The world’s most expensive cities
2. Osaka
Osaka, the second-largest city in Japan, is known for its contrast to Tokyo. For instance, Osaka residents ride escalators standing on the right instead of Tokyo’s practice of standing on the left. Foodies would fit in well in Osaka. A popular Osakan maxim is kuidaore, meaning “eat yourself into ruin.”
2008 rank: 11
Currency fluctuation since 2008: 12% increase
Read more:
• Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (Tomofumi Nakano / EPA)
3. Moscow
Moscow is the financial and political hub of Russia. In the heart of the city is Vladimir Lenin’s Mausoleum and Red Square, a landmark that saw military parades and protests during the Soviet era.
2008 rank: 1
Currency fluctuation since 2008: 13% decrease*
Read more:
• Amid oil boom, a new Moscow rises
* Dec. 1, 2008 to Aug. 11, 2009 was used as the period of comparison. (Mikhail Metzel / Associated Press)
4. Geneva
Geneva is a global center for international diplomacy and peace, serving as the headquarters of many United Nations agencies and the Red Cross. The Geneva Conventions, which established standards for the treatment of noncombatants and prisoners of war, were signed here.
2008 rank: 8
Currency fluctuation since 2008: No change
Read more:
• Geneva Tourism (Jean-Christophe Bott / EPA)
5. Hong Kong
In Cantonese, Hong Kong means “fragrant harbor.” This territory of the People’s Republic of China is one of the world’s leading financial centers and has remained largely independent from the mainland, with its own currency, legal system and political system.
2008 rank: 6
Currency fluctuation since 2008: 1% increase
Read more:
• Hong Kong’s metropolis of bargains, bustle and beauty
• Restaurants with views in scenic, bustling Hong Kong (Alex Hofford / EPA)
7. Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, is known for the Little Mermaid statue in its harbor and for its bike-friendly culture. According to Forbes magazine, the city’s international schools and private medical facilities make it one of the 10 best places to live in Europe.
2008 rank: 7
Currency fluctuation since 2008: 5% decrease
Read more:
• Copenhagen by bike, to take part in the social whirl
• Planning your trip to Copenhagen, Denmark (Susan Spano / Los Angeles Times)
8. New York
New York City is home to Broadway theater, Wall Street and many major media conglomerates, making it a global center for culture and commerce. It is the most populous city in the United States.
2008 rank: 22
Read more:
• Chic boutique hotels in New York City
• Feel at home at NYC’s Blue Moon boutique hotel (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
9. Beijing
Beijing, capital of the most populous country in the world, is known for Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City and for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games.
2008 rank: 20
Currency fluctuation since 2008: No change
Read more:
• The Great Wall: Across China’s great divide
• Choices are growing for dining out in Beijing
• A guide to restaurants in Beijing (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
10. Singapore
Singapore was once a modest Malay fishing village but now boasts the one of the world’s busiest ports and is a melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Arabic cultures.
2008 rank: 13
Currency fluctuation since 2008: 2% decrease
Read more on Singapore:
• Positively charming Singapore
• Underrated places of the world: Singapore (Wong Maye-E / Associated Press)
