Island recorded as 24% more expensive than New York City, the global benchmark
A new global cost-of-living index has placed Bermuda at the top of the world’s most expensive places to live, underscoring the financial pressure facing residents and businesses alike.
The 2026 index, compiled using New York City as the baseline at 100, shows Bermuda with a score of 124 – meaning everyday expenses, including rent, are roughly 24% higher than in New York City. The ranking compares relative prices for housing, groceries, transport, and other essential costs across countries and territories worldwide.
Bermuda finished ahead of other traditionally high-cost jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, and Iceland. At the opposite end of the scale, countries including Libya, India, and Madagascar were among those with the lowest reported costs of living.
The data was published by Visual Capitalist, one of the fastest-growing online publishers globally, known for its data-driven storytelling on markets, technology, energy, and the global economy. The findings add fresh context to ongoing local conversations around affordability, wages, and the rising cost of daily life in Bermuda.
