Which country is more expensive? Price levels compared since 1990
Household price levels in 2025 (United States = 100): Canada 90.2, U.S. 100. 2016: U.S. became more expensive than Canada.
Compare two countries vs
Source: OECD · Vernumo
Years when the order changed
1994: U.S. became more expensive than Canada.
2005: Canada became more expensive than U.S..
2016: U.S. became more expensive than Canada.
Price levels by country, 2025 (United States = 100)
Country
Price level
Change since 1990
Switzerland
128.2
-12.6
Denmark
104.5
-45.7
Ireland
102.1
-12.3
U.S.
100
0
Norway
96.2
-58
Australia
94.4
-13.8
UK
92.4
-40.4
Finland
90.6
-79.8
Sweden
90.5
-58.4
Canada
90.2
-20.9
Belgium
87.2
-30.5
Netherlands
86.7
-22.8
Austria
84.8
-29
France
82.8
-43.9
Germany
81.2
-34.4
Italy
72.9
-42.1
Japan
69
-75.2
Spain
68.7
-38.2
Portugal
64.9
-8.7
South Korea
61.9
-11.5
Poland
54.9
+27.5
What this measures
Price level = OECD purchasing power parity for household consumption ÷ average market exchange rate × 100, with the United States = 100. Vernumo does this calculation from OECD figures.
It compares the cost of the same basket of household spending in different countries in the same year. It is not the inflation rate, and it is not the cost of living for any particular person.
Year-to-year moves mostly reflect exchange rates: when a currency weakens, the country looks cheaper in this measure even if local prices rose.