A weak yen turned Tokyo into a steal. A strong shekel turned Tel Aviv into the world’s most expensive city to buy McDonald’s

A McMeal costs $20.90 in Tel Aviv (the most expensive globally) and $4.90 in Tokyo due to currency fluctuations. Tel Aviv's rising costs stem from a strong shekel driven by tech/defense industries and supply constraints, while Tokyo's weak yen, linked to two decades of near-zero rates, lowered prices. Domestic factors like housing and food supply shortages also contribute to Tel Aviv's high cost of living.