Moscow is the world's most expensive city, and Toronto is also on the top 50 list thanks to the soaring Canadian dollar, according to a new survey.

Toronto, Canada's largest city, is the most expensive place to live in the country, the Global Cost of Living Survey released Monday has found.

The Canadian dollar helped move Toronto into the top 50 most expensive cities.
The Canadian dollar helped move Toronto into the top 50 most expensive cities.
(Kevin Frayer/ Canadian Press)
The survey of 250 cities around the world was conducted between March 2005 and March 2006 by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

In the course of the year, Moscow replaced Tokyo as the most expensive city to live, the survey shows.

Seoul is in second place, followed by Tokyo, Hong Kong and London.

The Global Cost of Living Survey says Moscow is the world's most expensive city.
The Global Cost of Living Survey says Moscow is the world's most expensive city.
(Mikhail Metzel/ Associated Press)
New York, the 10th most expensive city worldwide, topped the list as the priciest place to live in North America.

Dramatic jump

Toronto, meanwhile was the only Canadian city in the top 50. In taking the 47th spot, Toronto moved up dramatically from 82nd place the year before.

In the latest survey, Vancouver is ranked the 56th most expensive city in the world, while Calgary is 71 and Montreal 80.

Ottawa is ranked at 90 this year, climbing from 122 on the 2005 list.

"Anyone moving here is going to find Canada is more expensive," Brian Lindenberg, a senior consultant with Mercer in Canada, told CBC.ca.

"The dollar is clearly quite stronger than it has been historically. That's been the primary driver."

However, in releasing the study, Mercer also noted that Canadian cities remain "relatively inexpensive" since the country has enjoyed stable inflation.

The survey looked at a variety of factors in urban life, including:

  • Food.
  • Transportation.
  • Accommodation.
  • Entertainment.
  • Education.

Mercer compiles its cost-of-living list each year for companies that routinely transfer employees to different locations around the world.

"It attempts to determine the cost of living from one centre to another," said Lindenberg, who is based in Calgary.

"As an employer, you may want to compensate that person [who is moving] for the differential in the cost of living."