Notre Méthodologie
Transparency is core to our mission. Here's exactly how we calculate cost of living data and what sources we use to provide accurate, actionable information for expats and digital nomads.
📊 Sources de Données
Our cost of living data is compiled from multiple trusted sources to ensure accuracy and breadth:
- Numbeo
Crowdsourced cost of living database with millions of data points from real users worldwide
- OECD Statistics
Official economic data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- World Bank Open Data
Global development indicators including purchasing power parity (PPP) data
- National Statistics Offices
Government-published consumer price indices (CPI) and cost benchmarks
- Eurostat
EU statistics on living conditions, housing costs, and price level indices
- IMF World Economic Outlook
Macroeconomic data for inflation and currency adjustments
🏠 Catégories de Coûts
We break down monthly living costs into four primary categories:
Average 1-bedroom apartment in city center. Includes the median rental price from listings and crowdsourced data.
Monthly grocery basket for a single person including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and basic staples.
Monthly public transit pass plus estimated taxi/ride-sharing costs for typical urban commuting.
Electricity, heating, water, garbage, internet, and mobile phone service for a standard apartment.
📈 Calcul de l'Indice de Coûts
Our Cost Index is a relative measure comparing each city's cost of living to the United States average (US = 1.0). Here's how we calculate it:
- • A cost index of 1.50 means the city is 50% more expensive than the US average
- • A cost index of 0.45 means the city is 55% cheaper than the US average
- • The index is weighted by category: Rent (50%), Food (25%), Transport (15%), Utilities (10%)
💰 Estimation du Salaire
Salary estimates for each city are derived using the following formula:
This formula accounts for the fact that salaries don't scale linearly with cost of living — there's always a base component. The 0.6/0.4 split reflects that approximately 60% of salary represents a base standard and 40% adjusts for local cost differences. US median salaries are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
🎯 Niveaux de Style de Vie
We offer three lifestyle tiers to personalize cost estimates:
Budget-conscious living: shared housing, cooking at home, public transit only
Standard lifestyle: private 1BR, mix of cooking and dining out, occasional taxi
Premium lifestyle: nicer apartment, regular dining out, gym, entertainment
🔄 Actualité des Données
Our cost data is reviewed and updated on a quarterly basis to reflect market changes, inflation, and currency fluctuations. City pages display a “Last updated” timestamp so you always know how current the data is. Major economic events (currency crises, inflation spikes) trigger ad-hoc data reviews for affected regions.
⚠️ Limitations et Avertissements
Not financial advice: Our data is for informational purposes only. Always consult qualified financial and immigration professionals before making relocation decisions.
Aggregate data: Costs represent city averages and may not reflect specific neighborhoods, personal lifestyle choices, or individual circumstances.
Currency conversions: All figures are displayed in USD using exchange rates at the time of data collection. Real-time exchange rate fluctuations may affect actual costs.
Crowdsourced variability: Some data points rely on user-contributed data which may have sampling biases toward certain demographics or neighborhoods.