Mercer Worldwide Cost of Living Rankings 2008/2009

Mercer has released their yearly Global World Cost of Living Rankings for 2008/2009. Once again Moscow tops the list as the most expensive and Buenos Aires comes in well down the list as a relatively affordable place. Of course we all know that there are many things that go into these surveys but in comparison to many areas BA still is a bargain.

From their site:
"Worldwide Cost of Living survey 2008 – City ranking    

 

United Kingdom       

                London,        24 July 2008

   

Moscow is still the most expensive city for   expatriates; Asunción in Paraguay is the cheapest

         

•  
   
• European and Asian cities dominate the top   10
   
• Weakening of US dollar causes significant   changes in rankings
   
• London drops one place to rank   third

Moscow is the world’s most expensive city for expatriates for the third consecutive year, according to the latest Cost of Living Survey from Mercer. Tokyo is in second position climbing two places since last year, where as London drops one place to rank third. Oslo climbs six places to 4th place and is followed by Seoul in 5th. Asunción in Paraguay is the least expensive city in the ranking for the sixth year running.

With New York as the base city scoring 100 points, Moscow scores 142.4 and is close to three times costlier than Asunción which has an index of 52.5. Contrary to the trend observed last year the gap between the world’s most and least expensive cities now seems to be widening.

Mercer’s survey covers 143 cities across six continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. It is the world’s most comprehensive cost of living survey and is used to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees." Read more at Mercer

 

Comments

[John Michael]

I am moving to the forgotten and exciting santiago Chile. People is nicer and polite and even better than Argentina.

[Paroshep]

Mercer has good statistics but doesn't seem to pay enough attention to style of living.
Read my Greek island comparison.

Cheers,

[Merle Shamblin]

Hello my name is Merle Dean Shamblin and I would like to be your new friend. I sure could use somebody to chat with. I am a 47 year old long haul truck driver who currently lives in Duncan Oklahoma. Dec 8th 1960 I was born in Fairview Oklahoma. Moved to Caddo and Washita counties where I attended school at Colony Hydro and Weatherford. My parents Malvin and Wanda Shamblin were cotton and peanut farmers. Dad died in 99 from lung cancer. Graduated from SWOSU with a business degree. My two sisters are LaDonna Hubert and Malva Burrahm. Dennis is my brother. I have been a truck driver for 14 years and have driven 2 million paid miles. I have received many safe driving awards over the years. I am single and have never been married. I have a wide range of interests and am pretty much an open book. Currently I drive a 2006 Freightliner for a major carrier. I dont go to Canada very often. I dont have a dedicated route so I run the entire lower 48. I enjoy reading cinema music sports travel etc