Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Middle East Expat Cost of Living April 2018



Jerusalem in Israel is the most expensive city for expats in the Middle East as at April 2018, followed by Doha in Qatar.

Luanda in Angola is the most expensive city in the world for an expatriate professional migrant to live in as at April 2018, followed by Hong Kong and Singapore. The top ten most expensive cities in the world comprise two from Africa, Luanda (1); Bangui (10), three from Asia-Pacific, Hong Kong (2); Singapore (3); Tokyo (8), three from Europe, Zurich (4); Oslo (5); Geneva (6), and two from America, Hamilton (7); Manhattan NY (9).

Notably, no city in the Middle East is ranked in the top 10 most expensive cities in the world.

https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/Middle-East-Expat-Cost-of-Living-Comparison_707.cfm

Africa Expat Cost of Living April 2018



Luanda is the most expensive city to live in the African region, and world-wide as at April 2018 and is likely to get more expensive before it gets cheaper.

In Africa, Luanda is followed by Bangui in the Central African Republic, and Freetown in Sierra Leone.

Growth in Angola should reach 5 percent in the medium-term according to Ricardo Velloso, IMF division chief for Africa. This will likely further increase the demand for premium skills, goods and services, which are already in short supply. To meet the demand for high-level skills there will be an increase in the number of expatriates deployed in Angola in the coming years to help build infrastructure and expand oil production and related industries and services. In the short-term, we expect higher demand for expatriate premium goods and services in Angola to lead to higher prices on top of the already high prices for imported goods and services. Do not expect Angola to drop out of the most expensive places list anytime soon.

https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/Africa-Expat-Cost-of-Living-Comparison_711.cfm

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Hong Kong - Cost of Living April 2018



The cost of living for expatriates in Hong Kong as at 1 April 2018 is very high in comparison to other places in the world.

Hong Kong is for example 85.9% more expensive than Houston TX for groceries, 337.5% more expensive for household costs than Kuala Lumpur, and 52.1% more expensive for transport costs than Dubai.

The economy of Hong Kong is characterised by the principle of "one country, two systems", whereby Hong Kong runs on economic and political systems different from those of mainland China. Hong Kong is one of the world's leading international financial centres, with a major capitalist service economy characterized by low taxation, free trade and minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism.

https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-review/China-Hong-Kong_50.cfm

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Asia Pacific Expat Cost of Living April 2018



Hong Kong is the overall most expensive city in Asia-Pacific and is the second most expensive city in the world (after Luanda) as at April 2018.

Singapore remains the second most expensive city in the Asia-Pacific region for expatriates (3rd most expensive in the world) and tops the region rankings when costs related to housing, education, medical and transport are excluded.

Tokyo is the third most expensive city in Asia-Pacific, and 8th globally. Japanese locations have remained high in the rankings with 6 cities in the Asia-Pacific top 10 most expensive places.

https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/Asia-Pacific-Expat-Cost-of-Living-Comparison_709.cfm

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Singapore - Cost of Living April 2018



The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Singapore as at 1 April 2018 is very high in comparison to other places in the world.

Singapore remains the second most expensive city in the Asia-Pacific region for expatriates (3rd most expensive in the world) and tops the region rankings when costs related to housing, education, medical and transport are excluded. Singapore's education system, which is widely regarded as the best in the world, is also the most expensive for expatriates when priced in US Dollars, the cost of housing is also extremely high due to the limited space and premium on high quality expatriate accommodation, while the complex Certificate of Entitlement system makes car prices excessive, resulting in Singapore’s transport costs being among the highest in the world.

https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-review/Singapore-Singapore_178.cfm

America Expat Cost of Living April 2018



Hamilton in Bermuda is the most expensive location in the Americas as at April 2018, in 7th place globally; this is due to the high price of property and the fact that most items have to be transported to Bermuda adding a great deal to the cost of expatriate items. New York (Manhattan) NY is the second most expensive location in the Americas, the most expensive city in the USA in 9th place worldwide, this is mainly due to the highly priced rental property market. The second most expensive city in the USA is San Jose CA ranked 3rd in the region.

https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/America-Expat-Cost-of-Living-Comparison_710.cfm

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Latest International Inflation Rates - April 2018


The latest available inflation rate for all countries world wide (as available on 3 April 2018):
3.1% for Afghanistan as at November 2017.
2.1% for Albania as at February 2018.
3.01% for Algeria as at January 2018.
21.47% for Angola as at February 2018.
3.1% for Anguilla as at 2014.
1.4% for Antigua and Barbuda as at 2012.
25.4% for Argentina as at February 2018.
3.3% for Armenia as at February 2018.
1.1% for Aruba as at January 2018.
1.9% for Australia as at December 2017.
1.8% for Austria as at February 2018.
4.7% for Azerbaijan as at February 2018.
1.8% for the Bahamas as at December 2017.
3.1% for Bahrain as at February 2018.
5.83% for Bangladesh as at December 2017.
3.4% for Barbados as at July 2017.
4.9% for Belarus as at February 2018.
1.39% for Belgium as at March 2018.
0.9% for Belize as at January 2018.
0.9% for Benin as at January 2018.
1.7% for Bermuda as at April 2017.
3.96% for Bhutan as at December 2017...

https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/Latest-International-Inflation-Rates_712.cfm

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Saturday, April 14, 2018

The Most Expensive Countries in the World - April 2018



The top ten most expensive countries in the world as at April 2018 comprise two from Africa Angola (1); Central African Republic (7), three from Europe Norway (2); Switzerland (4); Denmark (6), four from America Bermuda (3); Cayman Islands (5); Bahamas (9); Montserrat (10), and one from Asia Pacific Japan (8).
Angola is the most expensive country in the world for expatriate professional migrants mainly because almost all international standard goods and services have to be imported, as a result there are price premiums due to demand constantly exceeding supply. The extremely costly safe expatriate accommodation, imported produce and costly international private schooling are among the main factors that have kept Angola at the top of the world rankings. A rented house in a guarded community (recommended due to the threat of violent crime) can cost between US$8 000 and US$12 000 per month.
https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/The-Most-Expensive-Countries-in-the-World-for-Expatriate-Professional-Migrants_717.cfm

Friday, April 13, 2018

Angola is Unbelievably Expensive



Angola is unbelievably expensive, and it will get more expensive before it gets cheaper. Here is why.

Angola’s new President Joao Lourenco has vowed to revive the economy, attract investment and combat the endemic corruption, and he is acting fast. Growth should reach 5 percent in the medium-term.

The demand for expatriate goods and services in Angola has exceeded supply since the dawn of peace after many years of economic stagnation despite immense oil wealth due to the post-independence civil war. By expatriate goods and services, I refer to international premium brands (food, clothing, and other consumables), international schools, excellent healthcare, and safe quality accommodation.

While there has been a great deal of improvement since my first trip to Angola in 1997, when Luanda looked to me like a city in a time-warp set permanently in war-torn 1975....

https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/Angola-is-Unbelievably-Expensive_726.cfm

International City Cost of Living for Expatriate Professional Migrants - April 2018


Luanda is the most expensive city in the world for an expatriate professional migrant to live in as at April 2018, followed by Hong Kong and Singapore. The top ten most expensive cities in the world comprise two from Africa, Luanda (1); Bangui (10), three from Asia-Pacific, Hong Kong (2); Singapore (3); Tokyo (8), three from Europe, Zurich (4); Oslo (5); Geneva (6), and two from America, Hamilton (7); Manhattan NY (9).
https://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-article/International-City-Cost-of-Living-for-Expatriate-Professional-Migrants_716.cfm