Europe’s most expensive countries from Switzerland to Iceland | World News

With all of us looking for ways to keep costs down, it’s no surprise that many people may have opted for cheaper holidays this year, with many destinations across Europe still keeping costs low to allow tourists to make the most of everything they have to offer.

However there are still some countries in Europe where your hard-earned won’t go quite so far.

Which are the most expensive destinations in Europe, and how does the UK compare?

Which is the most expensive country in Europe?

According to recent statistics, the most expensive country in Europe is Switzerland.

In fact data from Numbeo, the world’s largest cost of living database, suggests that Switzerland is second only to Bermuda in terms of the most expensive countries in the world.

The site states that the cost of living in Switzerland is 88.4% higher than it is in the United Kingdom – with estimated average monthly costs for a family of four coming in at over £5,000.

A meal for two in a mid-range restaurant will set you back around £99, while the Economist’s Big Mac index – comparing the price of the McDonald’s meal in countries across the world – puts the cost at 6.70 Swiss francs – just over £6.

Despite a high cost of living, the standard of living is also high in Switzerland, with wages overall higher than other parts of the world.

The average monthly wage is around 6,700 Swiss francs per month – around £6,000 – while taxes are lower than many nations, with the average single worker being taxed at a rate of 18.5%.

According to Numbeo, the other most expensive countries include:

Iceland

Iceland regularly comes up on lists of the most expensive countries in Europe – with the Scandinavian nation, which has a population of around 400,000 people, importing a lot of its goods.

That comes in at around 25% more expensive than the UK.

Luxembourg

Another country which comes up more expensive than the UK, Luxembourg costs around £2,923 per month for a family of four, not including rent, and £843 per month for a single person.

Overall that makes it 13.8% higher than the UK.

Ireland

Eurostat data suggested that Ireland was the most expensive EU country in 2022. with prices being 46 per cent higher than a lot of other member states..

Numbeo stats have the average monthly cost of living for a family of four at £2,905 without rent, and £830 a month without rent for a single person.

That puts it around 10% higher than the UK.

France

The average monthly cost of living for a family of four in France is estimated at £2,804 minus rent – while a single person’s monthly ongoings are priced at £786.

But while this puts it at 8.9% higher than the UK, the overall cost of rent is considerably lower – at around 23%.