Singapore tops list of most expensive cities for rich

Singapore surged to top the rankings as the most expensive city in the world for luxury living for the first time as it vies to be a leading global center for the rich.

The city-state, ranked fifth in 2022, leapfrogged ahead of Shanghai and Hong Kong, in second and third spots respectively, according to a report by Swiss wealth manager Julius Baer.

One of the first places in Asia to reopen its borders during the pandemic, Singapore’s attractiveness to high-networth individuals is reflected in rising prices that locals now face. By the end of 2022, Singapore counted an estimated 1,500 family offices in the territory, twice the number of the previous year, according to the report. It’s the most expensive city globally for car prices.

“High living standards and ballooning demands on local infrastructure mean life here does not come cheap,” according to the report released Tuesday. “Residential property is in extremely high demand, and punitively taxed cars and essential health insurance are 133% and 109% more expensive than the global average respectively.”

Julius Baer’s Lifestyle Index ranks the world’s 25 most expensive cities by analyzing residential property, cars, business-class flights, business school, degustation dinners and other luxuries. Asia remained the most costly region for luxury living for the fourth straight year.

New York was another big gainer. The U.S. financial capital rose to fifth from 11th due to a strengthening dollar and a rebound from the pandemic.

London slipped to fourth place from second. Brexit and its “ensuing turmoil” continue to dent the U.K.’s reputation and the city now faces strong competition from burgeoning financial centers such as Dubai and Singapore, according to Julius Baer.

For the first time since the report began, Europe, the Middle East and Africa is the most affordable region to live well in, with European cities dropping in rankings.