Asia and Australia account for 11 of the world's top 20 most expensive cities, with eight from Europe and one from South America, the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) worldwide cost of living index found. No North American cities featured in the top 20.
This compared to a decade ago when there were six Asian cities, 10 European cities and four US cities in the top 20 of the list that calculates living costs in 131 cities in 93 countries and is used by companies for costings when relocating staff.
In the 2013 survey, Tokyo reclaimed the title as the world's most expensive city. Currency swings pushed Zurich into the No.1 position last year but government exchange rate controls have driven the Swiss city back to No.7 in the list. Osaka in Japan was ranked the second most expensive.
Jon Copestake, editor of the EIU Worldwide Cost of Living Index, said one of the most notable changes was the rising costs in Australia, with Sydney third in the list and Melbourne fifth. Sandwiched between them was Oslo in Norway.
The survey is based on costs of over 160 items ranging from food and clothing, to domestic help, transport and utilities.
Copestake said the return of Tokyo to top of the list came as no great surprise as the Japanese capital had steep real estate costs and rents, as well as high wages fuelling prices.
Also featured in the 2013 top 10 were Singapore, Zurich, Paris, the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and Geneva.
Copestake said fears over economic austerity and the stability of the euro had pushed the index of euro zone cities down in the past year while the inclusion of Caracas was due to artificially high exchange rate controls.
Although no North American cities feature in the top 20, the EIU said the cost of living in New York had risen relative to other places in the United States. It shares 27th position as the most expensive US city with Los Angeles.
The Canadian city of Vancouver remains the most expensive location in North America, ranked 21st in the index.
根据周一发布的年度调查报告，如今实现澳大利亚梦的成本急剧上升，悉尼和墨尔本超过大多数欧美城市，跻身世界最贵城市前五名。
经济学人智库全球生活成本指数发现，亚洲和澳大利亚共有11个城市跻身全球最贵20城市之列，其余有8个是欧洲城市，一个为南美城市。北美没有一个城市进入前20名。
相比之下，十年前名列榜单前20的城市中有6个亚洲城市、10个欧洲城市和4个美国城市。这项调查计算了93个国家的131个城市的生活成本，研究结果用于企业计算转移员工的成本。
在2013年的这次调查中，东京重新获得“全球最贵城市”的头衔。瑞士苏黎士由于汇率波动在去年名列榜首，但今年由于政府采取了控制汇率措施，在榜单上下滑至第七。日本大阪成为全球第二贵的城市。
经济学人智库生活成本指数编辑乔恩•科派斯塔克表示，最显著的变化之一是澳大利亚生活成本的上升，它的两个城市悉尼和墨尔本分别名列第三和第五。夹在中间排名第四的是挪威的奥斯陆。
该调查基于160多项指标的统计数据，包括衣食、家政服务、交通和公用设施的花费。
科派斯塔克表示，东京回归榜首并不让人惊讶，因为东京的高工资推动了物价的上涨，房价和房租也很昂贵。
同样跻身2013年全球最贵城市前十名的还有新加坡、苏黎士、巴黎、委内瑞拉首都加拉加斯和日内瓦。
科派斯塔克说，人们对经济紧缩和欧元稳定的忧虑使得过去一年欧元区城市的生活成本指数降低了，而加拉加斯能跻身前20则是由于人为的高汇率管制。
经济学人智库表示，尽管没有一个北美城市进入前20名，但是纽约的生活成本相对于其他美国城市有所上升。纽约与洛杉矶并列第27位成为美国最贵城市。
加拿大城市温哥华依然是北美地区最贵城市，在生活成本指数榜单上名列第21位。
Vocabulary:
outstrip: 超过；胜过
sandwich: 夹入；挤进
