Xpatulator’s Country and State ranking as at 1 October 2026 includes countries and states together with locations classified as combined city country state locations. City only locations are excluded. This means Monaco, Hong Kong and Singapore form part of the ranking, while New York City remains the benchmark at 100 rather than a ranked location.
The leading positions are remarkably stable. Monaco remains 1st at 139.8, Hong Kong, China remains 2nd at 119.5 and Singapore remains 3rd at 116.7. Switzerland remains 4th at 104.3, Norway 5th at 101.7 and the Cayman Islands 6th at 98.5.
The stable ranking masks meaningful changes in the indexes. Monaco falls from 140.8 to 139.8, Hong Kong from 120.9 to 119.5, Singapore from 117.9 to 116.7, Switzerland from 107.1 to 104.3 and Norway from 104.6 to 101.7.
Hawaii rises 3 places from 10th to 7th with only a small increase in its index, demonstrating that rankings are relative. Denmark remains 8th, while the Turks and Caicos Islands rises 3 places to 9th.
New Zealand moves in the opposite direction. Its index falls from 96.0 to 92.3 and its ranking declines 3 places from 7th to 10th. The New Zealand dollar also weakened over the year, from an average of around 0.589 United States dollars in September 2025 to 0.564 at the end of September 2026. This reduces the converted cost for an expatriate earning dollars, although it can make imported goods more expensive locally.
The lower half of the top twenty records more movement. Bermuda rises 2 places to 14th, Liberia rises 2 places to 15th, the Bahamas rises 5 places to 16th and the United States Virgin Islands rises 6 places to 17th. Iceland declines 3 places to 18th, Grenada rises 5 places to 19th and Montserrat rises 2 places to 20th.
Xpatulator’s methodology helps explain why these movements cannot be understood from inflation alone. The overall index is constructed from 13 weighted expenditure baskets, with household accommodation accounting for 30 per cent, transport 18 per cent and groceries 16.5 per cent.
For an expatriate considering an international offer, the practical objective is not simply to secure a larger salary. It is to maintain or improve the amount that salary can buy. Xpatulator’s Salary Purchasing Power Parity Calculator converts cost differences between home and host locations into an equivalent host salary, providing a more reliable basis for evaluating an international move.
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