Doha is Ranked as the Second Most Affordable City in the GCC for Expatriate Workers

Doha is Ranked as the Second Most Affordable City

Doha has been recognized as the second most affordable city for expatriates in the Gulf region, according to the latest 2024 Mercer Annual Cost of Living City Ranking.

Mercer’s Annual Cost of Living City Ranking provides essential insights and trends for those making informed decisions about global mobility and international assignments. The ranking covers 226 cities worldwide, listing them from the most to the least expensive places to live.

This extensive ranking serves as a valuable guide, offering clarity on the complexities of living costs across global cities.

The Qatari capital is ranked 121st among the 226 cities in the survey, with Muscat (122) being the only city in the region slightly less expensive than Doha. Kuwait City follows in third place at 119.

Dubai has risen in the rankings to become the most expensive city in the Middle East for international workers, now holding the 15th spot globally, up three places from 2023. Abu Dhabi (43), Riyadh (90), and Jeddah (97) follow in that order.

The report also highlights Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich as the top three most expensive cities for international workers, while Abuja (226), Lagos (225), and Islamabad (224) are the least expensive cities globally.

“A variety of key factors have influenced the global economy in recent years, and in 2024, these continue to impact the cost of living in major cities,” the report noted. Inflation and exchange rate fluctuations are directly affecting the pay and savings of internationally mobile employees.

The report also mentioned that increased economic and geopolitical volatility, along with local conflicts and emergencies, have led to additional costs in housing, utilities, local taxes, and education.

For the higher-ranked cities like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich, factors such as expensive housing, high transportation costs, and the overall cost of goods and services contribute to high living expenses. On the other hand, in cities like Islamabad, Lagos, and Abuja, lower living costs for international assignees are partly due to currency depreciations.

European cities are prominently featured in Mercer’s top 10 most expensive places to live, with four Swiss cities and London securing the 8th position. Other expensive cities in Europe include Copenhagen at 11th, Vienna at 24th, Paris at 29th, and Amsterdam at 30th.

In South America, Montevideo, Uruguay, is the most expensive city for international employees, ranked 42nd, followed by Buenos Aires at 77th, which has dropped 32 places, and São Paulo at 124th. Buenos Aires has become more affordable, and Santiago, Chile, has seen a significant drop, falling 73 places to 160th.

In North America, New York City is the most expensive city, ranked 7th globally, followed by Nassau, Bahamas (9), Los Angeles (10), Honolulu (12), and San Francisco (13). Mexico’s capital, Mexico City, rose 46 places to 33, and Monterrey rose 40 places to 115, marking the largest changes in North America’s rankings.

In Africa, Bangui (14, up 12 places), Djibouti (18), and N’Djamena (21) are the highest-ranked cities in the Cost of Living City Ranking, while Blantyre (221), Lagos (225, down 178 places), and Abuja (226) are the least expensive.

In Asia, apart from Hong Kong and Singapore, the other most expensive cities include Shanghai (23), Beijing (25), and Seoul (32). The least expensive cities in the region are Karachi (222), Bishkek (223), and Islamabad (224).

In the Pacific region, Sydney is the most expensive city at 58th, followed by Noumea, New Caledonia (60), Melbourne (73), and Brisbane (89). Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand remain the least expensive in the region, ranked 111th and 145th, respectively.

The report emphasized that housing costs are a major factor in the Cost of Living City Ranking.

"Between 2023 and 2024, there was significant volatility in housing rental prices around the world, with notable variations between cities," the report noted. Mercer is a business unit of Marsh McLennan, the world’s leading professional services firm in risk, strategy, and people.