Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
A recent report issued by the global platform “Numbeo” showed that Yemen ranked second among Arab countries and 46th globally in the Cost of Living Index for 2026, securing an advanced position among the highest-cost Arab nations, while the UAE topped the Arab list.
According to the report, Yemen recorded 53.1 points on the Cost of Living Index, compared to 48.4 points in the 2025 ranking. Its global ranking also dropped from 37th to 46th, while the index value rose, reflecting an increase in consumer goods and services prices.
The UAE topped the Arab countries and ranked first in the Arab world, placing 41st globally with an index of 55.2 points, followed by Yemen, then Qatar in third place among Arab nations and 55th globally with 50.4 points.
The list of the highest-cost Arab countries also included Bahrain at 64th globally, followed by Saudi Arabia (74th globally), then Oman (75th globally), and Kuwait (79th globally), while Lebanon ranked 84th globally and Jordan 92nd.
In contrast, the Maghreb countries, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Libya fell within the lower-cost bracket. Morocco ranked 119th globally, Tunisia 130th, Iraq 133rd, Algeria 135th, Syria 145th, and Egypt 151st, while Libya topped the list of the least expensive Arab countries, coming in at 155th globally.
The Cost of Living Index issued by “Numbeo” is based on a comparison of consumer goods and services prices across various countries relative to New York City, which serves as a benchmark with a value of 100 points. It includes prices for food, restaurants, transportation, and essential services, without factoring in rental housing costs in the main index.
