1. Johannesburg, South Africa
2. Monterrey, Mexico
3. Asuncion, Paraguay
4. Karachi, Pakistan
5. Wellington, New Zealand (pictured)

Above are the 5 least expensive cities for expat living, according to consultant firm Mercer UK.

The survey covers 143 cities across six continents but concentrates mostly on Europe,  Asia, and the Middle East.  The only countries in the Americas covered, for example, were the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Mercer looks at more than 200 factors, including the cost of housing, transport and food.

Note that just because a city is cheap for expats doesn’t mean it’s cheap for native residents. In Johannesburg, for instance, costs are rising for local residents, with even basics such as bread becoming more expensive.