Methodology

Data collection

We aggregate data from government statistics offices, established cost-of-living databases, internet speed testing infrastructure, and international safety indices. Each data point is tagged with its original source, a direct URL, and the date it was last verified.

Verification process

Data goes through a three-step verification: automated consistency checks against historical ranges, cross-referencing between multiple independent sources, and community review from locals and long-term residents. Data points that fail consistency checks are flagged and excluded until resolved.

Source types

• Official statistics — Government census data, national statistics offices, central bank reports. Highest confidence, updated annually or quarterly.
• API-fed data — Real-time feeds from internet speed testing networks, air quality monitors, and weather services. Updated daily or weekly.
• Community-sourced — Cost reports from verified residents and long-term visitors. Weighted by recency and contributor reputation. Updated continuously.

Update frequency

Cost of living data is refreshed monthly. Internet speeds are updated weekly. Safety indices follow their source publication schedule, typically annually. Every metric displays its last-updated date so you always know how fresh the data is.