Figures used in this report were taken from Xpatulator.com’s cost of living database as at 1 October 2011. The ranks are based on the overall cost of living index using all 13 basket groups with New York as the base city (Cost of living index = 100).

About Xpatulator.com’s Cost of Living Data
Xpatulator.com’s cost of living data is based on prices for the same quantity and quality of goods and services, representative of expatriate lifestyle, in each city. The data is collected and updated on a quarterly basis. The cost of living data is used by Xpatulator.com clients to calculate salary purchasing power parity, cost of living allowances, and customized (i.e. clients can select their own base city) cost of living indexes for expatriate assignments online, using Xpatulator.com’s 3 premium content calculators.

The 13 basket groups do not count equally and are weighted according to expatriate expenditure norms as follows (weighting percentage is in brackets):

1. Alcohol & Tobacco (2%): Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
2. Clothing (2.5%): Clothing and footwear products.
3. Communication (2%): Telephone, Internet, Mobile Contract and Calls.
4. Education (5%): Creche Fees, School Fees, College Fees, and Tertiary Study Fees.
5. Furniture & Appliances (5%): Furniture, household equipment and appliances.
6. Groceries (16.5%): Food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning materials.
7. Healthcare (5%): Doctor Consultation rates, Private Ward Rate, Prescription Medicine, and Private Medical Insurance Contributions.
8. Household (30%): Housing rental, utilities, local rates and residential taxes.
9. Miscellaneous (3%): Stationary, Linen and general goods and services.
10. Personal Care (3%): Personal Care products and services.
11. Recreation & Culture (6%): Books, Camera Film, Cinema Ticket, DVD and CD’s, Sports goods, Theatre Tickets.
12. Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels (2%): Dinner at Restaurant (non fast food), Hotel Rates, Take Away, Drinks & Snacks (fast Food).
13. Transport (18%): Public Transport, Vehicle Costs, Vehicle Fuel, Vehicle Insurance and Vehicle Maintenance.

About Xpatulator.com
Xpatulator.com is the most comprehensive source of international cost of living information. We provide free international cost of living overviews and rank information covering 13 cost of living baskets and 300 global locations as well as 3 premium content calculators.

Founded in 2007, Xpatulator.com’s mission is to organize the world’s cost of living indices, exchange rates and relative hardship indices and make it accessible and useful to all.

Premium Content Calculators:

Salary Purchasing Power Parity Calculator(SPPP):  Download Demo SPPP Report

The SPPP report calculates how much you need to earn in another location to compensate for a higher cost of living, hardship, and the exchange rate, in order to have the same relative spending power and as a result have a similar standard of living as you have in your current location. Each new SPPP report uses 1 credit ($99). Recommended for a detailed comparison of 2 locations.

Cost of Living Allowance Calculator (COLA):  Download Demo COLA Report

The COLA report calculates how much additional allowance (over and above your current salary) you need to earn in another location to compensate for a higher cost of living, hardship and the exchange rate, in order to have the same relative spending power and as a result have a similar standard of living as you have in your current location. Each new COLA report uses 1 credit ($99). Recommended for calculation of a cost of living allowance for short-term assignments.

Cost of Living Index Calculator (COLI) :  Download Demo COLI Report

The COLI report calculates cost of living indexes for the host locations you select, using the home location you specify. You can choose from any one of the 13 baskets or you can choose the overall cost of living index.  Each new COLI report uses 1 credit ($99) allowing you to choose 1 home location and up to 300 available host locations. Recommended for the calculation of 3 or more cost of living indexes using your choice of base city.

1 credit costs $99. Register, buy credits online and you can run the premium content calculators and receive your reports online within minutes.

E-Mail:
For any queries: help@xpatulator.com

The full October 2011 list of all 300 international locations using all 13 basket groups is as follows:

October 2011 Rank Country, City

1 Japan, Tokyo
2 Switzerland, Geneva
3 Switzerland, Zurich
4 China, Hong Kong
5 Liechtenstein, Vaduz
6 Brazil, Sao Paulo
7 Japan, Osaka
8 Norway, Oslo
9 Russia, Moscow
10 Australia, Sydney
11 Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
12 Japan, Nagoya
13 Australia, Canberra
14 United Kingdom, London
15 Brazil, Brasilia
16 Denmark, Copenhagen
17 Japan, Yokohama
18 Australia, Melbourne
19 Australia, Perth
20 Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
21 Monaco, Monaco
22 Singapore, Singapore
23 France, Paris
24 Angola, Luanda
25 China, Shanghai
26 United Kingdom, Glasgow
27 Canada, Toronto
28 Vanuatu, Port Vila
29 Korea Republic of, Seoul
30 Jersey, Saint Helier
31 Austria, Vienna
32 Guernsey, St Peter Port
33 Isle of Man, Douglas
34 Australia, Brisbane
35 United Kingdom, Birmingham
36 Finland, Helsinki
37 Canada, Vancouver
38 Italy, Milan
39 United Kingdom, Leeds
40 Micronesia, Palikir
41 Falkland Islands, Stanley
42 Canada, Calgary
43 Italy, Rome
44 New Zealand, Auckland
45 Germany, Munich
46 Russia, St. Petersburg
47 Sweden, Stockholm
48 Australia, Adelaide
49 Canada, Montreal
50 Saint Helena, Jamestown
51 United Kingdom, Belfast
52 Germany, Frankfurt
53 San Marino, San Marino
54 Belgium, Brussels
55 Iceland, Reykjavik
56 New Caledonia, Noumea
57 Germany, Cologne
58 Gabon, Libreville
59 USA, New York NY
60 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
61 Slovakia, Bratislava
62 Cote DIvoire, Abidjan
63 Germany, Hamburg
64 Central African Republic, Bangui
65 Croatia, Zagreb
66 Bahamas, Nassau
67 Netherlands, Amsterdam
68 Venezuela, Caracas
69 Taiwan, Taipei
70 Estonia, Tallinn
71 Czech Republic, Prague
72 Equatorial Guinea, Malabo
73 Germany, Berlin
74 Germany, Bonn
75 Nigeria, Lagos
76 Ireland, Dublin
77 Canada, Ottawa
78 France, Lyon
79 Vatican City, Vatican City
80 Israel, Jerusalem
81 Cook Islands, Avarua
82 Mali, Bamako
83 Cameroon, Douala
84 United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
85 Azerbaijan, Baku
86 Solomon Islands, Honiara
87 France, Marseille
88 Chad, NDjamena
89 Hungary, Budapest
90 Bermuda, Hamilton
91 Cameroon, Yaounde
92 Spain, Madrid
93 USA, San Francisco Calif
94 USA, Boston Mass
95 Greenland, Nuuk
96 Guinea-Bissau, Bissau
97 Barbados, Bridgetown
98 USA, San Jose Calif
99 Indonesia, Jakarta
100 Qatar, Doha
101 USA, Washington DC
102 Spain, Barcelona
103 Sao Tome and Principe, Sao Tome
104 Chile, Santiago
105 Colombia, Bogota
106 Nauru, Yaren
107 Portugal, Lisbon
108 Cayman Islands, George Town
109 Cape Verde, Praia
110 Malta, Velletta
111 Kiribati, South Tarawa
112 Malawi, Lilongwe
113 Togo, Lome
114 Marshall Islands, Majuro
115 USA, Philadelphia Pa
116 USA, Anchorage AK
117 Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa
118 Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain
119 Bahrain, Manama
120 Lebanon, Beirut
121 Samoa, Apia
122 Comores, Moroni
123 China, Beijing
124 Jamaica, Kingston
125 Greece, Athens
126 South Africa, Johannesburg
127 Sudan, Khartoum
128 Ghana, Accra
129 Sierra Leone, Freetown
130 Tuvalu, Funafuti
131 Turkey, Istanbul
132 Uruguay, Montevideo
133 Senegal, Dakar
134 Zambia, Lusaka
135 USA, Los Angeles Calif
136 United Arab Emirates, Dubai
137 Andorra, Andorra la Vella
138 Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou
139 India, Mumbai
140 Mexico, Mexico City
141 Serbia, Belgrade
142 Palestinian Territories, West Bank
143 Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi
144 Poland, Warsaw
145 Tanzania, Dar es Salaam
146 Martinique, Fort-de-France
147 Djibouti, Djibouti
148 USA, San Diego Calif
149 Kazakhstan, Almaty
150 USA, Chicago Ill
151 USA, Portland Ore
152 Lithuania, Vilnius
153 Philippines, Manila
154 Namibia, Windhoek
155 French Polynesia, Papeete
156 Cyprus, Nicosia
157 Guinea, Conakry
158 Puerto Rico, San Juan
159 Slovenia, Ljubljana
160 Gibraltar, Gibraltar
161 South Africa, Pretoria
162 Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan
163 Guam, Hagatna
164 USA, Seattle Wash
165 USA, Baltimore Md
166 South Africa, Cape Town
167 Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre
168 Timor-Leste, Dili
169 USA, Miami Fla
170 Benin, Cotonou
171 Ukraine, Kiev
172 Fiji, Suva
173 Liberia, Monrovia
174 Iran, Tehran
175 Niger, Niamey
176 Congo, Brazzaville
177 Turkey, Ankara
178 Madagascar, Antananarivo
179 India, New Delhi
180 Thailand, Bangkok
181 India, Chennai
182 India, Calcutta
183 Rwanda, Kigali
184 Montenegro, Podgorica
185 Mozambique, Maputo
186 Sri Lanka, Colombo
187 South Africa, Durban
188 Haiti, Port-au-Prince
189 Moldova, Chisinau
190 Cuba, Havana
191 Syria, Damascus
192 Peru, Lima
193 India, Hyderabad
194 Guyana, Georgetown
195 USA, Phoenix Ariz
196 Mauritius, Port Louis
197 Latvia, Riga
198 Turkmenistan, Ashgabat
199 Grenada, Saint Georges
200 USA, Las Vegas Nev
201 India, Bangalore
202 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
203 Paraguay, Asuncion
204 USA, Detroit Mich
205 Romania, Bucharest
206 French Guiana, Cayenne
207 USA, Denver Colo
208 Myanmar, Yangon
209 USA, Cleveland Ohio
210 Swaziland, Mbabane
211 Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
212 Botswana, Gaborone
213 Lesotho, Maseru
214 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kingstown
215 USA, Atlanta GA
216 USA, Charlotte NC
217 USA, Jacksonville Fla
218 Macedonia, Skopje
219 Kosovo, Pristina
220 USA, Pittsburgh Penn
221 USA, Milwaukee Wis
222 Kuwait, Kuwait City
223 China, Wuhan
224 Jordan, Amman
225 China, Shenzhen
226 USA, Tampa Fla
227 Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre
228 Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan
229 Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Johns
230 Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
231 USA, Dallas Tex
232 USA, Fort Worth Tex
233 Panama, Panama City
234 Palau, Melekeok
235 Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek
236 Costa Rica, San Jose
237 Somalia, Mogadishu
238 USA, San Antonio Tex
239 Egypt, Cairo
240 China, Dalian
241 Maldives, Male
242 Dominica, Roseau
243 USA, Houston Tex
244 Armenia, Yerevan
245 Oman, Muscat
246 Bulgaria, Sofia
247 USA, Columbus Ohio
248 Argentina, Buenos Aires
249 Algeria, Algiers
250 Seychelles, Victoria
251 USA, St Louis MO
252 Afghanistan, Kabul
253 Guatemala, Guatemala City
254 Vietnam, Hanoi
255 USA, Austin Tex
256 Morocco, Rabat
257 USA, El Paso Tex
258 Iraq, Baghdad
259 Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
260 Kenya, Nairobi
261 USA, Memphis Tenn
262 Eritrea, Asmara
263 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo
264 Laos, Vientiane
265 Honduras, Tegucigalpa
266 Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar
267 Belarus, Minsk
268 China, Guangzhou
269 Suriname, Paramaribo
270 Burundi, Bujumbura
271 Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City
272 Albania, Tirana
273 Pakistan, Lahore
274 Zimbabwe, Harare
275 USA, Indianapolis Ind
276 Tonga, NukuAlofa
277 China, Tianjin
278 Korea Democratic Republic of, Pyongyang
279 China, Macao
280 Belize, Belmopan
281 Pakistan, Islamabad
282 Mauritania, Nouakchott
283 Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
284 Saint Lucia, Castries
285 Pakistan, Karachi
286 El Salvador, San Salvador
287 Ecuador, Quito
288 Tajikistan, Dushanbe
289 Nepal, Kathmandu
290 Uzbekistan, Tashkent
291 Tunisia, Tunis
292 Bangladesh, Dhaka
293 Bolivia, La Paz
294 Gambia, Banjul
295 Nicaragua, Managua
296 Uganda, Kampala
297 Libya, Tripoli
298 Cambodia, Phnom Penh
299 Yemen, Sanaa
300 Bhutan, Thimphu

This article may be freely copied as long as reference is made to http://www.xpatulator.com/