World Cost of Living Index – April 1, 2009
International Cost of Living Rankings
International Classification cost of living are the result of comparing the cost of an expatriate personal budget using local prices of the same quantities defined in the same goods and services in each country worldwide.
Our results show that the impact of the complex multifaceted global economic trends that affect each country in a way or another, are contributing substantially to the rapid changes in the cost of living in countries around the world. Changes in the cost of living are large and have occurred in a relatively short period of time. The reason for this is due to the fact that so many economic crises are taking place simultaneously. 2008 saw the bursting housing bubble followed by the failure of a number of global funds and asset management, insurance and banking giant. Some have been liquidated or assumed others have been rescued with government funds. In 2009 we saw the continued decline in home prices that many believe have not yet hit bottom. stock prices and the market indexes are at levels last seen a decade or more. The trend toward reduced inflation and lower interest rates continues in developed and developing markets. We are also experiencing volatility in exchange rates with a number of major economies and their currencies weaken significantly in the past year. The economic impact continues to spread worldwide. We are currently looking at a truly global recession reduced demand for inputs and outputs manufacturing and energy demand and loss of jobs on a large scale.
This study of 276 branches in the world all the countries covered in the world. The study included the cost of several hundred articles that expatriates tend to spend their salary, divided into 13 groups Basket. The results at 1 April 2009 were compared with earlier findings December 1, 2008. The index uses New York as the base (New York = 100). An index above 100 means that the cost Life is bigger than New York, an index below 100 means that the cost of living is lower than New York.
Geneva has a cost of living to 110 for example. That means that on average, goods and services that cost $ 100 in New York, a cost of $ 110 in Geneva. Each city is ranked according to their overall cost of living in which includes the cost of all groups in the basket.
A cost of living increases or decreases the price index, based on local goods and services used in the study and the current exchange rate. As a general principle, a country with a currency that has risen against other currencies (hard currency) and domestic inflation is relatively high (fast / large price increases), in general, experience an increased cost of living compared to other countries. On the other hand, a country with a currency which has fallen against other currencies (weaker currency) and has relatively low local inflation usually experience a decrease in the cost of life compared with other countries. It is important to note that we are talking of changes. Advantage in London as another example. Recently, in December 2008 London took the 6th place in the world even more expensive for expatriates to live. In April 2009, is the 23rd most expensive place in the world for expatriates. That does not that the local cost of living for expatriates living in London has been reduced. What it means is that in relation to other parts of the world, London is not as expensive as last year. What makes London cost of living, relatively low due mainly to increased cost of living in other places, together with the British pound more weak.
These related changes have a substantial impact on expatriate employees. An expatriate working in a high cost of living – the country of hard currency, as Hong Kong, where the Hong Kong dollar is pegged to U.S. dollar illustrates this point. The high cost of living makes it difficult to bridge due to high domestic prices households (housing including utilities), in particular, is very expensive. However, an expatriate working in Hong Kong is now likely to find that remit money to their country provides energy greatly increased spending at home. In the last year, the Hong Kong dollar has risen 15% over the Malaysian Ringgit, and 30% against the rupee Indonesian and Australian dollar.
The 10 most expensive places for expatriates to live
Tokyo has maintained its status as the world's most expensive city for expatriates living. The cost of living index in Tokyo has risen from 126 in December 2008 to 143 on April 1, 2009, and yen has strengthened against the U.S. dollar. At the other end of the scale, Harare has maintained its status as the least expensive city in the world, ranking 276 with an index of only 17 years and a currency that is still in free fall. Tokyo ranks first in health costs, 2nd and 2nd food for domestic use (including Accommodation utilities).
Hong Kong is now ranked 2nd have risen from 33 in December 2008. Your cost of living index has increased 103-121 and is ranked first for household expenses and for the second Healthcare. It is interesting to note, however, that Hong Kong is not expensive at all levels. Located in the twenty-second of Alcohol and Snuff, Recreation and Culture 226th for the 227th and 247th Education Furniture and Appliances.
Lagos is the third most expensive city in the world for expatriates, having been previously classified 11. It is ranked first and Grocery Furniture and household expenses, sixth Health, and 18 for restaurants, hotels and meals out.
Caracas has moved substantially in the standings to fourth after being named by only 32 December 2008. Located on the first of the costs of education, one fifth of Health, and 6 for household expenses (including public accommodation).
Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea is ranked fifth overall the most expensive city for expatriates due to most goods and services imported from Australia. Port Moresby is the 6th of Recreation & Culture, 7 for the communication and medical care and eighth most expensive dress.
Geneva has been slightly reduced until the sixth, after being ranked fourth in December 2008. Located on the third most expensive for travel expenses, Recreation and Culture 11, 15 for medical care, and 20 for the clothes.
Dubai has moved into the top 10 most expensive places in the world for expatriates to live for the first time. Dubai now stands seventh substantially from 34 in December 2008. Your cost of living index has increased from 103 to 109 from December 2008. Located on the first meal and entertainment Restaurants Hotel expenses, clothing sixth, 11 for medical care, and 16 for groceries. Dubai is currently ranked fourth household expenses (including accommodation equipment), however, is emerging evidence that this will reduce significantly in the next quarter, as it has suffered relatively difficult in the real estate sector with falling property prices and rentals.
Doha has risen in the rankings faster than any other city. In December 2008, Doha was ranked the 45th most expensive city for expatriates, now in eighth. The overall cost of living index has risen 101 to 109 equal to that of Dubai. Located on the second for restaurants, meals and entertainment expenses hotel, Clothing third, seventh for household expenses (accommodation including utilities), eighth in edible and Recreation and Culture, and 10 for medical care.
Denmark has decreased slightly from being the ninth most expensive place in the world for expatriates having been ranked third in December 2008. Located on the third most expensive groceries, the fifth of Transport, and 15 Furniture and appliances.
Hamilton Bermuda completes the top 10 in motion from the December 26 despite the total cost of the remaining 108 index. Hamilton is ranked fourth most expensive, both for Education and Health, 10 personal care, 11 for household expenses (accommodation including utilities), and 15 for groceries.
The cost general life total ranking list, from xpatulator.com to April 1, 2009 is as follows:
Classification and Location
1 Japan, Tokyo
2 China, Hong Kong
3 Nigeria, Lagos
4 Venezuela, Caracas
5 Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
6 Switzerland, Geneva
7 United Arab Emirates, Dubai
8 Qatar, Doha
9 Denmark, Copenhagen
10 Bermuda Hamilton
11 Angola, Luanda
12 Switzerland, Zurich
13 Russia, Moscow
14 Solomon Islands, Honiara
15 Cameroon Douala
16 Chad, N'Djamena
17 Taiwan, Taipei
18 Liechtenstein, Vaduz
19 USA, New York NY
20 New Caledonia, Noumea
21 Greenland, Nuuk
22 Ireland, Dublin
23 United Kingdom, London
24 France, Paris
25 Norway, Oslo
26 Italy, Milan
27 San Marino, San Marino
USA 28, San Francisco California
29 Monaco, Monaco
30 Austria, Vienna
31 Bahamas, Nassau
Central 32 Central African Republic, Bangui
33 Nauru, Yaren
34 USA, Boston Mass
35 Finland, Helsinki
36 Italy, Rome
37 Kazakhstan, Almaty
38 Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan
39 Bahrain, Manama
40 Micronesia, Palikir
41 Isle of Man, Douglas
42 Haiti, Port-au-Prince
43 U.S. San Jose California
44 Cameroon, Yaoundé
45 Djibouti, Djibouti
46 Palau, Melekeok
47 Guinea-Bissau, Bissau
48 Azerbaijan, Baku
49 Benin, Cotonou
50 Slovakia, Bratislava
51 Belgium, Brussels
52 Netherlands Amsterdam
53 Sao Tome and Principe, Sao Tome
54 Jersey, Saint Helier
55 Mali, Bamako
56 Gabon Libreville
57 United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
58 Croatia, Zagreb
59 Singapore, Singapore
60 of Ghana, Accra
61 Spain, Madrid
62 Ukraine, Kiev
USA 63, Philadelphia, PA
64 Cayman Islands, George Town
65 Sierra Leone Freetown
66 Germany, Berlin
67 Prague, Czech Republic
U.S. 68 in San Diego California
69 Jordan, Amman
70 Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain
71 U.S., Los Angeles, California
USA 72, Washington DC
73 Estonia, Tallinn
74 U.S., Baltimore Md
75 Falkland Islands, Stanley
76 Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
77 Guernsey, St Peter Port
78 Comores, Moroni
79 Sudan, Khartoum
80 Germany, Bonn
81 Vatican City, Vatican City
82 Canada Toronto
83 Timor-Leste, Dili
84 Hungary, Budapest
USA 85, Seattle Washington
86 Brazil, Brasilia
87 of Lebanon, Beirut
USA 88, Miami Florida
89 Vanuatu, Port Vila
90 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
91 Jamaica, Kingston
92 Australia, Sydney
93 Kuwait, Kuwait City
94 Moldova, Chisinau
95 Rep of Congo, Kinshasa
96 Germany, Frankfurt
97 Tuvalu, Funafuti
98 Iceland, Reykjavik
99 Barbados, Bridgetown
100 of Portugal, Lisbon
101 Mozambique, Maputo
102 Senegal, Dakar
103 of Canada, Vancouver
104 Niger, Niamey
105 of China, Beijing
106 Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
107 Turkey, Ankara
108 Togo, Lomé
109 Equatorial Guinea, Malabo
110 Martinique Fort-de-France
111 Armenia, Yerevan
USA 112, Chicago Ill.
113 Liberia, Monrovia
114 Gibraltar, Gibraltar
115 Sweden, Stockholm
116 Somalia, Mogadishu
USA 117, Portland Ore
118, Israel, Jerusalem
119 Malta Velletta
120 Puerto Rico, San Juan
121 Canada, Calgary
122 Rwanda, Kigali
123 Guam, Hagatna
Burkina 124 Faso, Ouagadougou
125 Zambia, Lusaka
126 Andorra, Andorra la Vella
127 Cyprus, Nicosia
U.S. 128, Las Vegas Nevada
129 Samoa, Apia
130 St. Helena, Jamestown
131 Tanzania, Dar es Salaam
132 Greece, Athens
133 Poland, Warsaw
134 Maldives, Male
135 Malawi, Lilongwe
136 Thailand, Bangkok
137 Indonesia, Jakarta
138 U.S., Jacksonville Florida
139 Antigua and Barbuda, Saint John's
140 Gambia, Banjul
141 United Kingdom, Glasgow
142 Lithuania, Vilnius
143 Belarus, Minsk
144 U.S., Dallas Tex
145 Australia, Canberra
146 India, Mumbai
147 Australia, Melbourne
U.S. 148, Denver Colo
149 Algeria, Algiers
150 Republic of Georgia Tbilisi,
151 Honduras, Tegucigalpa
152 U.S. Atlanta GA
153 U.S., Cleveland Ohio
154 Canada, Montreal
U.S. 155, Milwaukee Wisconsin
156 Congo, Brazzaville
157 Guinea, Conakry
158 Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre
U.S. 159, Detroit Mich.
160 Panama City, Panama
161 Latvia, Riga
162 Uganda, Kampala
163 of the Republic of Korea, Seoul
U.S. 164, Charlotte NC
165 Marshall Islands Majuro
166 Australia, Perth
U.S. 167, Phoenix Arizona
168 U.S., Columbus Ohio
USA 169, Austin Tex
170 Madagascar, Antananarivo
U.S. 171, Tampa Florida
172 United Kingdom, Birmingham
173 Afghanistan, Kabul
174 Granada Saint George's
175 Vietnam, Hanoi
U.S. 176, Indianapolis Ind
USA 177, St Louis MO
178 St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Kingstown
179 Peru, Lima
180 Syria, Damascus
USA 181, Fort Worth, Tex.
182 Slovenia, Ljubljana
183 Mauritania, Nouakchott
USA 184, El Paso Tex
185 Philippines, Manila
186 China, Shanghai
187 U.S., Tennessee Memphis
188 U.S., Pittsburgh Penn
189 Belize, Belmopan
190 India, New Delhi
191 Romania, Bucharest
192 Guatemala, Guatemala City
193 Iran, Tehran
194 Cape Verde, Praia
195 India, Chennai
196 U.S. Tex Houston
Canada 197, Ottawa
198 Costa Rica, San José
199 Dominica, Roseau
200 Nicaragua, Managua
201 Guyana, Georgetown
202 Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
203 Bulgaria, Sofia
204 237 Suriname, Paramaribo
205 Cuba, Havana
206 Oman, Muscat
207 India, Calcutta
208 Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar
209 Tajikistan, Dushanbe
210 India, Hyderabad
211 Burundi, Bujumbura
USA 212, San Antonio Tex
213 Myanmar, Yangon
214 Uruguay, Montevideo
215 Paraguay, Asuncion
216 Albania, Tirana
217 Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan
218 Mauritius, Port Louis
219 Fiji, Suva
220 Egypt, Cairo
221 Australia, Brisbane
222 El Salvador, San Salvador
223 Democratic Republic of Korea, Pyongyang
224 Laos, Vientiane
Mexico 225, Mexico City
226 Morocco, Rabat
227 India, Bangalore
228 Santa Lucia, Castries
229 New Zealand, Auckland
230 Kiribati, South Tarawa
231 Kosovo, Pristina
232 Kenya Nairobi
233 Serbia, Belgrade
234 Bangladesh, Dhaka
235 Pakistan, Lahore
236 Bolivia, La Paz
237 Colombia, Bogotá
238 Botswana, Gaborone
239 Sri Lanka, Colombo
240 Pakistan, Islamabad
241 Turkmenistan, Ashgabat
242 Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek
243 Macedonia, Skopje
244 Pakistan, Karachi
245 Australia, Adelaide
246 Montenegro, Podgorica
247 Chile, Santiago
248 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
249 China, Macao
250 Eritrea, Asmara
251, Iraq, Baghdad
252 Argentina, Buenos Aires
253 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo
254 Uzbekistan, Tashkent
255 Ecuador, Quito
256 Nepal, Kathmandu
257 Tunis, Tunisia
258 Yemen, Sanaa
259 Bhutan, Thimphu
260 South Africa, Johannesburg
261 China, Shenzhen
262 Tonga, Nuku'alofa
263 China, Dalian
264 South Africa, Pretoria
265 Lesotho, Maseru
266 China, Wuhan
267 Namibia, Windhoek
268 Libya, Tripoli
269 South Africa, Cape Town
270 China, Guangzhou
271 Seychelles, Victoria
272 South Africa, Durban
273, Phnom Penh
274 Swaziland Mbabane
275 China, Tianjin
276 Zimbabwe, Harare
About the Author
Steven Coleman runs the most comprehensive global relocation calculator available, an internet service that is used primarily to calculate expatriate salary levels for global assignments, which can be found at http://www.xpatulator.com
Colorful woman, llama & child in Cusco, Peru
