In the annual study about the cost of living in 207 cities worldwide, realized by Universal consultancy company "Merce", Beirut ranked 44th, and 3rd among 17 Arab cities that the report included in 2015.
Beirut was classified as the 16th most expensive city among 48 cities in middle to high income countries included in the survey. Beirut was the 63rd most expensive city in the world and the most expensive city in the arab world according to a survey in 2014. Cost of living has risen in Beirut comparing to other countries when it progressed according to this year's survey among 110 cities that have accomplished progress, and the second rise among arab cities comparing to Nouakchott (+18 rank).
In parallel, Port of Spain log with Trinidad and Tobago, the biggest progress in hospitality around the world, 73rd in ranking, while Manama and Doha recorded the biggest progress among Arab cities, with a rise of 59th in ranking each.
This study conducted a comparison between the cost of 200 items in each city surveyed. The comparison include the cost of housing, food, clothing, and household goods as well as transportation and entertainment. It compared the cost of goods and high-level that are important for the international companies working outside the home, such as places of entertainment and residential areas high-end. A report of New York City has taken a reference for comparison, an average of 100 points. Mercer is noteworthy that the company conducted the survey in March of each year to help international companies to determine the allocations provided by overseas workers for their employees. The survey results came in the weekly newsletter for the group of Byblos Bank Lebanon This Week.
Globally, the cost of living in Beirut was considered more expensive than those in Bangkok in Thailand, and Paris and Melbourne; and less expensive than Taipei in Taiwan, and Chicago, and Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo. Among middle-income countries to high, Beirut was considered more expensive than Bangkok in Thailand, Oman and Rio de Janeiro; while it was less expensive than in Libreville, Gabon, and Sao Paulo, and Baku in Azerbaijan.
The order of the city of Beirut was attributed mainly to the high cost of housing in apartments furnished (less expensive than New York), and personal entertainment and sports (more expensive than New York), and the cost of transportation (more expensive than New York) and the cost of services (more expensive than New York). The company indicated that it compares the cost of high-end facilities of interest to staff working outside their country of international companies, such as high-end residential areas and entertainment venues.
The report noted that 13 cities between 17 Arab cities advanced in their order in the public survey in 2015, and attributed this to the stability of these countries in the currency exchange rates against the US dollar in most Arab countries, which would raise the order of Arab cities. The survey covered three cities non-Arab in the region, ranking Tel Aviv universally 18th place, in the same place it occupied in the public survey in 2014, and came to Limassol in the 159 center compared to 113th place in 2014, while Istanbul was ranked 99th compared to place 135 in 2014. Luanda in Angola maintained its position as the most expensive city in the world, while Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan was the least expensive city all over the world.
