Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Assignment in Vancouver

Today I would like to discuss Vancouver in Canada. If you were to be sent to Vancouver on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is temperate. You will meet people who speak English, and French (both official). The cost of clothing, food and beverages, housing and transport is very high compared to other places.

Vancouver is a coastal city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. With its location on the Pacific Rim and at the western terminus of Canada's transcontinental highway and rail routes, Vancouver is one of the nation's largest industrial centres. The Port of Vancouver, Canada's largest and most diversified, does trade with over 130 different economies annually. Vancouver is also the headquarters of forest product and mining companies. In recent years, Vancouver has become an increasingly important centre for software development, biotechnology and a vibrant film industry.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience minimal hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. If you live in Vancouver or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Vancouver again?

Monday, April 29, 2013

Assignment in Toronto

Today I would like to discuss Toronto in Canada. If you were to be sent to Toronto on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you will meet people who speak English and French (both official).

The cost of clothing, food and beverages, housing, and transport is very high. Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. Toronto is a major international centre for business and finance. Generally considered the financial capital of Canada, Toronto has a high concentration of banks and brokerage firms. The Toronto Stock Exchange is one of the world's largest. All of the Big Five banks of Canada are headquartered in Toronto, as are a majority of Canada's corporations.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience minimal hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. If you live in Toronto or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Toronto again?

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Assignment in Edmonton

Today I would like to discuss Edmonton in Canada. If you were to be sent to Edmonton on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is temperate in the south to subarctic and arctic in the north. You will meet people who speak English and French (both official).

The cost of clothing, food and beverages, and transport is very high. The cost of housing is high. Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is the major economic centre for northern and central Alberta and a major centre for the oil and gas industry. Despite the focus on oil and gas, Edmonton's economy is one of the most diverse in Canada with strong industrial, technology, biotech, research and education sectors.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience minimal hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. If you live in Edmonton or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Edmonton again?

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Assignment in Calgary

Today I would like to discuss Calgary in Canada. If you were to be sent to Calgary on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is temperate in the south to subarctic and arctic in the north. You will meet people who speak English and French (both official).

The cost of clothing and housing is high. The cost of food and beverages and transport is very high. Calgary is the largest city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. Calgary's economy while diverse is home to 87% of Canada's oil and natural gas producers and 66% of coal producers.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience minimal hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. If you live in Calgary or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Calgary again?

Friday, April 26, 2013

Assignment in Yaounde

Today I would like to discuss Yaounde in Cameroon. If you were to be sent to Yaounde on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that varies from tropical along the coast to semiarid and hot in the north. You will meet people who speak French, English, and languages of the Bantu, Semi-Bantu and Sudanic groups.

The cost of clothing is average. The cost of food and beverages is very high. The cost of housing is very low. The cost of transport is low. Yaounde is the capital city of Cameroon and second largest city in the country after Douala. Major industries in Yaounde include tobacco, dairy products, breweries, clay, glass goods, and lumber. It is also a regional distribution centre for coffee, cocoa, copra, sugar cane, and rubber.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience high degree of hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. If you live in Yaounde or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Yaounde again?

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Assignment in Douala

Today I would like to discuss Douala in Cameroon. If you were to be sent to Douala on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is varied from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north. You will meet people who speak French, English, languages of the Bantu, Semi-Bantu and Sudanic groups.

The cost of clothing is average. The cost of food and beverages is very high. The cost of housing is low. The cost of transport is high. Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Douala is home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country. Consequently, it handles most of the country's major exports, such as oil, cocoa and coffee, timber, metals and fruits.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience high degree of hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. If you live in Douala or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Douala again?

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Assignment in Phnom Penh

Today I would like to discuss Phnom Penh in Cambodia. If you were to be sent to Phnom Penh on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is tropical and rainy with a monsoon season from May to November and a dry season from December to April, with little seasonal temperature variation.

You will meet people who speak Khmer. The cost of clothing is very low. The cost of food and beverages, housing and transport is average. Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Double-digit economic growth rates in recent years have triggered an economic boom, with new hotels, restaurants, bars, and residential buildings springing up around the city. Phnom Penh's wealth of historical and cultural sites makes it a very popular tourist destination.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience extreme hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. If you live in Phnom Penh or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Phnom Penh again?

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Assignment in Bandar Seri Begawan

Today I would like to discuss Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei. If you were to be sent to Bandar Seri Begawan on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is tropical, hot, humid and rainy. You will meet people who speak Malay, English, and Chinese.

The cost of clothing and food and beverages is high. The cost of housing is are average. The cost of transport is low.

Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei. The city produces furniture, textiles, handicrafts, and timber. From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience a high degree of hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living.

If you live in Bandar Seri Begawan or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Bandar Seri Begawan again?

Monday, April 22, 2013

Assignment in Sao Paulo

Today I would like to discuss Sao Paulo in Brazil. If you were to be sent to Sao Paulo on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is mostly tropical, but temperate in the south. You will meet people who speak Portuguese.

The cost of clothing and housing is very high. The cost of food and beverages and transport is high. Sao Paulo, the capital of the state of Sao Paulo, is largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere, and the world's 7th largest metropolitan area. Sao Paulo's economy has traditionally been industrial, but it has become increasingly based on the tertiary sector, focusing on services and businesses for the country and is the Brazilian HQ for a large number of foreign corporations.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience some hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living.

If you live in Sao Paulo or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Sao Paulo again?

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Assignment in Rio de Janeiro

Today I would like to discuss Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. If you were to be sent to Rio de Janeiro on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is mostly tropical, but temperate in the south. You will meet people who speak Portuguese.

The cost of clothing and housing is are very high. The cost of food and beverages and transport is high. Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is the 2nd largest regional economy in Brazil, and the city has a robust and highly diversified economy, providing large-scale employment in heavy and light industry, manufacturing, commerce, finance, trade, and other service sectors.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience some hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living.

If you live in Rio de Janeiro or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Rio de Janeiro again?

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Assignment in Brasilia

Today I would like to discuss Brasilia in Brazil. If you were to be sent to Brasilia on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is mostly tropical, but temperate in south. You will meet people who speak Portuguese.

The cost of clothing and housing is very high. The cost of food and beverages is high. The cost of transport is average. Brasília is the capital of Brazil. The major roles of construction and of services (government, communications, banking and finance, food production, entertainment, and legal services) in Brasília's economy reflect the city's status as a governmental rather than an industrial centre.

From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience some hardship. Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living.

If you live in Brasilia or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Brasilia again?

Friday, April 19, 2013

Why Are There Such Large Cost Of Living Differences Around The World?

Why is Switzerland so expensive? Zurich and Geneva are the top two most expensive places in the world. The most obvious reasons are the rents, the high standard of living, and high wages. But why is this the case? There are other factors involved such as restricted competition whereby prices are far higher than the real value of the commodities or services involved. Many trades in Switzerland are protected by corporations or guilds which restrict the number of people allowed to practice their particular trade, and who set high mandatory prices for their services.

Switzerland is fragmented into different cultures and different languages in different geographical areas. In comparison to most countries, people do not like to move and will remain in the same area all their life. Service providers in any given area therefore have small, well-defined mature markets where they know their competitors well. Therefore they tend to set prices high in a relatively "captive" small market. The Swiss economy has traditionally always been organized this way and because many people profit from the system there is resistance to changing to a freer economy. Bargain hunting and price negotiation are not part of Swiss culture. They are accustomed to paying high prices and do not like to question them.

Why is Tokyo no longer the most expensive place in the world? The slight decrease in the relative cost of living in Tokyo (relative to the rest of the world) is not only due to Japanese deflation and the weaker yen but it is also due to rising prices elsewhere in the world.

In terms of currency changes, while the Swiss Franc was 5% weaker against the US Dollar as at 1 April compared to the same time last year, it has been relatively volatile this year, peaking close to its 2012 high at 1.10 USD to the CHF in February and while it was at its lowest of 1.05 USD around 1 April 2013 compared to last year's low of just over 1.01 USD in late July 2012.

The Japanese Yen on the other hand has weakened by more than 20% against the US Dollar since September 2012 when 1 Japanese Yen bought around 0.0128 USD compared to 0.01062 USD around 1 April 2013.

Prices in poor countries are systemically lower than in richer ones. This is based on the assumption that if salary levels are low with high unemployment locally traded goods will be sourced from the lowest cost location. In addition services delivered locally are largely determined by prevalent salary / wage levels. So in a poor country, services such as hairdressing will tend to be cheaper than in a richer developed country where minimum wages are considerably higher. Poor countries tend to use a higher proportion of locally (and usually cheaper) manufactured goods due to high transportation costs to import such goods.

Another feature of lower cost of living / poor countries is a large informal sector with little price regulation. People who do not have jobs and face starvation will most likely move to where they have better prospects. Service providers in any given area therefore have large, informal, highly competitive markets. Therefore they tend to set prices low in order to compete. Bargain hunting and price negotiation are very much a feature in poor countries. They cannot afford to pay high prices and will shop around and bargain until they find the lowest price.

The cost of living rankings are released on a quarterly basis and measure the comparative cost of living in 780 locations across the globe.

Assignment in Gaborone

Today I would like to discuss Gaborone in Botswana. If you were to be sent to Gaborone on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience weather that is semiarid with warm winters and hot summers. You will meet people who speak English and Setswana.

The cost of clothing and transport is average. The cost of food and beverages and housing is low.Gaborone is the capital and largest city of Botswana. Gaborone is the centre of the national economy. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has its headquarters in Gaborone. From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience some hardship.

Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. If you live in Gaborone or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Gaborone again?

Thursday, April 18, 2013

The Balassa–Samuelson Effect and Salary Purchasing Power Parity

The Balassa–Samuelson effect ("purchasing power parity" or "Penn effect") is evident in the April 2013 Xpatulator.com global cost of living rankings. The Balassa–Samuelson effect (which was developed independently in 1964 by both Béla Balassa and Paul Samuelson) states that consumer price levels in richer countries are systemically higher than in poorer ones. This is based on the assumption that tradable goods cannot vary greatly in price by location (because buyers can source from the lowest cost location). However most services must be delivered locally (e.g. hairdressing), and many manufactured goods have high transportation costs, which makes purchasing power parity differences (PPP) consistent. The Penn effect is that PPP differences typically occur in alignment: where incomes are high, average price levels are typically high. 


The Balassa–Samuelson effect is the theory behind the Salary Purchasing Parity Calculator. The objective of this calculator is to determine how much salary in a host location will give an employee the same purchasing power as they currently have in their home location. Take for instance two American Civil Engineer's with the same education and experience based in Houston. One is assigned to Zurich (with the highest global cost of living) and the other to Bhutan (with the lowest global cost of living). Based on the cost of living (local prices for the same goods and services) the Salary Purchasing Calculator will determine a far higher salary for the engineer assigned to Zurich, not because of productivity or performance which we assume would be the same, but to equalize their salary purchasing power.


The cost of living rankings are released on a quarterly basis and measure the comparative cost of living in 780 locations across the globe. 


One of the trends of 2012 was the rise of many Asian cities offsetting traditionally more costly European locations. In 2011 Asia took 4 of the top 10 positions while in 2012 this increased to 7. In particular, Australian cities rose rapidly up the rankings, primarily on the back of its strong currency. In 2011 there were no Australian cities among the top 10 most expensive cities. In 2012 Sydney was ranked 6th and Canberra 9th relative to other cities around the world. The 2013 survey sees a reverse of this trend with only 4 cities from Asia in the top 10, Tokyo 3rd, Hong Kong 5th, Yokohama 8th and Sydney 9th.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Assignment in Belmopan

Today I would like to discuss Belmopan in Belize. If you were to be sent to Belmopan on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is tropical, very hot and humid with a rainy season (May to November) and a dry season (February to May);
  • You will meet people who speak English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), and Creole;
  • The cost of clothing is average;
  • The cost of food and beverages is average;
  • The cost of housing is high;
  • The cost of transport is high;
  • Belmopan is the capital of Belize;
  • Belmopan is the seat of government. As a result many of its inhabitants work for the national government in various administrative or technical roles. Belmopan currently has business establishments, international banks, several local financial institutions, a modern bus terminal and market complex;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience extreme hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living and hardship. 

If you live in Belmopan or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Belmopan again?

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Assignment in Brussels

Today I would like to discuss Brussels in Belgium. If you were to be sent to Brussels on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is temperate with mild winters and cool summers, mostly rainy, humid and cloudy;
  • You will meet people who speak Dutch (local variant called Flemish), French, and German;
  • The cost of clothing is very high;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high;
  • The cost of housing is average;
  • The cost of transport is very high;
  • Brussels is the de facto capital city of the European Union (EU) and the largest urban area in Belgium;
  • Serving as the centre of administration for Europe, Brussels' economy is largely service-oriented. It is dominated by regional and world headquarters of multinationals, by European institutions, by various administrations, and by related services, though it does have a number of notable craft industries, such as the Cantillon Brewery, a lambic brewery founded in 1900;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience very little hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. 

If you live in Brussels or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Brussels again?

Monday, April 15, 2013

Assignment in Minsk

Today I would like to discuss Minsk in Belarus. If you were to be sent to Minsk on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is cold in winter and cool and moist in summer;
  • You will meet people who speak Russian and Belarusian;
  • The cost of clothing is very high;
  • The cost of food and beverages is average;
  • The cost of housing is very high;
  • The cost of transport is very low;
  • Minsk is the capital and largest city in Belarus;
  • Minsk is the economic capital of Belarus with developed industrial and services sectors;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience high degree of hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living and hardship. 

If you live in Minsk or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Minsk again?

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Assignment in Manama

Today I would like to discuss Manama in Bahrain. If you were to be sent to Manama on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is arid, with mild, pleasant winters and very hot, humid, summers;
  • You will meet people who speak Arabic;
  • The cost of clothing is very high;
  • The cost of food and beverages is high;
  • The cost of housing is high;
  • The cost of transport is very low;
  • Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain;
  • Manama is the focal point of the Bahraini economy. Several multinationals have facilities and offices in and around Manama. The economic base for Manama itself is financial services, with over two hundred financial institutions and banks based in the CBD and the Diplomatic Area;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience a moderately high degree of hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the high cost of living. 

If you live in Manama or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Manama again?

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Assignment in Nassau

Today I would like to discuss Nassau in the Bahamas. If you were to be sent to Nassau on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is tropical marine, moderated by the warm waters of Gulf Stream;
  • You will meet people who speak English;
  • The cost of clothing is average;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high;
  • The cost of housing is very high;
  • The cost of transport is low;
  • Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas;
  • Nassau has nearly 80 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas. The city is located on the island of New Providence, which functions much like a federal district. While there is no local government, it is governed directly as an administrative division of the national government;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience some hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. 

If you live in Nassau or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Nassau again?

Friday, April 12, 2013

Assignment in Baku

Today I would like to discuss Baku in Azerbaijan. If you were to be sent to Baku on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is Dry and semiarid;
  • People who speak Azeri and Russian;
  • The cost of clothing is very high;
  • The cost of food and beverages is high;
  • The cost of housing is high;
  • The cost of transport is low;
  • Baku is the capital, the largest city, and the largest port of Azerbaijan and all the Caucasus;
  • The basis of Baku's economy is petroleum. The existence of petroleum has been known since the 8th century. The World War II Battle of Stalingrad was fought to determine who would have control of the Baku oil fields. Fifty years before the battle, Baku produced half of the world's oil supply. Currently the oil economy of Baku is undergoing a resurgence;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience extreme hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. 

If you live in Baku or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Baku again?

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Assignment in Vienna

Today I would like to discuss Vienna in Austria. If you were to be sent to Vienna on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in the lowlands and snow in the mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers;
  • You will meet people who speak German;
  • The cost of clothing is very high;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high;
  • The cost of housing is high;
  • The cost of transport is very high;
  • Vienna is the capital of the Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre;
  • Vienna, is home to key international organisations, including the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Opec, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience very little hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living. 

If you live in Vienna or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Vienna again?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Assignment in Sydney

Today I would like to discuss Sydney in Australia. If you were to be sent to Sydney on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is generally temperate;
  • People who speak English;
  • The cost of clothing is very high ;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high;
  • The cost of housing is very high;
  • The cost of transport is very high;
  • Sydney is the largest city in Australia, and the state capital of New South Wales;
  • The largest economic sectors in Sydney, as measured by the number of people employed, include property and business services, retail, manufacturing, and health and community services. Since the 1980s, jobs have moved from manufacturing to the services and information sectors. Sydney provides approximately 25 percent of the country's total GDP;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience very little hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living.

If you live in Sydney or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Sydney again?

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Assignment in Perth

Today I would like to discuss Perth in Australia. If you were to be sent to Perth on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is generally arid to semiarid;
  • You will meet people who speak English;
  • You will find the cost of clothing very high;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high;
  • The cost of housing is very high;
  • The cost of transport is very high;
  • Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. Perth ranks fourth amongst the nation's cities, with a growth rate consistently above the national average;
  • Perth dominates the Western Australian economy by virtue of its population and role as the administrative centre for business and government, despite the major mining, petroleum and agricultural export industries located elsewhere in the state. Perth’s function as the State’s capital city, its economic base and population size have also created development opportunities for many other businesses oriented to local or more diversified markets;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience very little hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the high cost of living.

If you live in Perth or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Perth again?

Monday, April 8, 2013

Assignment in Melbourne

Today I would like to discuss Melbourne in Australia. If you were to be sent to Melbourne on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • People who speak English;
  • The cost of clothing is very high;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high;
  • The cost of housing is very high;
  • The cost of transport is very high;
  • Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and is the second most populous city in Australia;
  • Melbourne is home to Australia's busiest seaport and much of Australia's automotive industry, which include Ford and Toyota manufacturing facilities, and the engine manufacturing facility of Holden. It is home to many other manufacturing industries, along with being a major business and financial centre;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience very little hardship;
  • Be sure to negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance to compensate for the cost of living.

If you live in Melbourne or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Melbourne again?

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Canberra Expat Living

If you are thinking of moving to Canberra in Australia, you are likely to experience the following as an expat:
  • People who speak English;
  • The cost of clothing is very high;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high;
  • The cost of housing  is very high;
  • The cost of transport is very high;
  • Canberra is the capital city of Australia and is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth largest Australian city overall;
  • Canberra's main industry is government administration and defense employing over 40% of Canberra's workforce. The unemployment rate in Canberra is well below the national unemployment rate, with labour shortages reported in some sectors. As a result of low unemployment and substantial levels of public sector and commercial employment, Canberra has the highest average disposable income of any Australian capital city;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience very little hardship;
  • Make sure you negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance.

If you live in Canberra or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Canberra again?

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Assignment in Brisbane

Today I would like to discuss Brisbane in Australia. If you were to be sent to Brisbane on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

People who speak English;
The cost of clothing is very high;
The cost of food and beverages is very high;
The cost of housing  is very high;
The cost of transport is very high;
Brisbane is the state capital of the Australian state of Queensland and is the largest city in that state. Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia;
Brisbane's economy is diverse. White-collar industries include information technology, financial services, higher education and public sector administration generally concentrated in and around the central business district and recently established office areas in the inner suburbs. Blue-collar industries, including petroleum refining, stevedoring, paper milling, metalworking and QR railway workshops, tend to be located on the lower reaches of the Brisbane River and in new industrial zones on the urban fringe. Tourism is an important part of the Brisbane economy, both in its own right and as a gateway to other areas of Queensland;
From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience very little hardship;
Make sure you negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance.

If you live in Brisbane or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Brisbane again?

Friday, April 5, 2013

Assignment in Adelaide

Today I would like to discuss Adelaide in Australia. If you were to be sent to Adelaide on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • People who speak English;
  • The cost of clothing is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of housing yourself  is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of transporting yourself is very high compared to other places;
  • Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth-largest city in Australia;
  • Adelaide's economy is primarily based around manufacturing, defence technology and research, commodity export and corresponding service industries. It has large manufacturing, defence and research zones. They contain car manufacturing plants for General Motors Holden, and plants that produce electronic systems that are sold worldwide for applications in medical, communications, defence, automotive, food and wine processing and industrial sectors. The revenue of Adelaide's electronics industry has grown at over 15% per year since 1990. The electronics industry in Adelaide employs over 13,000 people, which is more than the automotive industry. Almost half of all cars produced in Australia are made in Adelaide;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience very little hardship;
  • Make sure you negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance.

If you live in Adelaide or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Adelaide again?

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Assignment in Cordoba

Today I would like to discuss Cordoba in Argentina. If you were to be sent to Cordoba on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is mostly temperate; arid in the southeast; sub Antarctic in the southwest;
  • You will meet people who speak Spanish;
  • You will find the cost of clothing yourself is high compared to other places;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very low compared to other places;
  • The cost of housing yourself  is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of transporting yourself is very low compared to other places;
  • Cordoba is the capital of Cordoba Province. Cordoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the capital Buenos Aires. Cordoba is an industrial and technology center. Technology includes space, software and electronic industries. The biggest industrial sectors are car manufacturing, railway construction, and aircraft construction. Other industries include textile, heavy and chemical industries and some agribusinesses;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience some hardship;
  • Make sure you negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance.

If you live in Cordoba or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Cordoba again?

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Assignment in Buenos Aires

Today I would like to discuss Buenos Aires in Argentina. If you were to be sent to Buenos Aires on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is mostly temperate; arid in the southeast; sub Antarctic in the southwest;
  • You will meet people who speak Spanish;
  • You will find the cost of clothing yourself is high compared to other places;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very low compared to other places;
  • The cost of housing yourself  is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of transporting yourself is very low compared to other places;
  • Buenos Aires is the capital, and largest city, of Argentina, currently the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo;
  • Buenos Aires is the financial, industrial, commercial, and cultural hub of Argentina. Its port is one of the busiest in South America; navigable rivers by way of the Rio de la Plata connect the port to north-east Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. As a result it serves as the distribution hub for a vast area of the south-eastern region of the continent. Tax collection related to the port has caused many political problems in the past;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience some hardship;
  • Make sure you negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance.

If you live in Buenos Aires or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Buenos Aires again?

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Assignment in Saint John's

Today I would like to discuss Saint John's in Antigua and Barbuda.

If you were to be sent to Saint John's on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is tropical maritime with little seasonal temperature variation;
  • You will meet people who speak English;
  • You will find the cost of clothing yourself is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of housing yourself  is high compared to other places;
  • The cost of transp orting yourself is very high compared to other places;
  • St John's is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda'
  • St John's is the commercial center of the nation and the chief port of the island of Antigua;
  • St. John's is one of the most developed and cosmopolitan municipalities in the Lesser Antilles;
  • The city is famous for its various shopping malls as well as boutiques throughout the city, selling designer jewellery and hauteur-couture clothing;
  • The investment banking industry has a strong presence in the city;
  • Many major world financial institutions have offices in St. John's;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely  to experience very little hardship;
  • Make sure you negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance.

If you live in Saint John's or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Saint John's again?

Monday, April 1, 2013

Assignment in Luanda

Today I would like to discuss Luanda in Angola. If you were to be sent to Luanda on an expatriate assignment or if you were to relocate there, you are likely to experience:

  • Weather that is semiarid in the south and along coast to Luanda. The north has a cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April);
  • You will meet people who speak Portuguese (official), Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo;
  • You will find the cost of clothing yourself is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of food and beverages is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of housing yourself  is very high compared to other places;
  • The cost of transporting yourself is average compared to other places;
  • Luanda is the capital and largest city of Angola;
  • Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean is both Angola's chief seaport and administrative centre, as well as the capital city of Luanda Province;
  • Luanda is currently undergoing a major reconstruction, with many large developments taking place that will alter the cityscape significantly;
  • Around one-third of Angolans live in Luanda, 57% of whom live in poverty;
  • Living conditions in Luanda are extremely poor, with essential services such as safe drinking water still in short supply;
  • From a day to day comfort perspective, you are likely to experience extreme hardship;
  • Make sure you negotiate an appropriate salary or allowance.

If you live in Luanda or if you lived there recently, let us know what your experience has been. Would you live in Luanda again?