No. 27: Canberra, Australia

Rank in 2009: 149

FOOD: Lunch at a restaurant: $25
Can of beer from grocer: $3.18
One kg of rice: $2.82
One dozen eggs: $5.53

ENTERTAINMENT: Movie ticket: $14

APPLIANCES: Washing machine: $935

The Australian dollar strengthened last year, jumping from AU$1.41 to AU$1.11 to the U.S. dollar. The change in the exchange rate put Australian cities higher on the list, with the Australian capital of Canberra as its most expensive city, followed by Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.