Since the focus of organization is not only the media freedom, but also journalistic standards and professionalism, the reports are not only about media freedom. But the differences in the approach between the countries are visible. The reports that are dealing with countries that do not have at all, or at least do not have significant problems with media freedom, are focusing on the standard and quality of journalistic work, accessibility of information and legal framework that regulates these issues. They also tend to be critical about media behavior when they believe that professional errors have been committed. But they also deal with any problem, whether in the legal framework or in the practice that can restrict access to information or limit the space of action of journalist.

The reports that are dealing with the countries that are dealing with the countries that have problems with media freedom are oriented mainly on the issues of media freedom, and the issues of standards and professionalism are not very pronounced. The reports covering these countries are dealing with the legal framework and the restrictions that are present in it, with special focus on anti defamation laws, laws limiting access to information and laws restricting publication of information of certain type. They also record occurrence of different forms of violence and harassment against journalists, especially deaths. Sometimes they go into quite detail in presenting individual cases. Special attention is paid to violence or pressures exercised by government, like detentions, arrests and trials of journalists. Other data include information on less violent but still highly restrictive pressures on journalists and media by different institutions of the state that in large number of cases take form of financial pressures and limitations of access to printing and broadcasting resources, restrictions on the access to information and legal actions to prevent publishing of certain information. The information of governmental attempts to reduce editorial freedom of the media are also reported in this report.

Country reports give information that shows the background of the problems with the press freedom, and they give information on the magnitude of the problem. Reports also identify responsibility for restrictions and pressures, whether they come from the government or not and whether restrictions and pressures have something to do with systematic government effort to curtail the media freedom or is it the consequence of government failure to prevent it.
The reports are not made according to some standardized methodology. They do not have standard list of issues that they try to cheek, and they do not compare countries or rank them. In that regard they do look similar to AI, HRW and ICFTU reports.

The sample of countries is divided into six regions and is quite large. The following countries and regions are included: In the Americas: Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela.

In Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
In Australia and Oceania: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

In Europe: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, Yugoslavia.

In the Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

In Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros Islands, D. R. of Congo, Rep. of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tomé and Principé, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The International Cost of Living Comparison comprises 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 international cost of living ranking, together with the overall cost of living index 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)

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)

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