The cost-of-living survey was conducted by the London-based personnel firm ECA International. It placed Norway in the top spot for the second year in a row, followed by Denmark.
Japan, also a pricey country, fell to third place, largely because of deflation in the country that has kept prices down or falling. It can also be cheaper to get a good, modest meal in Japan than in many European countries.
The survey of 32 countries weighs the prices of food, alcohol and tobacco, clothing, electrical goods, driving and restaurant meals.
The Philippines was the cheapest place for a company to place expatriate workers. Prices for goods and services there were about a third of those in Japan.
The 10 most expensive countries were: Norway, Denmark, Japan, Switzerland, Finland, South Korea, Ireland, France, Sweden and Great Britain. The US ranked in the middle, falling into 15th place just ahead of Canada.
