Sweden has topped the Moneysupermarket expat cost of living index because it only costs 43% of two peoples’ salary to enjoy the Scandinavian lifestyle with your family.
Sweden is the only country analysed where a single parent can comfortably afford to have two children, working out as 87% of the average working salary. A person’s monthly salary in Sweden is calculated as £2,163.71 ($2,800, €2,421).
The data is based on the average monthly cost of property, utility bills and grocery shopping for a family with two children.
Germany ranked second, according to researchers for the consumer cost comparison website, helped by low property and preschool costs.
It costs 52% of an average household’s income to bring a family up in the Black Forest region.
Australia a cheap place to live
Australia, already a popular expat destination, was found to cost 54% of a two-person take-home salary to emulate the lifestyle in popular suburban TV export Neighbours.
New Zealand and Canada are joint 4th, where 62% of a couple’s salary is spent on rent, bills, preschool and food.
Spain costs 76% of a two-person salary, pipping France where it costs 86%.
The household basics in the USA cost 90% of household income, despite the average salary per person being by far the highest paying of the 10 countries at £3,805.22.
The average monthly salary across 9 destinations without the USA is £2,103.
Ireland costs 101% of a family’s income and the UK was the most expensive at 103%, because of the high cost of housing, groceries and utilities.
