantly higher than other cities in ASEAN member countries. Although the highest in the region, the cost of living in the Lion City is 8.51% lower than New York City, which is the benchmark for the index calculation.

The second most expensive city in Southeast Asia is Bangkok, Thailand, followed by Makati, Philippines, in third place. Of the 20 most expensive cities in Southeast Asia, three Indonesian cities are on the list: Jakarta (13th), Bali (16th), and Yogyakarta (20th). Yogyakarta, previously considered a city with a low cost of living in Indonesia, is included in the top 20 most expensive cities in Southeast Asia.

The *Cost of Living Index 2018* uses the cost of living in New York City (index = 100) as a standard. Southeast Asian cities with an index below 100 indicate that their cost of living is lower than that of New York City. The cost of living index calculation uses several indicators, such as the comparative prices of apartment rent, groceries, food and beverages at restaurants, and consumer goods.