The Econimist Intelligence Unit EIU) has released the Worldwide Cost of Living report for 2020, and Hong Kong has once again become one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. The survey covered 130 cities and compared the prices of 138 goods and services. The survey results show that the prices of goods and services in the cities surveyed had only increased by an average of about 0.3% in the year to September as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cost of living in cities in the Americas, Africa and Eastern Europe have fallen since last year, while cities in Western Europe have become increasingly expensive, partly reflecting the impact of the rise of European currencies against the US dollar. Hong Kong remains the most expensive city in the world with a cost of living index of 103, joining Zurich of Switzerland and Paris of France as the most expensive city in the world and the only Asian city to top the list. Singapore and Osaka, which tied with Hong Kong in the previous ranking, fell to fourth and fifth respectively in the latest rankings. The population as a whole shrank for the first time since 2003 as the pandemic drove foreign workers away, slumping demand and putting Singapore in deflation for months. A similar trend has been seen in Osaka, where consumer price inflation has stagnated. In terms of ranking of major cities, Sydney in Australia came 15th, London 20th, Moscow 106th and Delhi 121st.