The Covid-19 pandemic took its toll on the world in a variety of ways, both physically and mentally. The economy was hit hard when stocks crashed, trade stopped and people lost their livelihood. Citizens were forced to stay home and limit all social activities to mitigate the transmission of the virus.

Before the world was exposed to the COVID virus, the cost of living was extremely high. There were record breaking numbers in massive cities reporting on homelessness. Food and shelter, the most vital element in human life, remained one of the most expensive aspect in cost of living records. Over those main two years, people lost jobs, homes and were left in food deserts. Cost of living worldwide is a jarring concept to visualize on its own, as well as happiness. However analyzing this data, post pandemic speaks even louder. Using data collected on cost of living and the world happiness index, I have visualized the relationship between the two, both before and after the pandemic. I hypothesize that the overall cost of living throughout the world goes hand in hand with overall happiness levels in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cost of Living

From one look at these two maps, there are stark differences in the type of wealth that is present throughout the world. The maps are colored coded which aids in decoding the legend. Switzerland and Norway remained two of the most expensive countries to live in both before and after the start of the pandemic. Interestingly enough, most countries experienced an increase in cost of living. North America and the large majority of Europe also have maintained a high cost of living compared to nations like Russia China and Africa. While switch through both maps, it is clear that the overall cost of living has in fact increased through a number of countries.

Cost of Living Percent Change

This map is a simple visualization of which nations experienced which kind of change over those three years. Canada and Norway still had the largest percent change for an increase in cost of living. Whereas countries like India and Somalia experienced a negative percent change on the index scale. South America for example experienced both an increase and decrease in cost of living post pandemic. This map gives the viewer the opportunity to visualize the wealth gaps seen throughout the world and how the pandemic directly effected them.

Positive Affects

This visualization is particularly interesting as several of the nations that laid near the middle of the cost of living index, had stronger positive affects as a whole nation. North and South America seem to have some of the strongest happiness values throughout the world, as Russia and parts of the middle east lay on the left side of the specturm. Overall it seems that most nations have seen a decrease in the happiness index since the start of the COVID-19 virus.

Positive Percent Change

Negative Affect

Looking at the years before the pandemic, it is clear that many nations seem to report an increase in negative affects. Cost of living in some cities has in fact increased as a form of resilience after the virus, however has a great impact on ones mentality.

Negative Percent Change

Conclusion

Through an analysis of the world happiness index and cost of living both before and after the OVID-19 pandemic, there is evidence that these concepts are not mutually exclusive. Cost of living and overall happiness is greatly effected by the spread of COVID and this is the data to prove such. My hypothesis was in fact correct that these concepts are intermingled through society in both a conscious and subconscious way.