ArmInfo.According to the latest data of the cost of living index for 2025, presented by the Numbeo service, Yerevan has become the most expensive city in the South Caucasus.
In the index, 1 is the most expensive, and 100 is the cheapest city. According to Numbeo, Yerevan took 179th place out of 327 cities in the cost of living index. Yerevan surpassed such capitals as Moscow - 210th place, Ankara - 214, Tbilisi - 222, Baku - 256 in terms of cost of living.
Comparatively, the most affordable cities in terms of cost of living were Alexandria (Egypt) - 327th place, Coimbatore (India) - 326, as well as the Pakistani cities of Lahore - 325 and Karachi - 324, as well as the Indian city of Lucknow - 323. At the same time, the top lines of the list of the most expensive cities in the world are occupied by New York (USA) - 1st place, San Francisco (California) - 2nd, Zurich (Switzerland) - 3rd, Geneva (Switzerland) - 3rd and Boston (Massachusetts) - 5th place.
According to the RA Statistical Committee, the average monthly price increase in the consumer market of Armenia amounted to 0.1% in January-December 2024, against a 0.1% decline in 2023. In January- December 2023, compared to January-December 2022, both food and non-food products became more expensive, but even then there was a sharp slowdown in price growth, respectively, to 0.4% and 1.7% (from 12.5% and 7%, respectively), while tariffs for services very slowly slowed down in growth (from 5.2% to 4.5%).
Vegetables increased in price by 9.7% in January-December 2024 (after a reversal in prices in 2023 from 2.1% growth to a 6.6% decline), while fruits fell by 0.1% (against a slowdown in price growth in 2023 from 10.9% to 0.7%). At the same time, in December alone, both vegetables and fruits increased in price by 12.2% and 2.4%, respectively (similar to a 10.6% and 5.6% increase in December 2023). Among food products, the following also increased in price in 2024: coffee - by 16.2%, sunflower oil - by 10.6%, butter - by 9.1%, trout - by 7.1%, chocolate - by 6.6%, flour - by 5.2%, lamb - by 4.7%, tea - by 4.3%, lentils - by 2.8% and beans - by 2.8%. Among alcoholic beverages, vodka and beer increased in price more significantly in 2024 - by 9.5% and 3.3%, respectively (against growth of 8.3% and 2.6% in 2023), and wine prices reversed from a 1.7% increase in 2023 towards a 1.5% decline in 2024.
In the non-food market, prices for gardening equipment increased by 5.7% in 2024, large and small household appliances by 2.4-5%, and medicines by 3.5%. In January-December 2024, compared to January-December 2023, gasoline and diesel fuel increased in price by 14.8% and 1.7% (versus a decrease of 11.9% and 12.8% a year earlier).
In the services sector, the most significant price increases over the year (December 2024 compared to December 2023) were for services related to personal transport - by 3.1 times, and transport insurance - by 18.9%, as well as comprehensive recreation services - by 15.6%, transport services - by 5.8%, preschool and primary education - by 12.3%, higher education - by 7%, hairdressing and SPA salon services - by 4.6%, medical services - by 3.6%, and repair of household appliances - by 2.3%. Apartment renovation services increased in price by 3.8% over the year. Dry cleaning and clothing repair services, as well as clothing rental salons, increased in price by 5.6% over 2024. Financial services increased in price by 1% over the reporting year.
