International Cost of Living Ranking April 2010

ank of the overall international cost of living indexes isBrasilia has moved up 9 places from 12th in October
reported as at April 2010 using New York as the base2009 to be the third most expensive place in the world
city. The indexes are calculated using the prices forto live for expatriates. Sydney has rocketed up the
specific quantities of the same goods and services inrankings to 10th having been ranked 15th in January this
each location, based on expatriate spending patternsyear. Dubai has dropped another 8 places after
across 13 broad categories (Basket Groups).dropping 9 places in the previous quarter to fall out of
The cost of living studied is the cost of maintaining anthe top 10 and is now ranked 26th, but interestingly is
expatriate standard of living. When comparing the coststill the most expensive place for restaurants, meals
of living between different locations the objective is toout and hotel costs.
calculate the difference in the cost of living andThe fastest mover upwards is Ashgabat in
express this as a cost of living index by dividing theTurkmenistan having moved up 94 places from 257rd
cost of living in Location A by the cost of living into 163. The relative cost of living for expatriates in
Location B.Gibraltar has also increased considerably having
The cost of living index reports the difference in themoved up 94 places to 92. South Africa has
cost of living between the 2 locations for the sameexperienced a significant increase in global cost of
items purchased. For example an index of 140 meansliving terms mainly due to the strengthening of the
that the Location is 40% more expensive than theRand. Cape Town has moved up 53 places to be
comparator Location. This would mean that a personranked 193rd.
who moves between the two locations would need toAlcohol & Tobacco is most expensive in South
earn 40% more, to have the same standard of livingTarawa in Kiribati, followed by Moroni in the Comores,
as they have currently.and Oslo in Norway. Clothing is most expensive in
Tokyo is the overall most expensive place in the worldManama, Bahrain followed by Moscow, Russia.
for expats. Tokyo is also the most expensive place inEducation is most expensive in Caracas, Venezuela
the world for accommodation, while it is the fourthand Brasilia in Brazil. Groceries are most expensive in
most expensive place in the world for groceries.Kiribati. Oslo, Norway is most expensive for Transport.