{
  "id": 3067093,
  "title": "High cost of living moves world’s most expensive country closer to the EU",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/high-cost-of-living-moves-worlds-most-expensive-country-closer-to-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T14:05:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "El Pais English",
    "slug": "el-pais-english",
    "url": "https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-08-24/high-cost-of-living-moves-worlds-most-expensive-country-closer-to-the-eu.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Iceland, the cost of living is soaring to such an extent that the country is now the world's most expensive. This is prompting a key referendum on joining the European Union on August 29. Reykjavik, the capital, and Iceland's most popular tourist destinations are particularly pricey. The island's remote location and wealth have led it to surpass Switzerland, Norway, and even some Caribbean destinations in terms of high prices. The Icelandic trade union Víska calculates that even basic items like six small tomatoes cost around €7. Inflation has hit this wealthy nation harder than any other over the past five decades.",
  "summary": "Rising prices boost Iceland’s pro‑European push as the country prepares to hold a referendum on joining the bloc",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}