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The objective of expatriate pay programs is to ensure that employee spending power and standard of living is maintained irrespective of global location. How to achieve this has been an issue many organizations spend considerable time on.
Exchange rates are volatile as they are based on short-term factors and are subject to substantial distortions from speculative movements, economic outlook and government interventions. In the short term, exchange rates, even when averaged over a period of time such as a year, are not a good measure of the comparative value of a salary in relation to its comparative international purchasing power. In the short to medium term at least, apparent changes in the comparative level of remuneration between one country and another may be principally a function of changes in the exchange rate.
A far better measure is salary purchasing power parity (SPPP) which is the amount of salary that equalizes the purchasing power of different currencies given the relative cost of the same basket of goods (cost of living) at the exchange rate versus one US Dollar. This means that a given salary, when converted into different currencies at the SPPP rates, will buy the same basket of goods and services in all countries.
The basket of goods and services used in SPPP calculations is derived on an International basis and includes certain items often excluded from expatriate cost of living data (most notably housing costs), however any or all of the 13 basket groups can be included or excluded from a calculation. SPPP’s provide a reasonably good picture of the differences in standards of living for individual’s resident and paid in different countries.
Internationally comparable data is crucial to forming sustainable expatriate pay policies and monitoring progress. Market exchange rates give misleading comparisons because they do not reflect salary purchasing power differences. Salary Purchasing Power Parities account for price differences between countries and so measure real quantities.
The ongoing impact of the credit crisis, slowing global economies, falling house prices, global stock market and exchange rate volatility, together with the US dollar and Euro strengthening against most currencies are all factors contributing to a major change in relative salary purchasing power, which can be seen from the global cost of living rankings as at January 2009.
London has already dropped from the most expensive place for expats to live to now rank 6th. New York has dropped to 50th but is now expected to begin to climb back up the ranking as the global recession impacts other parts of the world. Tokyo has reclaimed the title of the most expensive place in the world for expats in terms of salary purchasing power relative to all other international locations.
The salary purchasing power parity rank comprises cost of living indexes for each of 276 global locations. The indexes are calculated using the prices for specific quantities of the same goods and services in each location, based on expatriate spending patterns across 13 broad categories (Basket Groups).
The latest salary purchasing power parity ranking, together with the overall cost of living index, sourced from www.xpatulator.com as at January 2009 is as follows:
Rank Location (Overall Cost of Living Index New York=100)
1.Japan, Tokyo (126.03)
2.Norway, Oslo (123.74)
3.Denmark, Copenhagen (121.11)
4.Switzerland, Geneva (119.59)
5.Brazil, Brasilia (118.53)
6.United Kingdom, London (118.23)
7.Greenland, Nuuk (117.14)
8.Switzerland, Zurich (116.18)
9.Hungary, Budapest (114.36)
10.Russia, Moscow (113.41)
11.Nigeria, Lagos (112.69)
12.Ireland, Dublin (112.65)
13.New Caledonia, Noumea (112.43)
14.France, Paris (112.38)
15.Chad, N’Djamena (111.3)
16.Italy, Milan (111.19)
17.Cameroon, Douala (111.06)
18.Liechtenstein, Vaduz (110.89)
19.San Marino, San Marino (110.78)
20.Monaco, Monaco (109.83)
21.Czech Republic, Prague (109.81)
22.Austria, Vienna (109.68)
23.Slovakia, Bratislava (109.31)
24.Isle of Man, Douglas (108.97)
25.Poland, Warsaw (107.63)
26.Bermuda, Hamilton (107.53)
27.Italy, Rome (107.29)
28.Finland, Helsinki (107.07)
29.Australia, Sydney (106.52)
30.USA, San Francisco Calif (104.53)
31.Cote D’Ivoire, Abidjan (104.4)
32.Venezuela, Caracas (104.02)
33.China, Hong Kong (103.43)
34.United Arab Emirates, Dubai (103.36)
35.Croatia, Zagreb (103.29)
36.Angola, Luanda (103.27)
37.Belgium, Brussels (103.19)
38.Netherlands, Amsterdam (102.33)
39.Jersey, Saint Helier (102.24)
40.Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby (102.22)
41.Korea Republic of, Seoul (101.94)
42.Iceland, Reykjavík (101.66)
43.Ukraine, Kiev (101.2)
44.Guernsey, St Peter Port (100.68)
45.Qatar, Doha (100.64)
46.Central African Republic, Bangui (100.58)
47.Spain, Madrid (100.26)
48.USA, San Jose Calif (100.13)
49.Falkland Islands, Stanley (100)
50.USA, New York NY (100)
51.Sweden, Stockholm (99.76)
52.USA, Boston Mass (99.63)
53.Cameroon, Yaounde (98.84)
54.Mali, Bamako (98.74)
55.Benin, Cotonou (98.6)
56.Germany, Berlin (98.18)
57.Micronesia, Palikir (97.98)
58.Gabon, Libreville (97.77)
59.Canada, Toronto (97.39)
60.Germany, Bonn (96.38)
61.Vatican City, Vatican City (96.23)
62.Australia, Melbourne (95.88)
63.Australia, Canberra (95.88)
64.Estonia, Tallinn (95.08)
65.Turkey, Ankara (94.87)
66.Singapore, Singapore (94.6)
67.Guinea-Bissau, Bissau (94.24)
68.USA, Los Angeles Calif (93.93)
69.Palau, Melekeok (93.85)
70.Luxembourg, Luxembourg (93.77)
71.Canada, Vancouver (93.48)
72.Portugal, Lisbon (92.84)
73.Australia, Perth (92.82)
74.Germany, Frankfurt (92.81)
75.Azerbaijan, Baku (92.76)
76.Gibraltar, Gibraltar (92.33)
77.Comores, Moroni (92.04)
78.USA, Washington DC (91.8)
79.USA, Philadelphia Pa (91.49)
80.Nauru, Yaren (91.16)
81.Kazakhstan, Almaty (90.99)
82.Bahrain, Manama (90.82)
83.USA, San Diego Calif (90.7)
84.Bahamas, Nassau (90.63)
85.Togo, Lome (90.11)
86.Taiwan, Taipei (90.07)
87.Haiti, Port-au-Prince (90)
88.Senegal, Dakar (89.57)
89.Saint Helena, Jamestown (89.26)
90.USA, Baltimore Md (89.25)
91.United Kingdom, Glasgow (88.88)
92.Djibouti, Djibouti (88.45)
93.Niger, Niamey (88.38)
94.Zambia, Lusaka (88.36)
95.USA, Seattle Wash (88.3)
96.Andorra, Andorra la Vella (88.13)
97.Vietnam, Hanoi (88.03)
98.Tonga, Nuku’Alofa (87.34)
99.Gambia, Banjul (87.23)
100.United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi (87.16)
101.Cayman Islands, George Town (86.81)
102.Sudan, Khartoum (86.64)
103.Greece, Athens (86.59)
104.Barbados, Bridgetown (86.5)
105.USA, Portland Ore (86.1)
106.Sierra Leone, Freetown (85.92)
107.Equatorial Guinea, Malabo (85.89)
108.USA, Chicago Ill (85.73)
109.Romania, Bucharest (85.55)
110.USA, Miami Fla (85.54)
111.Marshall Islands, Majuro (85.41)
112.Cyprus, Nicosia (85.26)
113.Malta, Velletta (84.99)
114.Moldova, Chisinau (84.89)
115.Ghana, Accra (84.89)
116.United Kingdom, Birmingham (84.76)
117.Canada, Montreal (84.37)
118.Algeria, Algiers (84.01)
119.Israel, Jerusalem (83.82)
120.Australia, Brisbane (83.29)
121.Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou (82.92)
122.Lebanon, Beirut (82.74)
123.Jordan, Amman (82.41)
124.Guinea, Conakry (82.16)
125.Jamaica, Kingston (82.11)
126.Philippines, Manila (82.07)
127.Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi (82.03)
128.Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa (81.84)
129.Seychelles, Victoria (81.78)
130.Indonesia, Jakarta (81.76)
131.USA, Las Vegas Nev (81.75)
132.Lithuania, Vilnius (81.67)
133.Vanuatu, Port Vila (81.35)
134.Grenada, Saint George’s (81.23)
135.Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain (81.13)
136.Mozambique, Maputo (80.82)
137.New Zealand, Auckland (80.71)
138.Samoa, Apia (80.64)
139.Congo, Brazzaville (80.14)
140.Armenia, Yerevan (80.13)
141.Albania, Tirana (80.1)
142.Martinique, Fort-de-France (80.09)
143.Latvia, Riga (79.92)
144.Thailand, Bangkok (79.86)
145.Sao Tome and Principe, Sao Tome (79.79)
146.USA, Denver Colo (79.74)
147.China, Beijing (79.73)
148.Fiji, Suva (78.99)
149.Slovenia, Ljubljana (78.85)
150.Canada, Ottawa (78.82)
151.Tuvalu, Funafuti (78.78)
152.Myanmar, Yangon (78.51)
153.Puerto Rico, San Juan (78.49)
154.Kenya, Nairobi (78.4)
155.USA, Phoenix Ariz (78.26)
156.Mauritius, Port Louis (78.25)
157.Madagascar, Antananarivo (78.24)
158.USA, Tampa Fla (78.22)
159.Serbia, Belgrade (78.13)
160.Kiribati, South Tarawa (78.06)
161.Guam, Hagatna (77.8)
162.Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan (77.72)
163.Uruguay, Montevideo (77.41)
164.Colombia, Bogota (77.23)
165.USA, Atlanta GA (76.99)
166.Morocco, Rabat (76.93)
167.USA, Milwaukee Wis (76.77)
168.Paraguay, Asuncion (76.49)
169.Mexico, Mexico City (76.13)
170.USA, Columbus Ohio (76.06)
171.India, Mumbai (76.04)
172.Tanzania, Dar es Salaam (76)
173.Solomon Islands, Honiara (75.93)
174.USA, Cleveland Ohio (75.84)
175.USA, Detroit Mich (75.74)
176.Liberia, Monrovia (75.63)
177.USA, Austin Tex (75.57)
178.USA, Dallas Tex (75.47)
179.USA, Jacksonville Fla (75.47)
180.Australia, Adelaide (75.39)
181.Kuwait, Kuwait City (75.22)
182.Bulgaria, Sofia (75.14)
183.Saudi Arabia, Riyadh (75.08)
184.USA, Pittsburgh Penn (74.54)
185.Timor-Leste, Dili (74.29)
186.Iran, Tehran (74.24)
187.USA, Indianapolis Ind (74.13)
188.USA, Fort Worth Tex (73.64)
189.Somalia, Mogadishu (73.49)
190.Maldives, Male (73.48)
191.USA, Charlotte NC (73.47)
192.USA, Houston Tex (73.36)
193.Chile, Santiago (73.01)
194.Mauritania, Nouakchott (72.99)
195.Botswana, Gaberone (72.86)
196.Cape Verde, Praia (72.81)
197.USA, El Paso Tex (72.61)
198.Uganda, Kampala (72.25)
199.Afghanistan, Kabul (72.13)
200.Antigua and Barbuda, Saint John’s (72.04)
201.USA, St Louis MO (71.93)
202.Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (71.82)
203.Peru, Lima (71.7)
204.Korea Democratic Republic of, Pyongyang (71.62)
205.Kosovo, Pristina (71.55)
206.India, New Delhi (71.4)
207.Belarus, Minsk (71.28)
208.Malawi, Lilongwe (71.24)
209.Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre (71.07)
210.USA, Memphis Tenn (71.02)
211.India, Chennai (70.76)
212.Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek (70.29)
213.Burundi, Bujumbura (70.07)
214.Macedonia, Skopje (70.02)
215.USA, San Antonio Tex (70.02)
216.Guatemala, Guatemala City (69.74)
217.Honduras, Tegucigalpa (69.57)
218.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kingstown (69.5)
219.Canada, Calgary (69.46)
220.India, Calcutta (69.31)
221.India, Hyderabad (68.85)
222.Dominica, Roseau (68.79)
223.Rwanda, Kigali (68.75)
224.Panama, Panama City (68.58)
225.Guyana, Georgetown (68.58)
226.China, Shanghai (68.48)
227.Syria, Damascus (67.99)
228.Montenegro, Podgorica (67.75)
229.Laos, Vientiane (67.43)
230.Ethiopia, Addis Ababa (66.87)
231.Cuba, Havana (66.61)
232.Belize, Belmopan (66.33)
233.Nicaragua, Managua (65.89)
234.Nepal, Kathmandu (65.67)
235.Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo (64.93)
236.Tunisia, Tunis (64.87)
237.Suriname, Paramaribo (64.75)
238.India, Bangalore (64.56)
239.South Africa, Johannesburg (64.51)
240.Costa Rica, San Jose (64.47)
241.Egypt, Cairo (64.18)
242.El Salvador, San Salvador (63.34)
243.Swaziland, Mbabane (63.11)
244.Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar (62.85)
245.South Africa, Pretoria (62.71)
246.Oman, Muscat (61.61)
247.Saint Lucia, Castries (61.2)
248.Pakistan, Lahore (59.48)
249.Tajikistan, Dushanbe (59.25)
250.South Africa, Cape Town (58.99)
251.Namibia, Windhoek (58.89)
252.Sri Lanka, Colombo (58.51)
253.Pakistan, Islamabad (58.33)
254.Iraq, Baghdad (58.25)
255.Pakistan, Karachi (57.72)
256.Lesotho, Maseru (57.49)
257.Argentina, Buenos Aires (57.46)
258.Bangladesh, Dhaka (57.03)
259.Bhutan, Thimphu (56.78)
260.Bolivia, La Paz (56.66)
261.China, Macao (56.41)
262.South Africa, Durban (56.07)
263.Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo (54.35)
264.Ecuador, Quito (53.83)
265.Uzbekistan, Tashkent (53.03)
266.Libya, Tripoli (52.74)
267.China, Shenzhen (51.65)
268.Eritrea, Asmara (50.72)
269.China, Dalian (50.54)
270.China, Wuhan (49.93)
271.China, Guangzhou (47.28)
272.Cambodia, Phnom Penh (45.65)
273.Yemen, Sanaa (45.6)
274.Turkmenistan, Ashgabat (38.77)
275.China, Tianjin (29.5)
276.Zimbabwe, Harare (17.12)
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
When the summer season is at its height, it is commonly tough to imagine that the dull hours of sunlight and clear blue skies will soon be taken over by wet, gray and dreary days. This is the time when the mawkish part of us makes us reach for our holiday snaps to revive those satisfied holiday memories. Or this could simply be the time when the practical side of us tells us that summer does not have to be over yet – and that this is the perfect time to set out on a journey to chase the winter sun.
Come visit us right here for more Winter Vacation and Winter Snow Vacation Info Winter Vacation Destinations. http://wintervacationinformation.com/blog
Hundreds of flights will aim for places like the Canaries, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia or Gambia, which are classed as short or mid-haul destinations. This means that you may be on that sun baked beach within six hours!
Egypt with its enormous history offers places like the calm remote Taba, with crimson mountains lining the blue coastline. The humming Sharm El Sheikh is a promise of hot sunny days on the beach and lively nights out, not discussing the colorful reefs of its underwater world, ready to be explored by all avid divers.
If all this sounds too busy, then why not try and take a calming week on the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia? Many hostels here focus on Thalasso-therapy and invite all their guests to enjoy the pampering spa and hammam sessions at fragment of the UK costs.
Gambia is a relatively new holiday destination rising on the list of exotic places to visit in the winter time. The service here is marked by the hospitality of the smiling locals, and the wildlife in the lush green natural setting is to die for. The bonus is that you won’t be jet lagged after your 6-hour long flight and after your first face-off with this wonderful country, you are certain to be back the following season.
If , however , you are ready to spend a bit additional cash and longer hours on the flight, nations in the ever popular Caribbean – Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, St Lucia or Antigua will satisfy even the most discerning traveller. The all inclusive resorts have been built with your utmost comfort to mind , directly on the beach and providing fantastic food, entertainment and cultural experience, whether or not you are six or 66.
The perfect service enhances the classy accommodation of beach villas and water bungalows from where you can take a plunge into the sea straight from your bedroom – the quintessential Maldivian experience.
Wherever your fancy takes you this winter season – the Canaries, North Africa, Caribbean, Goa or the Maldives and whether you choose to travel in October or Jan, they promise fun in the sun, sea and sand at wonderful bargain package holiday costs. .
Come visit us right here for more Winter Vacation and Winter Snow Vacation Info Winter Vacation Destinations. http://wintervacationinformation.com/blog
a two day visit to The Gambia in January 2007 … Gambia, Africa, eco-tourism
The recent elections in Ghana have been hailed as a successful African story. The praises, admirations and messages of commendations coming from all corners of the globe is an indication that the world is hoping for a change in Africa. It is also an indication that the world is expecting something different, different from the way things are done all the time on the continent.
Having experienced political instabilities for most of her modern existence Africa has often been described as a failed continent – a continent where everything is depressing. So it came as a surprise when Ghana managed to conduct one of the best successful elections on the continent. The successful elections in Ghana have indeed opened a different chapter for the continent. It has shown the rest of countries on the continent that there is the need for democracy to be given a chance in Africa. The elections have sent a powerful message to the continent that democracy as a form of government should be widely adopted and practiced by all the countries so that there will always be peaceful means of electing leaders and transferring power from one administration to the other.
I strongly believe that Ghana’s elections are sending the following message to the African Union and its members.
That the constitutions of the various African states should stipulate the number of years and number of terms one could occupy the office of president or prime minister. To alleviate the continent from political diarrhoea, poverty and economic melancholy the governments must as a matter of urgency embark on democratic reforms. The years where leaders rule till they die or are chased out of office should be a thing of the past. The leaders should allow free and fair elections to be held every 4 or 5 years depending on what the constitution says. Elected leaders must have fixed term of office and on no account should they try to manipulate the system in order to remain in power. The elections in Ghana which attracted a lot of international commendations around the world are indicating to the rest of Africa that the people want something different. Our image as a continent can improve considerably if we allow democracy to flourish, if we allow rule of law to work, if we embark on a new path-a path where it is possible for the incumbent to lose elections and hell does not break loose, a path where judges are free to dispense justice without fear or favour, a path where members of the opposition are not seen as enemy combatants but as contributors of our democracy and development, and a path where policies and ideas dominate political discussions and elections instead of the whipping of tribal and ethnic sentiments.
The leaders on the continent must realize that the existence of a vibrant democracy is in the best interest of the people and the continent as a whole. The politicians must know that vibrant democracy is a necessary condition if Africa is to come out of her current political and economic misery.
More often than not, lack or absence of democracy, corruption and abuse of power has often been cited by coup plotters as reasons for overthrowing governments in power. To prevent such incursions by the army political accountability on the continent must be nurtured strengthened. That means the three organs of government namely the executive, legislature and the judiciary must first be independent of each other and secondly they should powers that checks and balances each other so as to prevent one arm from amassing too much power. History has shown that a situation where one arm of government amasses power only breeds envy and instabilities. The Judiciary should be given enough powers to investigate allegations of corruption so as to prevent the repetition of corrupt practices that fuelled the wars on the continent.
Additionally, the fourth arm of government that is the media should be enshrined in the constitution and the AU Charter. The mushrooming of public and private media on the continent especially electronic media should be seen as an encouraging development and governments should be encouraged to allow such private stations to be established unconditionally. The freedom of the press must be safeguarded so as to prevent unscrupulous politicians from attacking them and subjecting them to all sorts of negative tactics. The media should be allowed to play its role as the watchdog of the state and every law that will intimidate them and undermine their ability to work should be repealed.
The various institutions of government such as police, military and the ministries should work to promote democracy and development. Rule of Law should be employed by the state. Everyone should be equal before the law. Instances where there are two separate laws for the rulers and the ruled is not only affront to rule of law but affront to democracy and justice. The office of the Ombudsman and other independent bodies should be established to protect the citizens from the state.
That brings us to one of the most important institutions of democracy .i.e. electoral commission. The role of the electoral commission must also be enshrined in the constitution. This office must be independent of the executive branch of government. It must be well resourced so that it can organise elections without any difficulties. The role played by Dr. Afari Gyan in conducting Ghana’s election can only be described as excellent. The electoral commission must be impartial so as to prevent the electoral disputes that characterised the elections in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria.
The constitutions of the various countries should guarantee the existence of opposition parties. This will prevent the one party state found in most countries from gaining root. Absence of official opposition not only prevents the people from having a choice but also discredit any advantage democracy or elections may have. Therefore, constitutional and electoral courts should be established in member countries so that matters of political and electoral disputes could be settled amicably. Corruption should be punished severely and every effort should be made track down every penny stolen from the countries.
The AU
The African Union as a continental body has a lot to learn from Ghana’s elections.
The AU Charter should be reformed, strengthened and implemented to the letter. All regional bodies such as ECOWAS, SADC and the rest should be streamlined to work within the broader framework of the AU. The AU must not be a talking shop anymore. It must not be a gathering of corrupt, despotic and kleptocratic rulers but rather a gathering of true democrats. The AU must be a platform of action and concrete decision making, a platform where issues affecting the people are addressed. This will require strong, determined and visionary leadership. A leadership who share the thoughts and ideas of Nkrumah, Lumumba, Seketuri and Nasser and who are committed to fighting poverty and improving the lots of the people. The AU must have a full time foreign policy chief who will be the mouthpiece of the continent and who will articulate the needs and concerns of the people to the outside world. The AU should establish special bodies of experts who will serve as advisory bodies to the AU. The complete silence exhibited by the AU during the current global financial crisis necessitates for the establishment of such bodies of experts. These bodies may include health, economics, environment, resource, science and technology.
Each country should strengthen her intelligence capabilities so as to ward off the undesirables of the cold war tactics where Africa was destabilised by the west using their intelligence branches and the various African countries should share vital information about what the west is up to. Every effort should be made to prevent arm struggles either within the countries or between the countries.
The days where suspensions are used as a form of punishment for coup plotters should be things of the past. Instead there should be a strong, well funded standing army (Africa High Command) ready to be deployed to any country where the army will try to cease power. Such an army should also be used to crash any arm insurgence that will show it ugly head onto the Africa political scene.
The Pan African Parliament should be strengthened and its decisions binding on all member countries. An African Court of Justice should be established to settle disputes between nations and within nations and its decisions must be binding on all members as well. This court must be the highest court on the continent. It must be modelled in line with European Court of Justice. Individuals could take their case to this court for dispensation of justice. These democratic and constitutional measures will definitely help to reduce conflicts and human rights’ abuse which is rife on the continent.
Africans must unite and form a common front so as to make their voices heard on the international stage. We must unite against all forms of propaganda from the rest the world. The positive effect that Aljazeera is having on the world is an indication of what positive thinking could bring to the world. Aljazeera has done well in shaping the world opinion about Islam, Arabs and issues affecting Muslims, Arabs and people of the developing world. To counter the growing influence of Aljazeera, BBC for example has had to close down some programmes in order to launch an Arabic version of the BBC. Africans must know that our coming together will be interpreted differently by many who do not share our interests. As a result every effort would be made to thwart these laudable efforts in order to maintain the status quo of having a north –south divide. We must also know that our effort to change our predicament would meet several challenges among them the huge financial requirement, the human and material resources needed and many others. But we must put ourselves together and start doing something now because a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.
Finally it is time for the old guard of African politics to leave the scene and give way to the younger generation. There are a lot of Barak Obamas on the continent but they have been prevented by the old guard from making any economic, social and political contribution towards Africa’s development. It is very sad that even in this 21st Century these old guards still think they only hold the key to wisdom. Some of these old guards have been in power for more than 3 decades yet they still want to continue to rule. For example Gaddafi of Libya has been in power for 39 years now. Omar Bongo of Gabon 31 years, Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea 28 years, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe 28 years, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt 27 years, Paul Biya of Cameroon 26 years, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda 22 years, Omar Al Bashir of Sudan 19 years, Iddriss Derby of Chad 17 years, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia 14 years, and the list goes on unending. Recently the president of Tunisia has decided to make himself a life president of the country. The presence of such dictators is not only harmful to the image and the development of the continent but a major factor why impoverishment and underdevelopment is prevalent on the continent. Every effort should be made by the AU and the regional bodies to discourage such blatant abuse of power. It is against this background that Ghana should be commended again and again for conducting one of the freest elections on the continent.
Ghana’s elections are a straight message to the African Union and its members that democratic reform needed on the continent is long overdue and that the African Union should take notice of it. Let this 21st Century be a century of hope, a century of development, a century of prosperity and a century of peace for Africans and the world.
We plan to travel this August. My sister is watching our 5-month old, so we can not travel for any longer than 4night/3day (probably Sat – Tues). We can fly out of BWI or DC Dulles OR we can drive somewhere, but we don’t want to spend the whole time in transit! Some of our favorite vacations in the past have been: hiking in Montana, snorkling in the Caribbean, skiing in the Rockies, kicking back with a cold beer/margarita in a tropical climate. Places we love: coast of Maine, Southwest Colorado, Seattle, St. John V.I., Lake Placid, Senegal/The Gambia in West Africa (we were Peace Corps there), even New York City holds some great memories for us. We do NOT golf. I tell you all this to help you realize that we can be pleased by a variety of vacation spots, but not EVERYTHING pleases us. And we want this one to be extra SPECIAL, something we will remember fondly 40 years from now when we go on a vacation to celebrate turning 80. We are very EAGER to hear your suggestions.
MORGAN HERITAGE @TERANGA … morgan heritage gambia Africa reggae music black
When the summer season is at its height, it is often hard to imagine that the long hours of sunshine and clear blue skies will soon be taken over by wet, grey and dreary days. This is the time when the sentimental part of us makes us reach for our holiday snaps to revive those happy holiday memories. Or this could simply be the time when the practical side of us tells us that summer doesn’t necessarily need to be over yet – and that this is the best time to set out on a journey to chase the winter sun.
Many tour operators have lined up their flights for the winter holiday season, which doesn’t mean only the skiers will have the chance to enjoy the long awaited white snow-covered slopes. Hundreds of flights will head for places like the Canaries, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia or Gambia, which are classed as short or mid-haul destinations. This means that you can be on that sun baked beach within 6 hours!
Egypt with its monumental history offers places like the calm remote Taba, with crimson mountains lining the blue coastline. The buzzing Sharm El Sheikh is a promise of hot sunny days on the beach and lively nights out, not mentioning the colourful reefs of its underwater world, ready to be explored by all keen divers.
The laid back coastal Agadir in Morocco is a perfect antidote to the frenetic capital Marrakech, with its cosmopolitan hotels and quaint city centre full of bazaars and salesmen trying to sell you anything from jewellery and textile to a camel!
If all this sounds too busy, then why not try and take a relaxing week on the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia? Many hotels here specialise in Thalasso-therapy and invite all their guests to enjoy the pampering spa and hammam sessions at fraction of the UK prices. Wherever you chose to go in North Africa, the winter months will certainly not let you down when it comes to long hours of sunshine, great all inclusive hotels and amazingly cheap package holidays.
Gambia is a relatively new holiday destination emerging on the list of exotic places to visit during the winter time. It’s hot and full of unspoilt beaches dotted with inexpensive hotels. The service here is marked by the hospitality of the smiling locals, and the wildlife in the lush green natural setting is to die for. The bonus is that you won’t be jet lagged after your 6-hour long flight and after your first encounter with this wonderful country, you are sure to be back the next season.
If, however, you are prepared to spend a bit extra cash and longer hours on the flight, countries in the ever popular Caribbean – Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, St Lucia or Antigua will satisfy even the most discerning traveller. The all inclusive resorts have been built with your utmost comfort in mind, directly on the beach and providing excellent food, entertainment and cultural experience, whether you are 6 or 66.
On the opposite side, where the tiffany blue Indian Ocean gently kisses the pearl white silky shores, the islands of Maldives are a true diver’s and honeymooner’s paradise. The impeccable service complements the elegant accommodation of beach villas and water bungalows from where you can take a plunge into the sea straight from your bedroom – the quintessential Maldivian experience.
Wherever your fancy takes you this winter season – the Canaries, North Africa, Caribbean, Goa or the Maldives and whether you choose to travel in October or January, they promise fun in the sun, sea and sand at fantastic bargain package holiday prices.