Living in a major city can come with a hefty price tag, so it's best to be informed before you make that big move.
In Asia, Hong Kong and Singapore top the list for cost of living. A family of four can expect to spend an estimated $9,000 a month to live in one of these cities, according to Numbeo, an online database of user-contributed information.
As global financial hubs, Singapore and Hong Kong attract expats from around the world, which can drive prices up, according to a report from HR consultancy Mercer in June.
"Singapore is one of the most attractive locations for people looking to boost their careers," Tracey Ma, regional mobility leader, APAC at Mercer, told CNBC Make It. Factors such as the country's "strong" economic situation and the several opportunities can attract expats into the country, she said.
In addition, these two cities have hot housing markets.
"Hong Kong has always been one of the most expensive rental markets in the world, because of the limited supply of housing and the amount of people that are moving in," said Ma.
