PRICEY PLACES

Pricey Locations: These Ten Cities Might Leave a Dent in your Wallet!

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Are you ready for a change? Moving to a new city can be quite exciting, as it offers a lot of new experiences and possibilities to discover. However, some of the world's famous metropolises have a high price, offering treasures along with a higher cost of living. Whether you are actively considering a change of permanent address or just curious about life in other parts of the world, this article is for you.

While the criteria and factors used to measure the cost of living can vary, we've selected ten of the most expensive cities to live in, and we'll tell you about their peculiarities. Join us!

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San Francisco, USA, had a spot in The Economist's 2023 ranking of the world's most expensive cities.

The beautiful city of San Francisco has a lot of attractions to offer. Just imagine waking up every day with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in your view or using the historic cable cars for a ride through the city's streets.

However, the cost of living in this city is approximately 20% higher than the state average and 70% higher than the national average, with housing being the most costly aspect.

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Copenhagen has many advantages that make it an outstanding city, with its high quality of life, healthcare, education system, and public services.

However, adjusting to life in the capital of Denmark can be challenging. While the city offers an exceptional quality of life, it also comes with a high cost of living, expensive property prices, and some of the highest taxes compared to other European cities.

But you'll likely find a way to strike a balance and enjoy life in lovely Copenhagen if you can establish yourself in the labor market. After all, it ranks among the top 10 cities in the world with the highest average salaries, offering a promising opportunity!

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Of course, the city of wine, cheese, fashion, and perfumes comes at a high price. While Paris may not always make the top 10 most expensive cities to live in, it did earn a spot on the list last year.

The Marais District, Ile Saint-Louis, and Ile de la Cité are considered some of the most expensive areas to live in Paris. However, the cost of housing is relatively high throughout the entire city.

Luckily, compared to other expensive cities on this list, the cost of delicious Parisian food is somewhat lower.

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The city of Los Angeles, California, is a world unto itself. From spectacular beaches to the glamour of Hollywood, LA invites everyone to stay and explore its magic.

Living in Los Angeles may seem simple at first, but it has its challenges. One of the main burdens is the cost of housing, which is approximately 130% more expensive than the national average. As a result, many choose to live with roommates or friends as a more affordable alternative.

In addition to housing (typically the most expensive aspect of living in any city), the cost of entertainment -abundant in the city- also tends to be higher in LA, compared to other places in the country.

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Hong Kong is one of the most expensive places to live in Asia. But if you are a fan of skyscrapers and the energy of bustling crowds, Hong Kong is the perfect paradise for you.

Many people choose to move to Hong Kong because, as a major financial and business center, it offers a wide variety of job opportunities. And that's not all; it is also known for its safety and rich cultural diversity, making it an attractive destination.

Unfortunately, living in Hong Kong comes with its costs. Due to its high population density and other factors, housing supply is limited, making it an increasingly expensive asset.

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New York is not just the most populous city in the US; it is also one of the most expensive places to live.

The Big Apple is a dynamic city where opportunities abound. With theaters, museums, universities, and a diversified job market, there are many reasons to love this city. But wait, living there comes with a high price, more than double the national average, especially in the Manhattan area.

As in other cities, the housing cost is the biggest issue. With so many people racing for limited space, it's no surprise that New York City has one of the highest costs of living in the world.

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Living in Geneva doesn't mean you have to be a winter fan. Despite the chilly temperatures that winter brings to the "Peace Capital," Geneva's summers give its inhabitants a delightful break with their warm weather.

Surrounded by the glorious Alps, Geneva ranks among the top five European cities in terms of life quality, personal safety, and average salaries. Of course, these high standards come at a price, and they are certainly not cheap.

In addition to the cost of housing, Geneva is characterized by elevated healthcare costs and high taxes. But here's the good part: with those premium healthcare services, you'll definitely be in good hands.

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Switzerland has more surprises, though some might say this particular fact isn't breaking news. Zurich claims its place as the most expensive city to live in Switzerland. In fact, it is usually in the top 5 most expensive cities in the world.

Switzerland's strong and stable economy certainly plays a significant part in Zurich's expensive reputation. However, the high costs of housing and food also play a major role.

In Zurich, you will find not only a chocolate paradise but also an international financial center that houses the headquarters of well-known banks.

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Singapore has become a popular location for many professionals around the world. This dynamic city offers numerous job and economic growth opportunities. In addition, the city-state consistently reaches top positions in international quality of life rankings. Undoubtedly, one of its highlights is the quality and efficiency of its public transportation system.

But this elevated standard of living comes with high prices in different aspects of residents' daily lives. Specifically, rent and education prices stand out as some of the most expensive services.

Wait, there is another detail to consider before moving to Singapore: chewing gum is forbidden there!

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Picture a warm island... Wouldn't it be amazing to teleport there right now? Imagine its immaculate beaches, tasty cuisine, and envy-inducing weather.

But this magical scenario hides a reality: the cost of living. Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda in the western Atlantic Ocean, makes this list as one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in.

With finances and international business being the most important part of Hamilton's economy, the city is always attracting new professionals. Thus, despite its modest population, the cost of renting in Hamilton is constantly rising. Add to this the high import taxes, and it is no surprise that all prices soar!

ELEVATE YOUR VOCABULARY

These 10 Unusual Words in English Are Simply Frabjous!

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The English language is considered one of the easiest to learn. That doesn’t mean it is not rich or hasn’t enough words to describe the complexities of the modern world in depth. However, people don’t often make the most of the vast vocabulary our language has to offer. It’s time to start using words like "frabjous," or "abstruse!" That is why we have put together a list of 10 words that are not so commonly used but will surely help elevate your speech! Are you ready? Let’s go!

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Have you ever experienced something that is both fabulous and joyous at the same time? You probably feel that the words you have to describe such situations are never enough. You need a more powerful word, like "frabjous."

Many words have been created in literary works. Frabjous, an adjective, is one of them. Lewis Carrol first coined it in Through the Looking Glass to describe something wonderful and superb in an informal way. Frabjous, isn't it?

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Being a friend or being friendly are not the same thing, those two letters at the end are charged with meaning. In the case of the latter, there’s a verb you can use.

The word "hobnob" comes from Middle English and its meaning has changed and evolved. Today, "hobnob" means to associate with people in a very friendly way, for example: "She always hobnobs with celebrities."

Curious enough, it also has an archaic meaning: drinking together. It makes sense, isn’t that how most friendly relationships begin?

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The early bird catches the worm, that’s how the saying goes. Well, maybe you don’t get a worm, but you could get some elevenses.

This word was first recorded in the 1840s, and it has always been used in its plural form to refer to a midmorning refreshment.

Now, can you imagine how it was formed? That’s right, it is a pluralized form of "eleven," meaning the time when these refreshments are usually taken, at eleven o’clock.

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The modern world is getting more and more complex and the reasons to laugh and smile are harder to find- at least for the agelasts. Are you one of them?

An agelast, you might get from context, is a person who never laughs. The term comes from the Greek word agélastos which means grave or gloomy. This makes sense since being around people who never laugh can feel like it lasts an age, don’t you think?

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Time is our most precious possession and it is, at the same time, so easily wasted! Thankfully, we have many words to describe procrastination, and "lollygag" is one of them.

This word is a slang word from the 19th century and it has an alternative spelling which is "lallygag." The verb describes the action of wasting time.

As is often the case with many words, it used to have a second meaning related to affection display, but that fell out of use and now only the original meaning remains.

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This word may sound like "poetic," hence from the heart or romantic. But it is actually quite the opposite. Noetic derives from a Greek adjective that means "intellectual." In this sense, this adjective today describes things related to, or based on the intellect.

You might be familiar with it because in California there is the Institute of Noetic Sciences which is devoted to the study of, you guessed it, the mind!

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Have you ever been in a position in which you had to choose between two options, going back and forth from one option to another, analyzing the pros and cons, and feeling the decision was impossible to make? You were oscillating between the options then.

This word comes from the Latin oscillatus which means to swing, like a pendulum, or to come and go between two points, usually opposites. It is quite unfair how unusual this word is considering how common that scenario is, don’t you think?

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Trying to elevate one’s language takes great effort, after all, some words are too difficult to understand or comprehend, they are simply too abstruse. Here’s the explanation: the word "abstruse" describes things that are difficult to understand.

It derives from the Latin verb trudere which means "to push away." This Latin verb gave rise to many English words that include this meaning, but the "thrust" meaning in "abstruse" has fallen out of use and only one remains. See? It means hard to comprehend, but it isn’t so!

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If you know a person who is always criticizing and judging, someone who has an opinion on everything, you’ve met an ultracrepidarian, a word coming from Latin, and first recorded in the early 1800s.

This word describes a person who judges and gives advice or opinions outside the area of expertise. Specific as it is in meaning, it is quite versatile since it can be both an adjective, like in "an ultracrepidarian boss," and a noun, for example: "I know many ultracrepidarians."

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After great pain, there is always something that helps us overcome it, and that something has a name: dolorifuge. This term refers to an activity or thing that helps you boost your spirits.

Dolorifuges take all kinds of shapes and it depends, of course, on what you like or what brings happiness to your life.

Similar to the first word on this list, it was coined by a writer. In this case, the word was created by the English novelist Thomas Hardy, in Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Have you heard this word before?