# Professor Lawrence White offers advice on how to calculate the cost of living in a story on the Economist Intelligence Unit's ranking of most expensive cities

1 Faculty News March 22, 2019 ![BBC Capital logo](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/con_042627.jpg?itok=FVqJkPfR)>

Excerpt from [BBC Capital](http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20190322-those-most-expensive-city-lists-are-designed-for-expats) -- "'There’s no easy answer,' says [Lawrence White](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/lawrence-white), economics professor at New York University. 'You’ve really got to do your research: where would I want to live in that city? How important is it to be close to public transportation? Is there a sales tax? Does the sales tax apply to everything? Is food taxed or is exempted? Is clothing taxed?'"

[Read more](http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20190322-those-most-expensive-city-lists-are-designed-for-expats)