How expensive is it to live in Glasgow?: How the cost of living ranks in Glasgow compared to UK cities and worldwide

Global financial services company, Mercer, have released their annual cost of living city ranking, which provides an insight into cities across the world and where they rank in terms of the day-to-day costs of living for normal people.

The ranking lists 226 cities in the world in order, from the most expensive to the least expensive places to live. The comprehensive ranking serves as a valuable compass, providing guidance through the intricate landscape of living expenses in cities worldwide.

This year Glasgow makes an appearance in the top 100,

According to Mercer’s 2024 cost-of-living data, Hong Kong, Singapore and Zurich are currently the costliest cities for international workers.

A wide range of factors in pricing are taken into consideration, including: eggs, olive oil, a cup of coffee, petrol, blue jeans, and a haircut - to name just a few. House prices are another factor which are taken into consideration.

Mercer assessed the comparative costs of over 200 items in each location. To ensure consistency in city-ranking comparisons, New York City was utilized as the base city and currency movements were measured against the US dollar.

In the case of the higher-ranking cities such as London, factors such as expensive housing markets, high transportation costs and higher cost of goods and services have all contributed to high living costs.

Of the 10 most expensive cities, half are located in Western Europe, with Switzerland being home to four, while the UK is home to only one (London).

Take a look below as we display each city in the UK alongside their national and international ranking for their cost of living.