A frontrunner has been declared for the world's most expensive city

Overall rating (out of 100): 93.7
Stability: 95.0
Healthcare: 91.7
Culture and environment: 95.1
Education: 100.0
Infrastructure: 89.3

Similar to Australia, New Zealand's strict border closings kept the case count low throughout the pandemic, meaning cultural attractions and restaurants didn't remain shuttered for long. Students were also able to continue going to school, giving cities like Wellington a 100 percent score in eduction. Even if you don't have kiddos to worry about, the capital city is a fun, quirky place to live, perfect for art-lovers and foodies alike. Located on the southern tip of New Zealand's vastly underrated North Island, the city is flanked by hills on one side and a harbor that leads straight to the South Island on the other. And everything you've heard about Kiwis being notoriously friendly? It's all true.

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  3. Adelaide, Australia
  
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