According to the human resources consulting firm Mercer, Hong Kong and Singapore are the most expensive cities for expatriates to live in 2024 due to high rents, transportation, and costs of goods and services. A Hong Kong resident mentioned that being accustomed to HK$100 ($13) for a pack of cigarettes, HK$25 ($3.25) per liter of gasoline, HK$130 ($16.9) per kilogram of fresh lean pork, and HK$15 ($1.95) for a cucumber often makes prices in other parts of the world seem low. Among the top 10 cities with the highest cost of living globally, half are in Europe, with four of them in Switzerland. In mainland China, Shanghai ranks the highest at 23rd, followed by Beijing at 27th, Shenzhen at 34th, and Guangzhou at 71st.