Millions of people around the world are faced with difficult decisions as food and energy prices increase.
Poor harvests and shortages of goods and workers have been caused by an increase in temperatures linked to climate change.
People from five countries share their stories about the impact of the cost of living crisis.
The Brazil correspondent is by KATIE WALKER.
Even buying the basics is hard for a woman. The mother-of-four who lives in Araraquara now relies on handouts and discounted groceries. She opens her fridge and there is no food in it.
She says that her boss was going to throw out the beans and bacon, but she saved the pot just in time.
Brazil has seen double-digit inflation on basic goods and services in the past year. Despite Brazil being an agricultural powerhouse, one in four people are not getting enough food. Food prices are going up, but salaries are not keeping pace.
Climate change and the rising cost of fertiliser are pushing up production costs for farmers, which is having a knock-on impact on consumers.
It costs a lot to keep the place clean and there is a foul smell inside. With the price of cooking oil going up, Irandi and his daughter, Rosiane, came up with a way to turn used oil into soap.
Australia correspondent by Shaimaa Khalil.
Wellington is one of the least affordable cities in the world for buying a property. The price of renting has gone up in the past year, with a 12% increase. Increased petrol and food prices have led many to consider moving to Australia, where they have the right to live and work.
Chris, his partner and their four daughters recently left Wellington to start a new life in the Australian city of Brisbane. They were still struggling despite owning their home.
It was expensive because we have four kids. Chris says Australians say the cost of living is going up, but it was five years ago in New Zealand.
It was a difficult decision to leave New Zealand and her family. She says the move was necessary for the children.
You cannot make a living in New Zealand. There is nothing to live for. You go backwards. If you want to live in New Zealand, you have to move. She says that there is no future for her children in New Zealand.
Fuel subsidies and halving the cost of public transport have been tried by the New Zealand government.
Europe correspondent by Jessica Parker.
Steel runs through the veins of the community. The industry has weathered the financial crash and Covid-19 epidemic. The war in Ukraine and Covid lockdowns in China are disrupting trade.
Mirella and Lucas met at a casting company. Their wages are going up against rising costs.
We have recently suffered with electricity. Mirella says that their bill has doubled even though they are never at home. Lucas says that instead of saving a lot, you will save less.
There are still orders at this cast iron foundry. Mariupol is a key source of raw materials for the south-eastern Ukrainian city.
Nomsa Maseko is a correspondent for West Africa.
One of the most expensive countries to live in Africa is where Mark Impraim lives. He shops at a local market for ingredients for his popular dishes. Prices have doubled in the last few months.
Mark looked at the price of the tomatoes. He says he should double the price of the food, but that would scare away customers. I try to find a way around it by decreasing the quantity.
A supply of drinking water is one of the rising costs. The price of water has increased twice in four months because of the cedi. Water suppliers say they have to pass the costs on to customers.
Jonathan Head is a correspondent for South East Asia.
Rice farmer Bunchuay Somsuk and her neighbours scatter the fertiliser that should ensure a good yield in the fields that are sparkling from the monsoon rains. Suphanburi, north of Bangkok, is home to a good amount of the crop that is exported to the Middle East and Africa.
Bunchuay keeps a notebook where she records her debts. She owes the equivalent of 400 from last year. She is less likely to cover her costs after this year's harvest because of low global rice prices and rising fertiliser costs.
Fertiliser is being sold at three times the price of a year ago. Thailand imports most of the ingredients for its fertiliser.
The government has been using a price cap to keep costs down, but manufacturers say this is unsustainable as they are losing money.
Thailand's rice farmers need large quantities of fertiliser to produce a surplus of crops that can be exported around the world. Fertiliser prices must fall or the price of rice must increase in order to keep growing it. Many countries depend on this staple.
You can learn more about the stories featured in the Counting the Cost documentary on the iPlayer.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
