The island’s capital has again topped a poll of the world’s most expensive places to live.

Hamilton was given a cost of living index of 142.1 by the website Numbeo in a snapshot of city rankings for 2023.

The website explained: “These indices are relative to New York City, which means that for New York City, each index should be 100 per cent.”

A rating of 142.1 means Numbeo estimated that Hamilton is 42.1 per cent more expensive than New York.

The cost of living index excluded accommodation expenses such as rent or mortgage.

It was described as “a relative indicator of consumer goods prices, including groceries, restaurants, transportation and utilities”.

Basel, Zurich, Lausanne and Zug, all in Switzerland, took the second to fifth spots, respectively.

Hamilton was also ranked highest in a 2022 cost-of-living snapshot at 149 and in a 2021 snapshot at 146.3.

Based on rent alone, the city was in second place this year with an index of 96.1 to New York’s 100.

Combining cost of living with rent returned an estimated value of 120.1 for Hamilton.