The most expensive global location to live in, as at July 2009, is still Tokyo Japan, however there have been some significant changes in the last year mainly due to large differences in exchange rates, and more recently, a real drop in prices along with the majority of global locations enjoying their lowest inflation rates in recent times.

Tokyo’s cost of living index only increased by 1.4% from July 2008 to July 2009, but is 16 index points clear of 2nd placed Hong Kong (11th in July 2008). Last year Oslo, Norway, was the 2nd most expensive global location to live, however Oslo’s cost of living relative to the rest of the world has decreased by 27 index points over the past year.

The cost of living indexes are based on pricing the same basket of goods in local currency and comparing them in US Dollars using exchange rates with New York as the base (New York = 100). In most cases the major factor driving the changes has been the weakening of other currencies against the US Dollar. This is the main factor behind Oslo’s drop from 2nd to 13th most expensive global location to live. The Norwegian Kroner has decreased 19% against the US Dollar over the past year. In contrast the Japanese Yen has increased 12.7% against the US Dollar over the past year.

The 5 Most Expensive Global Locations Overall

Joining Tokyo and Hong Kong in the top 5 most expensive global locations are Caracas in Venezuela (up 62 places in the rankings) to 3rd most expensive, followed by Bangui in the Central African Republic, and in 5th place is Geneva in Switzerland, down 2 places from July 2008.

The 5 Biggest jumps

The largest increase in relative cost of living is Harare in Zimbabwe, albeit off a very low base. Harare has been ranked the least expensive global location for several years, mainly due to hyperinflation and a constantly weakening currency. This year Zimbabwe’s cost of living index has jumped 118% and is now ranked 275th most expensive out of 276 global locations. Other large increases in relative cost of living in the past year are Honiara in the Solomon Islands up 37% compared to July 2008, Caracas up 22%, Kigali in Rwanda up 19% while the 5th largest jump belongs to Manama in Bahrain, up 17%.

The 5 Least Expensive Global Locations Overall

The least expensive global location to live in this year is Tianjin in China with a cost of living index of just 30 compared to New York’s index of 100. Harare in Zimbabwe, last years least expensive global location is now 2nd least expensive, followed by Durban in South Africa. Phnom Penh in Cambodia is ranked 4th least expensive followed by Mbabane in Swaziland.

The 5 Biggest drops

The largest decrease in relative cost of living is Nuku’Alofa in Tonga with a decrease of 45%, followed by Brazzaville in the Congo with a decrease of 31%. The Congolese Franc has lost 44% against the US Dollar compared to July 2008. Mbabane in Swaziland had a decrease in relative cost of living of 30%, while Budapest in Hungary decreased 28%. The 5th largest decrease between July 2008 and July 2009 was Guangzhou in China with a decrease of 27% despite the Yuan strengthening slightly against the US Dollar by 1%.

The Details: What Costs the Most Where?

Top 5 Alcohol & Tobacco

Alcoholic beverages such as beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes are most expensive in Doha in Qatar, followed by Oslo, Manama, Moroni in Comores and South Tarawa in Kiribati. The least expensive place for alcohol & tobacco is Kuwait.

Top 5 Clothing

Clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, children’s clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear are most expensive also in Doha, followed by Zagreb in Croatia, Dubai, Beijing and Manama. The least expensive place for clothing is Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Top 5 Communication

Communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls are most expensive in Bissau in Guinea-Bissau, followed by Noumea in New Caledonia, Riga in Latvia, Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, and Douala in Cameroon. The least expensive place for communication is Conakry in Guinea.

Top 5 Education

Costs such as crèche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees are most expensive in Caracas followed by Luanda in Angola, Brasilia in Brazil, Hamilton in Bermuda and Lagos in Nigeria. The least expensive place for education is Paramaribo in Suriname.

Top 5 Furniture & Appliances

Costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as DVD player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine are most expensive in Douala, followed by Bamako in Mali, Bangui, Lagos, and Freetown in Sierra Leone. The least expensive place for furniture & appliances is Harare.

Top 5 Groceries

Costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs are most expensive in Tokyo followed by Bangui, Honiara, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Lagos. The least expensive place for groceries is again Harare.

Top 5 Healthcare

Costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions are most expensive in Tokyo followed by Hong Kong, Caracas, Luanda and Hamilton in Bermuda. The least expensive place for healthcare is Tianjin.

Top 5 Household

Costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies are most expensive in Hong Kong followed by Tokyo, Taipei in Taiwan, Dubai, and Luanda. The least expensive place for household costs is Asmara in Eritrea.

Top 5 Personal Care

Costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner are most expensive in Banjul in Gambia followed by, Algiers in Algeria, South Tarawa in Kiribati, Moroni in the Comores, and Bratislava in Slovakia. The least expensive place for personal care is Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

Top 5 Recreation & Culture

Costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CD’s, sports goods, sports clubs and theatre tickets are most expensive in Maputo in Mozambique followed by Bangui, Doha, N’Djamena in Chad, and Cotonou in Benin. The least expensive place for recreation & culture is Harare.

Top 5 Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel

Costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast Food) are most expensive in Dubai followed by Doha, Athens in Greece, Brussels in Belgium and Ljubljana in Slovenia. The least expensive place for restaurants, meals out and hotel is Tianjin.

Top 5 Transport

Costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase are most expensive in Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia, followed by Honiara, Dili in Timor-Leste, Douala, and Oslo. The least expensive place for transport is Tianjin.

The Top 5 Best Place to Live

So if you were to relocate anywhere in the world right now, where would you experience the lowest cost of living with the least amount of hardship? Hardship is used as the measure of discomfort a person and their family are likely to experience. Each global location is ranked between 1 which is minimal hardship and 4 which is extreme hardship. Assuming therefore that you would want to live in a minimal hardship location, the location with the lowest cost of living index is Adelaide in Australia. Adelaide is a minimal hardship location and has a cost of living index of 60 compared to New York’s index of 100. The next 6 best places to live on this basis are all in the USA. Memphis Tennessee is 2nd followed by El Paso Texas 3rd, St Louis Missouri 4th, and in 5th is Indianapolis Indiana. The next best non-USA location is Auckland in New Zealand in 8th place.

The detailed cost of living rankings as at July 2009 for each basket group for each of the over 200 global locations can be found at www.xpatulator.com.

The most expensive global location to live in, as at July 2009, is still Tokyo Japan, however there have been some significant changes in the last year mainly due to large differences in exchange rates, and more recently, a real drop in prices along with the majority of global locations enjoying their lowest inflation rates in recent times.

Tokyo’s cost of living index only increased by 1.4% from July 2008 to July 2009, but is 16 index points clear of 2nd placed Hong Kong (11th in July 2008). Last year Oslo, Norway, was the 2nd most expensive global location to live, however Oslo’s cost of living relative to the rest of the world has decreased by 27 index points over the past year.

The cost of living indexes are based on pricing the same basket of goods in local currency and comparing them in US Dollars using exchange rates with New York as the base (New York = 100). In most cases the major factor driving the changes has been the weakening of other currencies against the US Dollar. This is the main factor behind Oslo’s drop from 2nd to 13th most expensive global location to live. The Norwegian Kroner has decreased 19% against the US Dollar over the past year. In contrast the Japanese Yen has increased 12.7% against the US Dollar over the past year.

The 5 Most Expensive Global Locations Overall
Joining Tokyo and Hong Kong in the top 5 most expensive global locations are Caracas in Venezuela (up 62 places in the rankings) to 3rd most expensive, followed by Bangui in the Central African Republic, and in 5th place is Geneva in Switzerland, down 2 places from July 2008.

The 5 Biggest jumps
The largest increase in relative cost of living is Harare in Zimbabwe, albeit off a very low base. Harare has been ranked the least expensive global location for several years, mainly due to hyperinflation and a constantly weakening currency. This year Zimbabwe’s cost of living index has jumped 118% and is now ranked 275th most expensive out of 276 global locations. Other large increases in relative cost of living in the past year are Honiara in the Solomon Islands up 37% compared to July 2008, Caracas up 22%, Kigali in Rwanda up 19% while the 5th largest jump belongs to Manama in Bahrain, up 17%.

The 5 Least Expensive Global Locations Overall
The least expensive global location to live in this year is Tianjin in China with a cost of living index of just 30 compared to New York’s index of 100. Harare in Zimbabwe, last years least expensive global location is now 2nd least expensive, followed by Durban in South Africa. Phnom Penh in Cambodia is ranked 4th least expensive followed by Mbabane in Swaziland.

The 5 Biggest drops
The largest decrease in relative cost of living is Nuku’Alofa in Tonga with a decrease of 45%, followed by Brazzaville in the Congo with a decrease of 31%. The Congolese Franc has lost 44% against the US Dollar compared to July 2008. Mbabane in Swaziland had a decrease in relative cost of living of 30%, while Budapest in Hungary decreased 28%. The 5th largest decrease between July 2008 and July 2009 was Guangzhou in China with a decrease of 27% despite the Yuan strengthening slightly against the US Dollar by 1%.

The Details: What Costs the Most Where?

Top 5 Alcohol & Tobacco
Alcoholic beverages such as beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes are most expensive in Doha in Qatar, followed by Oslo, Manama, Moroni in Comores and South Tarawa in Kiribati. The least expensive place for alcohol & tobacco is Kuwait.

Top 5 Clothing
Clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, children’s clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear are most expensive also in Doha, followed by Zagreb in Croatia, Dubai, Beijing and Manama. The least expensive place for clothing is Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Top 5 Communication
Communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls are most expensive in Bissau in Guinea-Bissau, followed by Noumea in New Caledonia, Riga in Latvia, Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, and Douala in Cameroon. The least expensive place for communication is Conakry in Guinea.

Top 5 Education
Costs such as crèche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees are most expensive in Caracas followed by Luanda in Angola, Brasilia in Brazil, Hamilton in Bermuda and Lagos in Nigeria. The least expensive place for education is Paramaribo in Suriname.

Top 5 Furniture & Appliances
Costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as DVD player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine are most expensive in Douala, followed by Bamako in Mali, Bangui, Lagos, and Freetown in Sierra Leone. The least expensive place for furniture & appliances is Harare.

Top 5 Groceries
Costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs are most expensive in Tokyo followed by Bangui, Honiara, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Lagos. The least expensive place for groceries is again Harare.

Top 5 Healthcare
Costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions are most expensive in Tokyo followed by Hong Kong, Caracas, Luanda and Hamilton in Bermuda. The least expensive place for healthcare is Tianjin.

Top 5 Household
Costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies are most expensive in Hong Kong followed by Tokyo, Taipei in Taiwan, Dubai, and Luanda. The least expensive place for household costs is Asmara in Eritrea.

Top 5 Personal Care
Costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner are most expensive in Banjul in Gambia followed by, Algiers in Algeria, South Tarawa in Kiribati, Moroni in the Comores, and Bratislava in Slovakia. The least expensive place for personal care is Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

Top 5 Recreation & Culture
Costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CD’s, sports goods, sports clubs and theatre tickets are most expensive in Maputo in Mozambique followed by Bangui, Doha, N’Djamena in Chad, and Cotonou in Benin. The least expensive place for recreation & culture is Harare.

Top 5 Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel
Costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast Food) are most expensive in Dubai followed by Doha, Athens in Greece, Brussels in Belgium and Ljubljana in Slovenia. The least expensive place for restaurants, meals out and hotel is Tianjin.

Top 5 Transport
Costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase are most expensive in Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia, followed by Honiara, Dili in Timor-Leste, Douala, and Oslo. The least expensive place for transport is Tianjin.

The Top 5 Best Place to Live
So if you were to relocate anywhere in the world right now, where would you experience the lowest cost of living with the least amount of hardship? Hardship is used as the measure of discomfort a person and their family are likely to experience. Each global location is ranked between 1 which is minimal hardship and 4 which is extreme hardship. Assuming therefore that you would want to live in a minimal hardship location, the location with the lowest cost of living index is Adelaide in Australia. Adelaide is a minimal hardship location and has a cost of living index of 60 compared to New York’s index of 100. The next 6 best places to live on this basis are all in the USA. Memphis Tennessee is 2nd followed by El Paso Texas 3rd, St Louis Missouri 4th, and in 5th is Indianapolis Indiana. The next best non-USA location is Auckland in New Zealand in 8th place.

The detailed cost of living rankings as at July 2009 for each basket group for each of the over 200 global locations can be found at www.xpatulator.com. The premium content international cost of living calculator and cost of living allowance calculator are used for international cost of living comparison and calculation of cost of living allowance.

The Kingdom of Bahrain basks in the warm, clear and calm waters of the Persian Gulf and is an incredibly prosperous and multi cultural country becoming increasingly popular with professional expatriates seeking well paying employment in a low taxation country where the standard of living in Bahrain is incredibly high and the local people are liberal and tolerant towards other cultures.

Bahrain manages to maintain a relatively neutral foreign policy and because of its general liberalism it’s a great place for Western expatriates to experience a totally new life abroad. These facts mean that the number of international citizens living in Bahrain has increased substantially in recent years and directly contributed to the fact that Bahrain now has the fastest growing economy in the Arab world.

For anyone considering living in Bahrain this article is an introduction to the country, the entry requirements and to living and working in Bahrain.

Citizens of all nations other than Gulf Cooperation Council countries require a visa to enter Bahrain with the majority of those moving to live in the Kingdom being sponsored for their visa by their employer. The range of visas available is vast with much depending on whether the applicant has a job offer, is a spouse or dependent of an employed person in Bahrain, the country the individual heralds from etc., and therefore those considering travelling to Bahrain should initially contact their nearest Bahraini embassy or visit the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior website to find out which visa they should apply for and how to go about the application process.

The capital city of the Kingdom of Bahrain is Manama and most expatriates live in and around the capital and work in one of the Kingdom’s main industries which are petroleum production and processing, IT, telecommunications, hospitality, medicine or banking. As a result of the popularity of the location, property for sale and rent in Manama is offered at a premium and those moving to work in Bahrain on a firm job offer should try and negotiate some money towards their housing as part of their overall remuneration package.

Unlike in some other Arab nations foreigners are permitted to own property in Bahrain and because the economy of the nation is so strong many see investment into property in Bahrain as a solid move to make. However for those keen on living in Bahrain the first step to take is to secure a job offer and then to rent housing while settling into the Kingdom and ensuring it is right for them before committing to the purchase of immovable property assets that can be slow to liquidate should the individual in question decide to leave the Kingdom.

Finally it’s worth noting that the standard of living enjoyed by westerners living in Bahrain is incredibly high. As stated Bahrain is a prosperous country and one offering residents and visitors alike a cosmopolitan destination with exciting nightlife and incredible shopping! Hence it is of no surprise whatsoever that the number of international expatriates moving to the Kingdom ever year is on the increase.

The October 2009 International Cost of Living Ranking, one of the most comprehensive in the world, covers 276 cities in 209 countries across 13 basket groups. Below we have listed the Top 10 most expensive countries to live in, the biggest movers up and down in country ranking and the 5 most expensive countries per basket item.

There is no change to the first and last places. Japan remains the most expensive place for an expatriate to live with the highest overall cost of living index and Zimbabwe with the lowest cost of living index.

The Top 10 most expensive ranked international cost of living locations as at October 2009, together with the previous year’s rank as at October 2008, is as follows:

October 2009 Rank Country, City (October 2008 Rank)[Change in Rank]
1. Japan, Tokyo (1) [0]
2. China, Hong Kong (33) [-31]
3. Switzerland, Geneva (4) [-1]
4. Central African Republic, Bangui (46) [-42]
5. Switzerland, Zurich (8) [-3]
6. Denmark, Copenhagen (3) [3]
7. Venezuela, Caracas (32) [-25]
8. United Arab Emirates, Dubai (34) [-26]
9. Chad, N’Djamena (15) [-6]
10. Norway, Oslo (2) [8]

Biggest Movers Up
The biggest movers up in the rankings as a result of an increase in relative cost of living are:
1. Solomon Islands, Honiara by 152 places
2. Canada, Calgary by 134 places
3. Kiribati, South Tarawa by 109 places
4. Timor-Leste, Dili by 106 places
5. Montenegro, Podgorica by 93 places
6. Vanuatu, Port Vila by 91 places
7. Saudi Arabia, Riyadh by 83 places
8. Rwanda, Kigali by 83 places
9. Cape Verde, Praia by 75 places
10. Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa by 61 places

Biggest Movers Down
The biggest movers down in the rankings as a result of a decrease in relative cost of living are:
1. Tonga, Nuku’Alofa by 172 places
2. Poland, Warsaw by 158 places
3. Vietnam, Hanoi by 126 places
4. Fiji, Suva by 99 places
5. Paraguay, Asuncion by 91 places
6. Hungary, Budapest by 85 places
7. Equatorial Guinea, Malabo by 82 places
8. Albania, Tirana by 77 places
9. Kenya, Nairobi by 73 places
10. Gambia, Banjul by 66 places

Top 5 most expensive international locations for each basket group
Our 13 basket groups are the result of extensive research of actual spending habits, this allows our cost of living indices to reflect a reality-based international expenditure pattern. When comparing the cost of living between 2 locations, the difference in the aggregate cost of all the items in each of the 13 basket groups are examined in each location, this is done by using the average reported price in each location for the same quantity of each item. Cost of living is the relative differential of the local cost of the basket groups and the ruling exchange rate between the 2 selected locations. The 13 basket groups are weighted according to Expatriate expenditure norms.

Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is most expensive in:
1. Kiribati, South Tarawa
2. Qatar, Doha
3. Korea Republic of, Seoul
4. Comores, Moroni
5. Norway, Oslo

Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, children’s clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is most expensive in:
1. Croatia, Zagreb
2. Russia, Moscow
3. China, Beijing
4. United Arab Emirates, Dubai
5. Qatar, Doha

Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is most expensive in:
1. Guinea-Bissau, Bissau
2. New Caledonia, Noumea
3. Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou
4. Latvia, Riga
5. Cameroon, Douala

Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is most expensive in:
1. Venezuela, Caracas
2. Angola, Luanda
3. Brazil, Brasilia
4. Bermuda, Hamilton
5. Central African Republic, Bangui

Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is most expensive in:
1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Mali, Bamako
3. Cameroon, Douala
4. New Caledonia, Noumea
5. Chad, N’Djamena

Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is most expensive in:
1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Japan, Tokyo
3. Denmark, Copenhagen
4. Solomon Islands, Honiara
5. Congo, Brazzaville

Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is most expensive in:
1. Japan, Tokyo
2. China, Hong Kong
3. Kiribati, South Tarawa
4. Angola, Luanda
5. Bermuda, Hamilton

Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is most expensive in:
1. China, Hong Kong
2. Japan, Tokyo
3. Taiwan, Taipei
4. Venezuela, Caracas
5. United Arab Emirates, Dubai

Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is most expensive in:
1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Norway, Oslo
3. Finland, Helsinki
4. New Caledonia, Noumea
5. Qatar, Doha

Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is most expensive in:
1. Kiribati, South Tarawa
2. Gambia, Banjul
3. Algeria, Algiers
4. Comores, Moroni
5. Slovakia, Bratislava

Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is most expensive in:
1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
3. Mozambique, Maputo
4. Chad, N’Djamena
5. Vanuatu, Port Vila

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is most expensive in:
1. United Arab Emirates, Dubai
2. Greece, Athens
3. Qatar, Doha
4. Belgium, Brussels
5. Slovenia, Ljubljana

Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is most expensive in:
1. Timor-Leste, Dili
2. Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi
3. Cameroon, Douala
4. Solomon Islands, Honiara
5. Norway, Oslo

The definitions of each basket and the full cost of living rankings for all 276 locations are available on the website.

The October 2009 International Cost of Living Ranking, one of the most comprehensive in the world, covers 276 cities in 209 countries across 13 basket groups. Below we have listed the Top 10 most expensive countries to live in, the biggest movers up and down in country ranking and the 5 most expensive countries per basket item.

There is no change to the first and last places. Japan remains the most expensive place for an expatriate to live with the highest overall cost of living index and Zimbabwe with the lowest cost of living index.

The Top 10 most expensive ranked international cost of living locations as at October 2009, together with the previous year’s rank as at October 2008, is as follows:

October 2009 Rank Country, City (October 2008 Rank)[Change in Rank]

1. Japan, Tokyo (1) [0]
2. China, Hong Kong (33) [-31]
3. Switzerland, Geneva (4) [-1]
4. Central African Republic, Bangui (46) [-42]
5. Switzerland, Zurich (8) [-3]
6. Denmark, Copenhagen (3) [3]
7. Venezuela, Caracas (32) [-25]
8. United Arab Emirates, Dubai (34) [-26]
9. Chad, N’Djamena (15) [-6]
10. Norway, Oslo (2) [8]

Biggest Movers Up
The biggest movers up in the rankings as a result of an increase in relative cost of living are:
1. Solomon Islands, Honiara by 152 places
2. Canada, Calgary by 134 places
3. Kiribati, South Tarawa by 109 places
4. Timor-Leste, Dili by 106 places
5. Montenegro, Podgorica by 93 places
6. Vanuatu, Port Vila by 91 places
7. Saudi Arabia, Riyadh by 83 places
8. Rwanda, Kigali by 83 places
9. Cape Verde, Praia by 75 places
10. Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa by 61 places

Biggest Movers Down
The biggest movers down in the rankings as a result of a decrease in relative cost of living are:
1. Tonga, Nuku’Alofa by 172 places
2. Poland, Warsaw by 158 places
3. Vietnam, Hanoi by 126 places
4. Fiji, Suva by 99 places
5. Paraguay, Asuncion by 91 places
6. Hungary, Budapest by 85 places
7. Equatorial Guinea, Malabo by 82 places
8. Albania, Tirana by 77 places
9. Kenya, Nairobi by 73 places
10. Gambia, Banjul by 66 places

Top 5 most expensive international locations for each basket group

Our 13 basket groups are the result of extensive research of actual spending habits, this allows our cost of living indices to reflect a reality-based international expenditure pattern. When comparing the cost of living between 2 locations, the difference in the aggregate cost of all the items in each of the 13 basket groups are examined in each location, this is done by using the average reported price in each location for the same quantity of each item. Cost of living is the relative differential of the local cost of the basket groups and the ruling exchange rate between the 2 selected locations. The 13 basket groups are weighted according to Expatriate expenditure norms.

Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is most expensive in:
1. Kiribati, South Tarawa
2. Qatar, Doha
3. Korea Republic of, Seoul
4. Comores, Moroni
5. Norway, Oslo

Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, children’s clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is most expensive in:
1. Croatia, Zagreb
2. Russia, Moscow
3. China, Beijing
4. United Arab Emirates, Dubai
5. Qatar, Doha

Communications costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is most expensive in:

1. Guinea-Bissau, Bissau
2. New Caledonia, Noumea
3. Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou
4. Latvia, Riga
5. Cameroon, Douala

Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is most expensive in:

1. Venezuela, Caracas
2. Angola, Luanda
3. Brazil, Brasilia
4. Bermuda, Hamilton
5. Central African Republic, Bangui

Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is most expensive in:

1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Mali, Bamako
3. Cameroon, Douala
4. New Caledonia, Noumea
5. Chad, N’Djamena

Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is most expensive in:

1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Japan, Tokyo
3. Denmark, Copenhagen
4. Solomon Islands, Honiara
5. Congo, Brazzaville

Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is most expensive in:

1. Japan, Tokyo
2. China, Hong Kong
3. Kiribati, South Tarawa
4. Angola, Luanda
5. Bermuda, Hamilton

Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is most expensive in:

1. China, Hong Kong
2. Japan, Tokyo
3. Taiwan, Taipei
4. Venezuela, Caracas
5. United Arab Emirates, Dubai

Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is most expensive in:
1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Norway, Oslo
3. Finland, Helsinki
4. New Caledonia, Noumea
5. Qatar, Doha

Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is most expensive in:

1. Kiribati, South Tarawa
2. Gambia, Banjul
3. Algeria, Algiers
4. Comores, Moroni
5. Slovakia, Bratislava

Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is most expensive in:

1. Central African Republic, Bangui
2. Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
3. Mozambique, Maputo
4. Chad, N’Djamena
5. Vanuatu, Port Vila

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is most expensive in:

1. United Arab Emirates, Dubai
2. Greece, Athens
3. Qatar, Doha
4. Belgium, Brussels
5. Slovenia, Ljubljana

Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is most expensive in:

1. Timor-Leste, Dili
2. Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi
3. Cameroon, Douala
4. Solomon Islands, Honiara
5. Norway, Oslo

Living Slim and Healthy with Irvingia gabonensis

  INTRODUCTION

Irvingia gabonensis also known as Ogbono, Dika nuts and African wild mango is a fruit found in western to southwestern tropical Africa from Nigeria to Angola.

Irvingia gabonensis abbreviated as Ig in this article plays an important role in the rural Nutrition, Income and Traditional Medicine branches of these countries.

Through the help of the United Nation in Forestry and Agricultural Projects for Africa, a lot of researches have been made to enhance the production and commercial use of Ig as nutritional, income yielding and medicinal product for African countries. But, many of these researches have been done contrary to the intentions of the United Nation to increase forestry and food in Africa by experiments with the fresh leaves and stem bark. The use of the fresh leaves and stem bark as commercial products will rapidly lead to destruction of the plant and forest and thereby resulting in scarcity of the fruits and seeds as nutritional products for these countries which is against the campaign of the United Nation to enhance forestry and food in Africa.

That is why, it is important to advise all those interested in the functions and use of Ig to avoid all products made from the fresh leaves and stem bark because most functions attributed to these products are also functions derived from the fruit and seed products and even more as described in other topics of this article.

          Effect of Food Products with Irvingia gabonensis  

The following effects and comments mentioned in this article are results derived from controlled and uncontrolled studies carried out on voluntary participants.

  Effect on Digestion and Gastrointestinal tract absorption  

The regular intake of Ig increases the digestion rate and controlled optimal absorption through the intestinal tract membrane due to the high contents of Amino peptides and Phoshatidylcholine which are also permanent composition of the cells. During the digestion and absorption processes, the content Albumins are used as carrier and Albumins are also permanent components of human tissue and fluid, therefore, making the absorbed nutrients and dietary fibre available at the right time to the body.

  Effect on Feeding Satisfaction and Body Mass Index Balance  

Through the daily intake of Ig is the sense of satisfaction reactivated or enhanced through the effect of certain hormones, for example Leptin that are produced due to the influence of the high content of amino peptides present. The interaction of the produced Leptin with Arginine leads to effects on certain genes and enzymes through the inhibition and promotion of metabolic pathways, which are favourable at that point in time for the maintenance of the body mass index balance (BMI balance).

The BMI balance is the optimal mean correlation between the major components responsible for a healthy body mass index, therefore, elaborating the facts about recent studies on body volume index. A healthy body maintains this balance through the sense of satisfaction and metabolic pathways. In other words, all excess composition are metabolised or excreted out of the body to keep an adequate BMI balance.

  Effect on Blood Glucose and Cholesterol  

The daily intake of Ig leads to a combination of the Ig with the bile acids in the gut and these are then excreted from the body through the faeces. This process forces the body to convert more cholesterol to bile acids and therefore, reducing the blood cholesterol.

In the same way, the diet with Ig reduces the blood glucose due to the fact that it selects the favourable metabolic pathways for the maintenance of an adequate body mass index balance. In this way, Ig regulates the absorption and metabolism of sugar after a meal.

This attribute makes Ig an optimal diet for diabetics and prevention of diabetes.

    Effect on Body Immunity  

Regular diets with Ig increases the resistance to illness and defence of the body against infections due to the high content of vitamin C. Vitamin is known to be anti oxidant and also has anti microbial effect, therefore, it is right to say that Ig provides better immunity, anti aging effect and accelerates healing processes.

  Effect on Sexual Activity  

The regular intake of Ig increases the release of sexual hormones through the conversion of the sex steroids in fat tissue and this effect leads to a better sex life.

This aspect of Ig confirms the facts already provided by clinical studies that a regular sex life leads to a considerable weight loss, higher immunity and longer life.

    Effect on Skin  

Phoshatidylcholine a component lipid present in Ig seed has been proofed to be a very effective ingredient in skin formulations like shown by Kuhs cosmetic company in Germany in their Probiol products. Secondly, Vitamin C is known to be a very good anti oxidant and this is also present in Ig seed at high quantity. These seed components in combination with other essential oils, amino peptides and the gum parts qualifies Ig to be a good skin conditioning and anti aging ingredient for the reduction of wrinkles, stretch marks and cellulites in skin formulations.

         Side Effects of Diet with Irvingia gabonensis

Ig has no harmful side effects but some side effects are experienced during the diet or meals with Ig. The known effects include Flatulence, unusual Urinating rates, unusual Sex desire and Sleeping problems.

These side effects are generated due to the function of Ig and it’s activity in the continuous selection of metabolic pathways that are favourable for the maintenance of an adequate body mass balance, which results in the synthesis of high energy through metabolic processes and hormones in the body.

These side effects can be reduced or eliminated by doing a lot of activities during the day.

      Summary

This article is not intended to criticise the works of other scientist but to confirm them and also emphasize that the functions attributed to the diet with Ig is far more beyond the effects of Leptin, Adiponectin and Glycerol-3 phosphate dehydrogenase because high concentrations of leptin has also been found in some obese patients. Rather, is the attribute functions of diet with Ig a more complicated mechanism which involves the combination of the effects of enzymes, hormones, Amino peptides, proteins, and genomic processes that controls the inhibition and promotion of metabolic pathways that are suitable for the maintenance of an adequate BMI balance and this is independent from the daily dosage.

Nevertheless, it might be that a minimum daily dosage is required to achieve a remarkable weight loss in a period of about 10 weeks like published by Dr. Oben et al. in their clinical studies about Ig.

Generally, it is correct that Ig is the ideal daily diet to reduce weight, for diabetes, reduce cholesterol induced health problems, enhance immunity, have a better sex activity and maintain a healthy body mass index balance without getting hungry or having harmful side effects like from other weight watching diets or pills.

   Irvingia gabonensis in the year 1816

The medicinal, weight reduction and hunger inhibition effects of Ig was long discovered in Africa by Chief Okundaye, Oba n’ Ogbe, Uwangue of Benin Kingdom since 1816. This was the knowledge he used in keeping the Benin army fit through the several wars they went through.

This know how also gave him is praise name Ekpen n’ Ziengbe ohanwen which means the Tiger who bears hunger. The Oba palace in Benin City, Nigeria can still proof this historical event.

His generations have always kept an Ig plantation till date.

Notice to all readers

Living slim and healthy is a task that requires discipline, patience and time.

So don’t be irritated when your desired weight is not attained after 2 weeks because healthy processes takes a minimum of about 4 weeks to show remarkable changes and results.

                              References

1. Effect of Aqueous leaf extract of Irvingia gabonensis on gastrointestinal tract in rodents. F. Abdulrahman et al. University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

2. The Use and Interpretation of Anthropometry. WHO Technical Report Series

3. Calculation of power law relationship between weight and height. Math.Utah.

4. Human kinetics, Introduction to Energy Production and Performance. A. Jeukendrup et al.

5. Body volume index: time to replace body mass index? Kristien Boelaert et al.

6. Irvingia gabonensis in the management of weight loss. Oben et al. University of Yaoundè, Yaoundè Cameroon.

7. Effect of rural processing on the proximate composition and amino acid profile of Irvingia gabonensis. University of Calabar, Nigeria.

8. Lost Crops of Africa vol. II 2006

9. Nutritional and Toxicological Properties of Irvingia gabonensis. Njoku, Ugwuanyi. University of Nigeria, Nsuka, Nigeria.

10. Analysis of the composition and Commercialisation of Irvingia gabonensis Seed and Products. Peter Okundaye

11. Probiol. Kuhs Cosmetic Company, Germany.

12. Oral Tradition: History of Ogie Ezomo Okundaye, Oba n’ Ogbe, the Uwangue of Benin Kingdom.

Living in Bahrain

The Kingdom of Bahrain, a tiny island nation in the Persian Gulf has a storied past, filled with invasions and dynasties. Its strategic location, off the coast of Saudi Arabia, made it very desirable to the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Arabs who all established civilizations here. But it was the discovery of oil in 1932 that brought Bahrain’s desirability to a whole new level. A great amount of development occurred on the island following the petroleum boom, including the foresight to diversify into banking and other commercial endeavors. It is this diversification that has helped to buoy Bahrain during the ebbs and flows of oil prices and distribution.

The Bahrain of today is a vibrant, modern country that continues to develop and diversify. The Kingdom’s decision to grant women the right to vote, institute parliamentary elections and free political prisoners has improved its reputation in the world arena. All of these factors have made Bahrain a very attractive destination for tourism and residency.

 For those seeking employment in Bahrain, the latest economic figures bode very well. According to the United Nations Economic Council, Bahrain is the fastest growing economy in the Arab world. Although petroleum still accounts for 60% of the economy, the financial sector is increasing exponentially. Due to its modern communication and transport facilities, Bahrain has become home to a great number of multi-national firms. This has helped to diversify not only the economic base, but the population as well. Tourism, which is replacing oil as the hottest new industry in this region of the Gulf, is an increasingly large employer and promises to continue on that track. The capital city of Manama has most of the major hotels including the Ritz Carlton and Sheraton, and is home to the service industry of Bahrain. A Four Seasons is opening in the near future, which will add many more employment opportunities.

While career opportunities are one large draw to a life in Bahrain, there are many other factors to consider before packing ones bags and moving here. One of the most important elements to confront is the weather. Bahrain is a desert island, surrounded by a shallow, warm sea. Both of these conditions contribute to very hot temperatures, especially during summer months. In July and August it can be particularly warm and humid, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius. Dust storms that blow over from the Saudi Arabian peninsula can also decrease visibility and make life uncomfortable at times. That being said, the winter months are lovely with warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

Bahrain is a great place to get acquainted with the dynamic Arab world. Its booming economy, sunny climate and welcoming attitude to foreigners make it a very attractive destination for expats, businessmen and retirees alike. Visas are required for visiting or residing here (except for British Nationals), and are fairly easy to obtain.

Apartments for Rent in Bahrain

International Cost of Living Rankings

International cost of living rankings are the result of comparing the cost of an expatriate’s personal budget, using the local prices for the same defined quantities of the same goods and services in each country throughout the world.

Our findings show that the compound impact of the multifaceted global economic trends that impact each country in one way or another, are contributing to rapid substantial changes in the relative cost of living of countries around the world. The changes in relative 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 occurring simultaneously. 2008 saw the housing bubble burst followed by the failure of a number of global fund / asset management, insurance and banking giants. Some have been liquidated or taken over; others have been bailed out with government funds. In 2009 we have seen the continued fall in house prices which many believe have yet to bottom out. Stock prices and market indexes are down to levels last seen a decade or more ago. The trend towards decreased inflation and lower interest rates continues in developed and developing markets. We are also experiencing exchange rate volatility with a number of large economies seeing their currency weaken considerably in the past year. The economic impact is continuing to spread around the globe. We are currently seeing a truly global recession with reduced demand for manufacturing inputs and outputs as well as reduced energy demand and large scale job losses.

This study of 276 global locations covered every country in the world. The study comprised the cost of several hundred items that expatriates typically spend their pay on, grouped into 13 Basket Groups. The findings as at 1 April 2009 have been compared to the previous findings of 1 December 2008.  The Index uses New York as the base (New York = 100).  An index greater than 100, means that the cost of living is higher than New York, an index less than 100, means that the cost of living is lower than New York.

Geneva has a cost of living index of 110 for example. That means that on average, goods and services that cost $100 in New York, cost $110 in Geneva. Each city is ranked according to their overall cost of living index which includes the cost of all basket groups.

A cost of living index increases or decreases based on the local price of the goods and services used in the study and the ruling exchange rate. As a general principle, a country with a currency that has increased against other currencies (stronger currency) and which has relatively high local inflation (rapid/large price increases), will generally experience an increase in cost of living compared to other countries. On the other hand, a country with a currency that has decreased against other currencies (weaker currency) and which has relatively low local inflation will generally experience a decrease in cost of living compared to other countries.  It is important to note that we are talking about relative changes. Take London as another example. As recently as December 2008, London was still ranked the 6th most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live. As at April 2009 it is the 23rd most expensive place in the world for expatriates. That does not mean that the local cost of living for expatriates living in London has decreased. What it does mean is that relative to other places in the world, London is no longer as expensive as it was last year.  What makes London’s cost of living relatively lower than it was is mainly due to the increase in the cost of living elsewhere together with the weaker British Pound.

These relative changes have a substantial impact on expatriate employees. An expatriate working in a high cost of living – strong currency country such as Hong Kong where the Hong Kong Dollar is pegged to the US Dollar illustrates this point. The high cost of living makes it difficult to save due to high local prices; Household (Accommodation including utilities) in particular is very expensive. However, an expatriate working in Hong Kong will now likely find that remitting money back home provides greatly increased spending power at home.  In the past year the Hong Kong Dollar has increased 15% against the Malaysian Ringgit, and 30% against the Indonesian Rupiah and the Australian Dollar.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Places for Expatriates to Live

Tokyo has retained its status as the most expensive city in the world for expatriates to live. The cost of living index for Tokyo has increased from 126 in December 2008 to 143 as at 1 April 2009, and the Yen has strengthened against the US Dollar. At the other end of the scale, Harare has retained its status as the least expensive city in the world and is ranked 276 with an index of just 17 and a currency which is still in free-fall. Tokyo is ranked 1st for Healthcare expenses, 2nd for Groceries and 2nd for Household (Accommodation including utilities).

Hong Kong is now ranked 2nd overall having climbed from 33rd place in December 2008. Its cost of living index has increased from 103 to 121 and is ranked 1st for Household expenses and 2nd for Healthcare. It is interesting however to note that Hong Kong is not expensive in all categories. It is ranked 202nd for Alcohol & Tobacco, 226th for Recreation & Culture, 227th for Education, and 247th for Furniture & Appliances.

Lagos is the 3rd most expensive city in the world for expatriates, having previously been ranked 11th.  It is ranked 1st for Groceries and for Furniture & Appliance expenses, 6th for Healthcare, and 18th for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels. 

Caracas has moved substantially up the rankings to 4th, having been ranked just 32nd in December 2008. It is ranked 1st for Education expenses, 5th for Healthcare, and 6th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities).

Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea is the 5th ranked overall most expensive city for expatriates due to most goods and services being imported from Australia. Port Moresby is ranked 6th for Recreation & Culture, 7th for Communication and for Healthcare, and 8th most expensive for Clothing.

Geneva has dropped slightly to 6th, having been ranked 4th in December 2008.  It is ranked 3rd most expensive for Transport expenses, 11th for Recreation & Culture, 15th for Healthcare, and 20th for Clothing.

Dubai has moved into the top 10 most expensive places in the world for expatriates to live for the first time. Dubai is now ranked 7th, substantially up from 34th in December 2008. Its cost of living index has increased from 103 to 109 since December 2008. It is ranked 1st for Restaurants Meals Out and Hotel expenses, 6th for Clothing, 11th for Healthcare, and 16th for Groceries. Dubai is currently ranked 4th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), however evidence is emerging that this will decrease significantly in the next quarter as it has been hit relatively hard in the property sector with falling property prices and rentals.

Doha has moved up in the global rankings faster than any other city. In December 2008, Doha was ranked the 45th most expensive city for expatriates, it is now 8th. The overall cost of living index has moved up from 101 to 109, equal to that of Dubai.  It is ranked 2nd for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel expenses, 3rd for Clothing, 7th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), 8th for Groceries as well as for Recreation and Culture, and 10th for Healthcare.

Denmark has dropped slightly to being the 9th most expensive place in the world for expatriates, having been ranked 3rd in December 2008. It is ranked 3rd most expensive for Groceries, 5th for Transport, and 15th for Furniture and Appliances.   

Hamilton in Bermuda completes the top 10 moving from 26th in December despite the overall cost of index remaining 108. Hamilton is ranked 4th most expensive for both Education and Healthcare, 10th for Personal Care, 11th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), and 15th for Groceries.  

The full overall cost of living ranking list, sourced from xpatulator.com as at 1 April 2009 is as follows: 

Rank 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

28 USA, San Francisco Calif

29 Monaco, Monaco

30 Austria, Vienna

31 Bahamas, Nassau

32 Central African Republic, Bangui

33 Nauru, Yaren

34 USA, Boston Mass

35 Finland, Helsinki

36 Italy, Rome

37 Kazakhstan, Almaty

38 Cote D’Ivoire, Abidjan

39 Bahrain, Manama

40 Micronesia, Palikir

41 Isle of Man, Douglas

42 Haiti, Port-au-Prince

43 USA, San Jose Calif

44 Cameroon, Yaounde

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 Ghana, Accra

61 Spain, Madrid

62 Ukraine, Kiev

63 USA, Philadelphia Pa

64 Cayman Islands, George Town

65 Sierra Leone, Freetown

66 Germany, Berlin

67 Czech Republic, Prague

68 USA, San Diego Calif

69 Jordan, Amman

70 Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain

71 USA, Los Angeles Calif

72 USA, Washington DC

73 Estonia, Tallinn

74 USA, 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

85 USA, Seattle Wash

86 Brazil, Brasilia

87 Lebanon, Beirut

88 USA, Miami Fla

89 Vanuatu, Port Vila

90 Luxembourg, Luxembourg

91 Jamaica, Kingston

92 Australia, Sydney

93 Kuwait, Kuwait City

94 Moldova, Chisinau

95 Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa

96 Germany, Frankfurt

97 Tuvalu, Funafuti

98 Iceland, Reykjavík

99 Barbados, Bridgetown

100 Portugal, Lisbon

101 Mozambique, Maputo

102 Senegal, Dakar

103 Canada, Vancouver

104 Niger, Niamey

105 China, Beijing

106 Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

107 Turkey, Ankara

108 Togo, Lome

109 Equatorial Guinea, Malabo

110 Martinique, Fort-de-France

111 Armenia, Yerevan

112 USA, Chicago Ill

113 Liberia, Monrovia

114 Gibraltar, Gibraltar

115 Sweden, Stockholm

116 Somalia, Mogadishu

117 USA, Portland Ore

118 Israel, Jerusalem

119 Malta, Velletta

120 Puerto Rico, San Juan

121 Canada, Calgary

122 Rwanda, Kigali

123 Guam, Hagatna

124 Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou

125 Zambia, Lusaka

126 Andorra, Andorra la Vella

127 Cyprus, Nicosia

128 USA, Las Vegas Nev

129 Samoa, Apia

130 Saint 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 USA, Jacksonville Fla

139 Antigua and Barbuda, Saint John’s

140 Gambia, Banjul

141 United Kingdom, Glasgow

142 Lithuania, Vilnius

143 Belarus, Minsk

144 USA, Dallas Tex

145 Australia, Canberra

146 India, Mumbai

147 Australia, Melbourne

148 USA, Denver Colo

149 Algeria, Algiers

150 Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi

151 Honduras, Tegucigalpa

152 USA, Atlanta GA

153 USA, Cleveland Ohio

154 Canada, Montreal

155 USA, Milwaukee Wis

156 Congo, Brazzaville

157 Guinea, Conakry

158 Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre

159 USA, Detroit Mich

160 Panama, Panama City

161 Latvia, Riga

162 Uganda, Kampala

163 Korea Republic of, Seoul

164 USA, Charlotte NC

165 Marshall Islands, Majuro

166 Australia, Perth

167 USA, Phoenix Ariz

168 USA, Columbus Ohio

169 USA, Austin Tex

170 Madagascar, Antananarivo

171 USA, Tampa Fla

172 United Kingdom, Birmingham

173 Afghanistan, Kabul

174 Grenada, Saint George’s

175 Vietnam, Hanoi

176 USA, Indianapolis Ind

177 USA, St Louis MO

178 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kingstown

179 Peru, Lima

180 Syria, Damascus

181 USA, Fort Worth Tex

182 Slovenia, Ljubljana

183 Mauritania, Nouakchott

184 USA, El Paso Tex

185 Philippines, Manila

186 China, Shanghai

187 USA, Memphis Tenn

188 USA, 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 USA, Houston Tex

197 Canada, Ottawa

198 Costa Rica, San Jose

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

212 USA, 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 Korea Democratic Republic of, Pyongyang

224 Laos, Vientiane

225 Mexico, Mexico City

226 Morocco, Rabat

227 India, Bangalore

228 Saint 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, Bogota

238 Botswana, Gaberone

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 Tunisia, Tunis

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 Cambodia, Phnom Penh

274 Swaziland, Mbabane

275 China, Tianjin

276 Zimbabwe, Harare

International cost of living rankings are the result of comparing the cost of an expatriate’s personal budget, using the local prices for the same defined quantities of the same goods and services in each country throughout the world.

Our findings show that the compound impact of the multifaceted global economic trends that impact each country in one way or another, are contributing to rapid substantial changes in the relative cost of living of countries around the world. The changes in relative 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 occurring simultaneously. 2008 saw the housing bubble burst followed by the failure of a number of global fund / asset management, insurance and banking giants. Some have been liquidated or taken over; others have been bailed out with government funds. In 2009 we have seen the continued fall in house prices which many believe have yet to bottom out. Stock prices and market indexes are down to levels last seen a decade or more ago. The trend towards decreased inflation and lower interest rates continues in developed and developing markets. We are also experiencing exchange rate volatility with a number of large economies seeing their currency weaken considerably in the past year. The economic impact is continuing to spread around the globe. We are currently seeing a truly global recession with reduced demand for manufacturing inputs and outputs as well as reduced energy demand and large scale job losses.

This study of 276 global locations covered every country in the world. The study comprised the cost of several hundred items that expatriates typically spend their pay on, grouped into 13 Basket Groups. The findings as at 1 April 2009 have been compared to the previous findings of 1 December 2008. The Index uses New York as the base (New York = 100). An index greater than 100, means that the cost of living is higher than New York, an index less than 100, means that the cost of living is lower than New York.

Geneva has a cost of living index of 110 for example. That means that on average, goods and services that cost $100 in New York, cost $110 in Geneva. Each city is ranked according to their overall cost of living index which includes the cost of all basket groups.

A cost of living index increases or decreases based on the local price of the goods and services used in the study and the ruling exchange rate. As a general principle, a country with a currency that has increased against other currencies (stronger currency) and which has relatively high local inflation (rapid/large price increases), will generally experience an increase in cost of living compared to other countries. On the other hand, a country with a currency that has decreased against other currencies (weaker currency) and which has relatively low local inflation will generally experience a decrease in cost of living compared to other countries. It is important to note that we are talking about relative changes. Take London as another example. As recently as December 2008, London was still ranked the 6th most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live. As at April 2009 it is the 23rd most expensive place in the world for expatriates. That does not mean that the local cost of living for expatriates living in London has decreased. What it does mean is that relative to other places in the world, London is no longer as expensive as it was last year. What makes London’s cost of living relatively lower than it was is mainly due to the increase in the cost of living elsewhere together with the weaker British Pound.

These relative changes have a substantial impact on expatriate employees. An expatriate working in a high cost of living – strong currency country such as Hong Kong where the Hong Kong Dollar is pegged to the US Dollar illustrates this point. The high cost of living makes it difficult to save due to high local prices; Household (Accommodation including utilities) in particular is very expensive. However, an expatriate working in Hong Kong will now likely find that remitting money back home provides greatly increased spending power at home. In the past year the Hong Kong Dollar has increased 15% against the Malaysian Ringgit, and 30% against the Indonesian Rupiah and the Australian Dollar.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Places for Expatriates to Live

Tokyo has retained its status as the most expensive city in the world for expatriates to live. The cost of living index for Tokyo has increased from 126 in December 2008 to 143 as at 1 April 2009, and the Yen has strengthened against the US Dollar. At the other end of the scale, Harare has retained its status as the least expensive city in the world and is ranked 276 with an index of just 17 and a currency which is still in free-fall. Tokyo is ranked 1st for Healthcare expenses, 2nd for Groceries and 2nd for Household (Accommodation including utilities).

Hong Kong is now ranked 2nd overall having climbed from 33rd place in December 2008. Its cost of living index has increased from 103 to 121 and is ranked 1st for Household expenses and 2nd for Healthcare. It is interesting however to note that Hong Kong is not expensive in all categories. It is ranked 202nd for Alcohol & Tobacco, 226th for Recreation & Culture, 227th for Education, and 247th for Furniture & Appliances.

Lagos is the 3rd most expensive city in the world for expatriates, having previously been ranked 11th. It is ranked 1st for Groceries and for Furniture & Appliance expenses, 6th for Healthcare, and 18th for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels.

Caracas has moved substantially up the rankings to 4th, having been ranked just 32nd in December 2008. It is ranked 1st for Education expenses, 5th for Healthcare, and 6th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities).

Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea is the 5th ranked overall most expensive city for expatriates due to most goods and services being imported from Australia. Port Moresby is ranked 6th for Recreation & Culture, 7th for Communication and for Healthcare, and 8th most expensive for Clothing.

Geneva has dropped slightly to 6th, having been ranked 4th in December 2008. It is ranked 3rd most expensive for Transport expenses, 11th for Recreation & Culture, 15th for Healthcare, and 20th for Clothing.

Dubai has moved into the top 10 most expensive places in the world for expatriates to live for the first time. Dubai is now ranked 7th, substantially up from 34th in December 2008. Its cost of living index has increased from 103 to 109 since December 2008. It is ranked 1st for Restaurants Meals Out and Hotel expenses, 6th for Clothing, 11th for Healthcare, and 16th for Groceries. Dubai is currently ranked 4th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), however evidence is emerging that this will decrease significantly in the next quarter as it has been hit relatively hard in the property sector with falling property prices and rentals.

Doha has moved up in the global rankings faster than any other city. In December 2008, Doha was ranked the 45th most expensive city for expatriates, it is now 8th. The overall cost of living index has moved up from 101 to 109, equal to that of Dubai. It is ranked 2nd for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel expenses, 3rd for Clothing, 7th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), 8th for Groceries as well as for Recreation and Culture, and 10th for Healthcare.

Denmark has dropped slightly to being the 9th most expensive place in the world for expatriates, having been ranked 3rd in December 2008. It is ranked 3rd most expensive for Groceries, 5th for Transport, and 15th for Furniture and Appliances.

Hamilton in Bermuda completes the top 10 moving from 26th in December despite the overall cost of index remaining 108. Hamilton is ranked 4th most expensive for both Education and Healthcare, 10th for Personal Care, 11th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), and 15th for Groceries.

The full overall cost of living ranking list from Xpatulator as at 1 April 2009 is as follows:

RankLocation

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
28 USA, San Francisco Calif
29 Monaco, Monaco
30 Austria, Vienna
31 Bahamas, Nassau
32 Central African Republic, Bangui
33 Nauru, Yaren
34 USA, Boston Mass
35 Finland, Helsinki
36 Italy, Rome
37 Kazakhstan, Almaty
38 Cote D’Ivoire, Abidjan
39 Bahrain, Manama
40 Micronesia, Palikir
41 Isle of Man, Douglas
42 Haiti, Port-au-Prince
43 USA, San Jose Calif
44 Cameroon, Yaounde
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 Ghana, Accra
61 Spain, Madrid
62 Ukraine, Kiev
63 USA, Philadelphia Pa
64 Cayman Islands, George Town
65 Sierra Leone, Freetown
66 Germany, Berlin
67 Czech Republic, Prague
68 USA, San Diego Calif
69 Jordan, Amman
70 Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain
71 USA, Los Angeles Calif
72 USA, Washington DC
73 Estonia, Tallinn
74 USA, 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
85 USA, Seattle Wash
86 Brazil, Brasilia
87 Lebanon, Beirut
88 USA, Miami Fla
89 Vanuatu, Port Vila
90 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
91 Jamaica, Kingston
92 Australia, Sydney
93 Kuwait, Kuwait City
94 Moldova, Chisinau
95 Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa
96 Germany, Frankfurt
97 Tuvalu, Funafuti
98 Iceland, Reykjavík
99 Barbados, Bridgetown
100 Portugal, Lisbon
101 Mozambique, Maputo
102 Senegal, Dakar
103 Canada, Vancouver
104 Niger, Niamey
105 China, Beijing
106 Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
107 Turkey, Ankara
108 Togo, Lome
109 Equatorial Guinea, Malabo
110 Martinique, Fort-de-France
111 Armenia, Yerevan
112 USA, Chicago Ill
113 Liberia, Monrovia
114 Gibraltar, Gibraltar
115 Sweden, Stockholm
116 Somalia, Mogadishu
117 Portland Ore
118 Israel, Jerusalem
119 Malta, Velletta
120 Puerto Rico, San Juan
121 Canada, Calgary
122 Rwanda, Kigali
123 Guam, Hagatna
124 Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou
125 Zambia, Lusaka
126 Andorra, Andorra la Vella
127 Cyprus, Nicosia
128 USA, Las Vegas Nev
129 Samoa, Apia
130 Saint 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 USA, Jacksonville Fla
139 Antigua and Barbuda, Saint John’s
140 Gambia, Banjul
141 United Kingdom, Glasgow
142 Lithuania, Vilnius
143 Belarus, Minsk
144 USA, Dallas Tex
145 Australia, Canberra
146 India, Mumbai
147 Australia, Melbourne
148 USA, Denver Colo
149 Algeria, Algiers
150 Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi
151 Honduras, Tegucigalpa
152 USA, Atlanta GA
153 USA, Cleveland Ohio
154 Canada, Montreal
155 USA, Milwaukee Wis
156 Congo, Brazzaville
157 Guinea, Conakry
158 Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre
159 USA, Detroit Mich
160 Panama, Panama City
161 Latvia, Riga
162 Uganda, Kampala
163 Korea Republic of, Seoul
164 USA, Charlotte NC
165 Marshall Islands, Majuro
166 Australia, Perth
167 USA, Phoenix Ariz
168 USA, Columbus Ohio
169 USA, Austin Tex
170 Madagascar, Antananarivo
171 USA, Tampa Fla
172 United Kingdom, Birmingham
173 Afghanistan, Kabul
174 Grenada, Saint George’s
175 Vietnam, Hanoi
176 USA, Indianapolis Ind
177 USA, St Louis MO
178 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kingstown
179 Peru, Lima
180 Syria, Damascus
181 USA, Fort Worth Tex
182 Slovenia, Ljubljana
183 Mauritania, Nouakchott
184 USA, El Paso Tex
185 Philippines, Manila
186 China, Shanghai
187 USA, Memphis Tenn
188 USA, 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 USA, Houston Tex
197 Canada, Ottawa
198 Costa Rica, San Jose
199 Dominica, Roseau
200 Nicaragua, Managua
201 Guyana, Georgetown
202 Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
203 Bulgaria, Sofia
204 Suriname, Paramaribo
205 Cuba, Havana
206 Oman, Muscat
207 India, Calcutta
208 Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar
209 Tajikistan, Dushanbe
210 India, Hyderabad
211 Burundi, Bujumbura
212 USA, 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 Korea Democratic Republic of, Pyongyang
224 Laos, Vientiane
225 Mexico, Mexico City
226 Morocco, Rabat
227 India, Bangalore
228 Saint 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, Bogota
238 Botswana, Gaberone
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 Tunisia, Tunis
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 Cambodia, Phnom Penh
274 Swaziland, Mbabane
275 China, Tianjin
276 Zimbabwe, Harare