# Global city cost of living and quality of life rankings

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-city-cost-of-living-and-quality-of-life-rankings
> Updated: 2026-08-24T22:45:53.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

Reports from Deutsche Bank indicate shifting economic trends across major global cities. While Swiss cities like Zurich and Geneva remain the most expensive worldwide, Tokyo has become one of the cheapest cities due to a weakened yen, stagnant wages, and low inflation. In comparison, Prague has seen a sharp rise in living costs over the last decade, with housing prices increasing by approximately 150%.

Despite these rising costs, Prague has been ranked 19th out of 69 cities in a quality of life index. The city maintains high marks for safety and healthcare accessibility, though it faces significant challenges regarding housing affordability. While the cost of living in Prague is noted to be lower than in hubs like Zurich or Amsterdam, the gap between Central and Western European wages is gradually narrowing.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-24: Prague ranks 19th globally in quality of life index

Prague ranked 19th globally in a Deutsche Bank Research Institute quality of life index, outperforming Tokyo and Paris due to high safety and healthcare accessibility, despite housing affordability challenges.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prague-ranks-19th-globally-in-quality-of-life-index

### 2026-07-31: Tokyo cheaper than Prague; Swiss cities stay the world's most expensive

Deutsche Bank’s price study finds Zurich and Geneva still the priciest, while Tokyo is now cheaper than Prague, whose housing and wages have surged sharply.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tokyo-cheaper-than-prague-swiss-cities-stay-the-worlds-most-expensive

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Cite as: Global city cost of living and quality of life rankings. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-city-cost-of-living-and-quality-of-life-rankings