It’s been been an unseasonably warm fall, but make no mistake about it: winter is coming. So it’s probably best to make like Arya Stark and head for warmer climes.
Whether it’s to avoid the seasonal depression, to keep that vow you made before the presidential election, or because the rent is just too damn high, it’s about that time to start planning your escape for the winter (or the next several years).
And the rent is high – at least compared to most of the rest of the world. We created this handy map based on Expatistan’s Global Cost of Living Index, which scores 239 of the world’s biggest cities based on the price of 52 common items that fall under the umbrellas of food, entertainment, personal care, housing, transportation and clothes. Five of the 12 most expensive cities in the world are in the U.S.
While the cost of living in Boise, Idaho (the cheapest city in the index) is roughly half of New York, Boise is still more expensive (and in many cases way colder) than more than 100 international cities included in the index. The good news is that the relative strength of the U.S. dollar is incredibly high right now, so if you're savvy, your winter vacation will come at a big discount.
*Zoom into the map for a closer look and drag your mouse over a city to see where it ranks. Cities are color-coded and sized based on their cost of living.
