TOP 10: Most Expensive Places In The World

The Golden Streets

Did you ever think about the most expensive streets in the world to live? What will it cost for a wonderland where you can make your dream come true? Just make some wild guess and then look into the top ten expensive streets in the world to live. Below is a list of ten most expensive streets in the world to own an apartment. Hope when i get out of debt, i will go travel insurance and will go to all these places. ;)

The study is based on overall parameters and not on single parameter which I have mentioned here i.e. price of property per square meter. Actually these are based on GDP of each state surveyed. :)

10. Geneva Switzerland

Price: US$ 10745.80 per square meter

Geneva is a global city, a financial centre, and worldwide centre for diplomacy and the most important UN international co-operation centre with New York thanks to the presence of numerous international organizations, including the headquarters of many of the agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross. It is also the place where the Geneva Conventions were signed, which chiefly concern the treatment of wartime non-combatants and prisoners of war.

The Swiss restrict competition based on the idea that it improves the quality of the products made. A lot of it has to do with the fact that Switzerland has such a fragmented economy culturally and physically and corporations are decided by cantons, so each region has its own mini-economy happening, this benefits the people who live and work in Switzerland, and not so much visitors--especially visitors who use the dollar.

9. Caracas, Venezuela 

Price: US$ 3492.51 per square meter

Caracas (officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English.Caracas, is the most expensive city in the Americas, and the ninth priciest in the world, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).Actually, as the EIU itself notes, this isn’t strictly speaking true.

The reason? Venezuela’s official exchange rate used by the survey has little to do with economic reality.

In fact, Venezuela has several exchange rates – those who use the black market can buy a bolivar, the local currency, for about a quarter the price of what they would have to pay if using the official rate.
High quality global journalism requires investment. Some things in Caracas can be horribly expensive, especially things that are imported without the benefit of using the subsidised official exchange rate. And it can be a challenge living with one of the highest inflation rates in the world.

But other things are ridiculously cheap. Gasoline, for example, is to all intents and purposes free (you get change from a five bolivar note, a bit more than a dollar at the overvalued official exchange rate, when filling up a tank). Goods that are subject to price controls are also cheap – if you can get them. Shortages are another problem “Caraqueños” have to live with. In short, living in Caracas has its upsides and its downsides. There is plenty that you can accuse Hugo Chávez’s revolutionary government of, but that Caracas has become one of the most expensive cities in the world is not quite one of them.

8. Avenue Montaigne, Paris

Price: US$ 11848.50 per square meter.

Avenue Montaigne boasts numerous stores specialising in high fashion, such as Dior, Chanel, Valentino and Ralph Lauren, as well as jewellers like Bulgari and other high-class establishments such as the Plaza Athénée hotel. The city of romance has the EiffelTower, with great views from the top. You can also have a boat trip on the river Seine. Again, It is one of the premier shopping streets in the world.

7. Zurich, Switzerland

Price: US$ 8593.83 per square meter

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in north-central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. Zurich is a leading financial center and global city. The Greater Zurich Area is Switzerland's economic centre and home to a vast number of international companies. By far the most important sector in the economy of Zurich is the service industry, which employs nearly four fifths of workers. Other important industries include light industry, machine and textile industries and tourism. Most Swiss banks have their headquarters in Zurich and there are numerous foreign banks in the Greater Zurich Area. Located in Zurich, the Swiss Stock Exchange was established in 1877 and is nowadays the fourth most prominent stock exchange in the world. In addition Zurich is the world's largest gold trading centre. Ten of the country's 50 largest companies have their head offices in Zurich, among them ABB, UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss Re and Zurich Financial Services.

6. Singapore

Price: US$ 8694.60 per square meter

Singapore may have a first world economy and infrastructure, its citizens do not enjoy the standard of living befitting of a first world nation. With inflation running at an all-time high of 3.8 percent, an increasing number of Singaporeans are struggling to make ends meet with their meager wages which have more or less remained stagnant. The median monthly wages of an average Singapore worker is only $2,500 which is far below that of workers in other first world nations.

                                                                     

5. Melbourne, Australia 

Price: US$ 7217.24 per square meter

Melbourne has a highly diversified economy with particular strengths in finance, manufacturing, research, IT, education, logistics and transportation and tourism. Melbourne is headquarters for many of Australia's largest corporations, including five of the ten largest in the country (based on revenue), and five of the largest six in the country (based on market capitalisation) (ANZ, BHP Billiton (the world's largest mining company), the National Australia Bank, Rio Tinto andTelstra); as well as such representative bodies and thinktanks as the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Council of Trade Unions. The city is home to Australia's largest and busiest seaport which handles more than $75 billion in trade every year and 39% of the nation's container trade. Melbourne Airport provides an entry point for national and international visitors, and is Australia's second busiest airport.
However, the REASON why Melbourne is so expensive is because most people PREFER to live there so demand exceeds supply = more expensive.

4. Oslo, Norway

Price: US$ 6181.67 per square meter

Lots of things make Oslo and the rest of Norway expensive.

Norway is rich with natural resources (particularly oil), but not so long ago Norway was a very poor country. The land here isn't particularly good for farming so food was a major problem. When oil was found, the government wanted to secure Norway's future as a stable country economically.

The economic problems haven't hit Norway as hard as the rest of Europe because profits made in oil are reinvested into local programs. Imports from outside of Norway are highly taxed, to encourage people to buy local products and support Norwegian business. Luxuries are also highly taxed (these include tobacco, alcohol, sugar, etc) to encourage people to use them more responsibly. This means choice of goods is limited and prices are high, but it also means few people have lost their jobs in the current economy and unemployment has stayed under 3%. More choice and lower costs are preferred obviously, but I also appreciate living in such a good economy where financial worries are usually minor.

To encourage people to work in a variety of fields, education is free and every job in Norway pays a living wage. My boyfriend is British and currently works as a cook here in Bergen. He makes more than twice what he did in the UK (after tax) doing the same job, even though he was a supervisor there and isn't here. In order to keep wages high, the cost of goods and services is also high. As expensive as everything is on a British salary (or pretty much anywhere else), it's actually affordable if you live and work locally. When I was between jobs, we both lived comfortably on his salary, which wouldn't have been possible in the UK.

3. Sydney

Price: US$ 6186.20 per square meter

Why is Sydney's housing market so expensive? Sometimes when people try to answer this question, they point out that more expensive property prices are offset by higher wages in Sydney; and this argument is, at least to some extent, true. Sydney wages are higher, but not to the same extent as property prices compared with other cities. Based on data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics last week, the gap between Sydney and Melbourne wages is only around $5,000 (9.2%) per annum, Brisbane is fairly similar, with wages being $5,100 (9.4%) lower per annum. Perth wages are roughly on par with Sydney’s, showing a $490 (0.9%) difference. The largest gap between Sydney wages and the other capital cities is apparent in Hobart, where the difference is a more significant $10,500 (19.3%) per annum.

2. Osaka, Japan

Price: US$ 6000 per square meter

The gross city product of Osaka in fiscal year 2004 was ¥21.3 trillion, an increase of 1.2% over the previous year. The figure accounts for about 55% of the total output in the Osaka Prefecture and 26.5% in the Kinki region. In 2004, commerce, services, and manufacturing have been the three major industries, accounting for 30%, 26%, and 11% of the total, respectively. The per capita income in the city was about ¥3.3 million, 10% higher than that of the Osaka Prefecture. MasterCard Worldwide reported that Osaka ranks 19th among the world's leading cities and plays an important role in the global economy.




                                                                         

1. Tokyo, Japan

Price: US$ 7506.31 per square meter

Tokyo is a major international finance center, houses the headquarters of several of the world's largest investment banks and insurance companies, and serves as a hub for Japan's transportation,publishing, and broadcasting industries. During the centralized growth of Japan's economy following World War II, many large firms moved their headquarters from cities such as Osaka (the historical commercial capital) to Tokyo, in an attempt to take advantage of better access to the government. This trend has begun to slow due to ongoing population growth in Tokyo and the high cost of living there.

Which place would you like to visit?

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TOP 10: Places To See Before You Die.

10. Grand Canyon  [Wikipedia]

 The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is contained within and managed by Grand Canyon National Park, the Hualapai Tribal Nation, and the Havasupai Tribe. Pictures do not truly do justice to the sheer size of the Grand Canyon.Being able to stand near the edge and see the huge rock walls which span for well over 200 miles.

9. The Great Wall of China [Wikipedia]

Being the first structure ever constructed by man to be visible from space, this is certainly a must see. When you stand on the Great Wall, looking down towards the horizon and seeing that it stretches beyond, it can be hard to imagine that this was built by human hands.

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China in part to protect the Chinese Empire or its prototypical states against intrusions by various nomadic groups or military incursions by various warlike peoples or forces.

Being over 5,000 miles long, this truly is a marvel to behold. It is hard to imagine just how much labor went into the construction, and if you plan the proper tour, you will even see some of the many statues contained inside. Each of these terracotta statues are life sized, and individually numbered. It is estimated that inside the Great Wall if China there are around 8,000 of these statues earning them the name Terracotta Army.

8. The Easter Islands [Wikipedia]

This small island in the Pacific isn’t very interesting by itself. The ancient culture used up all the trees before vanishing, possibly to aid in the construction of the many 13 foot tall statues that line the island. Not much is known about why or who created them, and while we have seen pictures they just don’t convey the sheer size of these 10-14 ton behemoths.

No one knows why they were created, just that they were. It has been speculated that the peoples responsible for these statues left when the island was running out of resources. They have been a focus of study for quite a long time, and have inspired some truly unique stories.

7. The Louvre [Wikipedia]

The Musée du Louvre —in English, the Louvre Museum or simply The Louvre—is one of the world's largest museums, and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, France, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement.

The museum is very well known and contains some of the greatest masterpieces by the best artists who ever lived. While we know what the paintings look like, seeing them housed inside this magnificent example of architecture just can be replicated through photos.

Located in Paris, it is one of the most well known places in France aside from the Eiffel Tower. While visiting, you will be able to see with your own eyes many great sculptures, statues and paintings created by a large variety of cultures from around the world.

6. Venice [Wikipedia]

The canal streets of Venice Italy are truly unique in the world, and to see firsthand just how people go about their daily lives is an interesting experience. The city was built on over 100 small islands, which made travel by boat a necessity. With such easy access to sea trade routes, it is easy to see how this great city became known as an industrial center.

Taking a guided tour down the many canal streets is a truly unique experience which cannot be replicated. Every faucet of modern living as we know it will be different when your roads are canals.

5. The Taj Mahal [Wikipedia]

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

This huge mausoleum was built in the 1600′s at a time when most people would not have thought it possible to create such a magnificent place. While many people might think that this is one huge building, it is actually made up of many smaller structures, which all add up to make the place truly beautiful when viewed by the naked eye.

The large white dome is a world renowned landmark and although people have tried to replicate the look, it just isn’t the same. Even from afar this is truly a sight to behold, but what is even more spectacular are the decorations on the buildings themselves. Calligraphy carved into the side and many small adornments that were painstakingly handcrafted have held up to the test of time, and even by today’s standards considered very impressive.

To this day much effort is put into maintaining, both the Taj Mahal itself, and the grounds surrounding the area so that you are surely to not be disappointed.

                                                   

4. Angkor Wat [Wikipedia]

Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple complex and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built by a king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura, the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum.

The name of this place means “city temple” and this exactly what it is. Located in Cambodia, Angkor Wat is an example of what truly marvelous structures can be created without the aid of technology. The large statues carved inside the structure itself is what most people think of when hearing the name, but seeing the great temple from afar truly is impressive.

For anyone wanting to see great examples of architecture, Angkor Wat has to be high on their list. As there is so much to take in, you would be wise to schedule a guided tour so that you are sure not to miss out on the more interesting aspects of the city temples design.

3. The Great Barrier Reef [Wikipedia]

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres.

The large abundance of colorful sea life make this a real hotspot for divers worldwide. If you are lucky enough to view this spectacle from the air you will see just how large this reef really is.

There are a great many hotels and accommodations that have worked with local charter boats to have guided tours rather easy to get scheduled on, so you can be shown firsthand some of the more diverse sea life which call this place home. Reefs are composed of millions of tiny creatures, so one of this size would take untold ages to be able to form as it has.

2. Petra [Wikipedia]

Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an, that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system.

No one really knows just who built this great city in the mountain walls. The very large entry ways which can be over 14 feet tall have inspired many tales of a city inhabited by giants. It is estimated that the city itself is well over 3,000 years old, and served many purposes over it’s ancient history. It has been reported to be a capital, caravan trading post, as well as a temple of sorts and has been ruled by several different cultures.

The hardness of the stone must have made construction of the ancient city a project that spanned over multiple generations. Located in Jordan, there are many resorts available with a focus on making sure you get to see this incredible place safely.

1. Great Pyramid of Giza [Wikipedia]

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.

The Great Pyramid of Giza has been chosen for number one as it is one of the most widely known ancient structures in existence. It was built precisely to match the geographic directions of the compass, proving that mankind could indeed manipulate numbers back in ancient times to create great marvels of engineering.

While all of the other pyramids have a recorded history, and are proven to serve as a tomb, the Great Pyramids reason for being built is largely unknown. The top of the pyramid is missing though many believe from ancient writings that it was a huge piece of gold that would shine from the horizon. When looking at pictures, you have to envision that many centuries of erosion and vandalism have changed the way this site looks. The outer walls were made of highly polished stone, which make some scientists believe that it would shine bright enough at parts of the day to have been visible from orbit around the Earth itself.

I must admit that the order of these great sites to behold is based on personal preference, but this does not mean that these are not must see places before you die. The many photographs available truly do not let you behold and feel the presence of these unique places around the world.

So, How many places have you visited before?

I visited only 3 of them. ^^