The price of food, gas and just about everything else seems to keep going up on the Island, but believe it or not, Bermuda is actually a lot cheaper many other cities in the world.Tokyo tops the list of the “world’s most expensive cities for expatriates”, according to Mercer’s 2012 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey. The survey, which is used by employers to determine compensation allowances for expatriate employees, measures the cost of more than 200 items in 214 cities. But despite the fact that 30 percent of the Island’s workforce is made up of expatriates, Bermuda isn’t listed anywhere in the rankings.Mercer, an HR consultancy firm, tells The Royal Gazette that when it comes to the ten expense categories it considers in the study — food, alcohol and tobacco, domestic supplies, personal care, clothing and footwear, home services, utilities, eating out, transportation, and sports and leisure — Bermuda is more expensive than Dublin and Dubai, but cheaper than Zurich and Singapore.Housing, often the biggest expense for expats, played an important part in the rankings as did currency fluctuations. A company spokesperson said if you were to factor in the cost of housing, Bermuda wouldn’t even make it into the top ten most expensive cities.The top ten list below looks at the price of four items — housing, a cup of coffee, a fast food burger meal and a litre of unleaded 95 octane gas. Only two cities in the top ten have housing cheaper than Bermuda. Three had coffee that was cheaper. Six had fast food that was cheaper and all ten have cheaper gas.Two surprises on the list — Luanda, Angola (second) and N’Djamena, Chad (eighth) — two of 20 African cities in the top third of the rankings. The Mercer report said the main driver behind this is the difficulty finding good, secure accommodation for expatriates. The limited supply makes acceptable accommodation very expensive. The cost of importing international goods is also very high there.New York (33rd) was ranked the most expensive city for expats in North America, and in the UK, London (25th) was the most expensive. Karachi (214th) ranked as the world’s least expensive city for expatriates at a third of the cost of number one ranked Tokyo.Cost of living in BermudaMonthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $3,300Cup of coffee, with service: $5.50Fast food, hamburger meal: $11.70One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $2.25The 10 Most Expensive Cities for Expatriates10. Nagoya, JapanMonthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $2,52.42Cup of coffee, with service: $6.38Fast food, hamburger meal: $8.42One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $1.779. Hong KongMonthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $7,092.48Cup of coffee, with service: $6.83Fast food, hamburger meal: $3.54One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $2.218. N’Djamena, ChadMonthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: N/ACup of coffee, with service: $3.32Fast food, hamburger meal: $25.18One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $1.216. Singapore (tie)Monthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $3,587.80Cup of coffee, with service: $5.18Fast food, hamburger meal: $5.66One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $1.736. Zurich (tie)Monthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $3,613.71Cup of coffee, with service: $6.02Fast food, hamburger meal: $12.59One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $1.955. GenevaMonthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $4,818.27Cup of coffee, with service: $6.57Fast food, hamburger meal: $12.59One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $1.974. MoscowMonthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $4,200Cup of coffee, with service: $8.37Fast food, hamburger meal: $6.70One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $0.973. Osaka, JapanMonthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $3,061.70Cup of coffee, with service: $7.02Fast food, hamburger meal: $8.29One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $1.812. Luana, AngolaMonthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $6,500Cup of coffee, with service: $3.90Fast food, hamburger meal: $19.94One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $0.631. TokyoMonthly rent, luxury 2-br. unfurnished apt: $4,847.69Cup of coffee, with service: $8.29Fast food, hamburger meal: $8.29One litre gas, unleaded, 95 octane: $1.94source: Mercer Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2012