These are the standards every Knowloft guide follows, plus the specific methods we use for cost of living figures.
Our editorial standards
- Sources first. We build guides from official data, government and regulator pages, and reputable references, and we link to them at the end of each guide.
- Specific over vague. We give numbers, dates and requirements you can act on, and we say clearly when a figure is our own estimate.
- Dated and reviewed. Every guide shows its last update date, and we review each one at least once a year or sooner when rules change.
- Corrections. If you find an error, contact us. We verify it and update the guide.
- Not professional advice. Our guides are general information. For legal, tax, immigration, financial or medical decisions, consult a licensed professional.
How we calculate cost of living
What we measure
- Housing: monthly rent for one-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, in the city center and outside it.
- Food: a standard basket of groceries plus typical restaurant prices.
- Transport: public transport passes, fuel and taxi or ride-hailing fares.
- Utilities and internet: electricity, water, gas and home internet for a typical apartment.
- Healthcare: private care and health insurance for residents and foreigners.
- Taxes: income tax and mandatory social contributions, used to estimate take-home pay.
Where the data comes from
- National statistics offices, central banks and tax authorities for wages, inflation, exchange rates and tax rules.
- Crowd-sourced price databases such as Numbeo, cross-checked against other sources.
- Current listings from local real estate portals for rent.
- Prices checked in person or online at supermarkets, clinics and service providers.
Budgets and limitations
Our sample budgets combine average rents with average everyday costs for each household type. Prices are shown in US dollars, converted at the exchange rate of the update date where a country uses another currency. They are planning estimates: your real costs will depend on your lifestyle, neighborhood and household size.
