New Caledonia, Noumea Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: New Caledonia.

Location: New Caledonia (Self-governing territory of France) is in Oceania, and comprises islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.

Country Climate: Tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid.

Country Terrain: Coastal plains with interior mountains.

Major Languages: French (official), Melanesian and Polynesian dialects.

Major Religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs.

Country Population: 0.247 million (2008 est.) 0.249 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world’s known nickel resources. In addition to nickel, the substantial financial support from France and tourism are keys to the health of the economy.

Currency: CFP Franc (XPF).

Country Inflation: N/A.

City: Noumea is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia.

City Economy: Noumea has experienced a major housing construction boom within the past decade. The installation of amenities has kept pace, and the municipality boasts a public works programme.

Cost of Living: Noumea has an overall cost of living index which equates it with high cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Noumea is currently ranked 13 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Netherlands, Amsterdam Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Location: The Netherlands is in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany.

Country Climate: Temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters.

Country Terrain: Mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast.

Major Languages: Dutch.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 16.7 million (2008 est.) 16.8 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy in which the government has reduced its role since the 1980s. Industrial activity is predominantly in food-processing, Financial services, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery.

Currency: Euro (EUR).

Country Inflation: 2.2% (2008 est.) 0.9% (2009 est.).

City: Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands.

City Economy: The city is the financial and cultural capital of the Netherlands. Many large Dutch institutions have their headquarters there, and 7 of the world’s top 500 companies.

Cost of Living: Amsterdam has an overall cost of living index which equates it with high cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Amsterdam is currently ranked 45 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Nepal, Kathmandu Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Nepal.

Location: Nepal is in Southern Asia, between China and India.

Country Climate: Varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south.

Country Terrain: Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north.

Major Languages: Nepali.

Major Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism.

Country Population: 27.6 million (2008 est.) 27.9 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Nepal is reliant on external assistance. A long-standing economic agreement underpins a close relationship with India. The country receives foreign aid from India, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, China, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries. Poverty is acute; per-capita income is less than US$470. Agriculture accounts for about 40% of Nepal’s GDP, services comprise 41% and industry 22%. Agriculture employs 76% of the workforce. The rate of unemployment and underemployment approaches half of the working-age population. Thus many Nepali citizens move to India in search of work; the Gulf countries and Malaysia being new sources of work.

Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR).

Country Inflation: 7.7% (2008 est.) 13.2% (2009 est.).

City: Kathmandu is the capital and the largest metropolitan city of Nepal.

City Economy: Kathmandu is the most important industrial and commercial centre of Nepal and the headquarters of most companies, banks and organizations in the country are located here.

Cost of Living: Kathmandu has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Kathmandu is currently ranked 262 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Nauru, Yaren Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Nauru.

Location: Nauru is an island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands.

Country Climate: Tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February).

Country Terrain: Sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center.

Major Languages: Nauruan, English.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 0.014 million (2008 est.) 0.014 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: Nauru is the world’s smallest island nation and joined the UN in 1999 as the world’s smallest independent republic. Revenues of Nauru have traditionally come from exports of phosphate rock. Primary phosphate reserves were exhausted, and mining ceased, but in 2006-07, mining of a deeper layer of secondary phosphate began. It is hoped that this economic activity might lift Nauru from the bottom rung of global GDP per capita. The only other major source of government revenue is sale of fishing rights in Nauru’s territorial waters.

Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD).

Country Inflation: N/A.

City: Yaren is a district and constituency of the Pacific nation of Nauru. It is the de facto capital of Nauru.

City Economy: Yaren is listed as the de facto capital of Nauru as the republic does not have cities or an official capital. Yaren is accepted by the United Nations as the main district.

Cost of Living: Yaren has an overall cost of living index which equates it with high cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Yaren is currently ranked 73 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Namibia, Windhoek Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Republic of Namibia.

Location: Namibia is in Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa.

Country Climate: Desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic.

Country Terrain: Mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east.

Major Languages: English (official), Afrikaans, German, Oshivambo, Herero, Nama.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 2.1 million (2008 est.) 2.1 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: Agriculture, herding, tourism and mining of precious stones and metals form the backbone of Namibia’s economy. Approximately half the population live below the international poverty line, and the nation has suffered heavily from the effects of HIV/AIDS, with approximately 15% of the adult population infected with HIV.

Currency: Namibian Dollar (NAD).

Country Inflation: 7.1% (2008 est.) 9.2% (2009 est.).

City: Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia.

City Economy: Windhoek is the social, economic, and cultural centre of the country.

Cost of Living: Windhoek has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Windhoek is currently ranked 218 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Myanmar, Yangon Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Union of Myanmar.

Location: Myanmar (Burma) is in South Eastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand.

Country Climate: Tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April).

Country Terrain: Central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands.

Major Languages: Burmese, indigenous ethnic languages.

Major Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam.

Country Population: 58.8 million (2008 est.) 60.0 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: Burma is one of the poorest nations in the world, suffering from decades of stagnation, mismanagement, and isolation.

Currency: Myanmar Kyat (MMK).

Country Inflation: 22.5% (2008 est.) 6.9% (2009 est.).

City: Yangon is also known as Rangoon and is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Division.

City Economy: Yangon is the country?s main centre for trade, industry, real estate, media, entertainment and tourism. The city is Lower Myanmar?s main trading hub for all kinds of merchandise ? from basic food stuffs to used cars although commerce continues to be hampered by the city’s severely underdeveloped banking industry and communication infrastructure.

Cost of Living: Yangon has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Yangon is currently ranked 208 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Mozambique, Maputo Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Republic of Mozambique.

Location: Mozambique is in South Eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania.

Country Climate: Tropical to subtropical.

Country Terrain: Mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west.

Major Languages: Portuguese (official), Makua-Lomwe, Swahili, other indigenous languages.

Major Religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam.

Country Population: 20.7 million (2008 est.) 21.2 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Mozambique has developed since the end of the Mozambican Civil War (1977-1992), but the country is still one of the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped. Mozambique’s life expectancy and infant mortality rates are both among the worst ranked in the world due to the excessive malaria carrying mosquitoes.

Currency: Mozambican New Metical (MZN).

Country Inflation: 10.3% (2008 est.) 3.5% (2009 est.).

City: Maputo is the capital and largest city of Mozambique.

City Economy: Maputo’s chief exports are coal, cotton, sugar, chromite, sisal, copra, and hardwood. The city manufactures cement, pottery, furniture, shoes, and rubber. There is also a large aluminium smelting plant, Mozal.

Cost of Living: Maputo has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Maputo is currently ranked 207 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Morocco, Rabat Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Kingdom of Morocco.

Location: Morocco is in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara.

Country Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior.

Country Terrain: Northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains.

Major Languages: Arabic (official), Berber, French, Spanish.

Major Religions: Islam.

Country Population: 31.4 million (2008 est.) 31.9 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Morocco is considered a relatively liberal economy. The services sector accounts for just over half of GDP and industry, made up of mining, construction and manufacturing, is an additional quarter. The sectors who recorded the highest growth are the tourism, telecoms and textile sectors. Morocco , however, still depends on agriculture which accounts for only around 14% of GDP but employs 40-45% of the Moroccan population.

Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD).

Country Inflation: 3.9% (2008 est.) 2.8% (2009 est.).

City: Rabat is the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco.

City Economy: Tourism and the presence of all foreign embassies in Morocco serve to make Rabat the second most important city in the country after the larger and more economically significant Casablanca.

Cost of Living: Rabat has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Rabat is currently ranked 204 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Montenegro, Podgorica Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Montenegro.

Location: Montenegro is in South Eastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia.

Country Climate: Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland.

Country Terrain: Highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus.

Major Languages: Christianity, Islam.

Major Religions: Serbian, Montenegrin.

Country Population: 0.0 million (2008 est.) 0.0 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Montenegro is mostly service-based and is in late transition to a market economy.

Currency: Euro (EUR).

Country Inflation: 9.0% (2008 est.) 3.4% (2009 est.).

City: Podgorica is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.

City Economy: Podgorica is the administrative centre of Montenegro. Most of Montenegro’s industrial, financial and commercial base is in Podgorica.

Cost of Living: Podgorica has an overall cost of living index which equates it with middle cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Podgorica is currently ranked 114 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Mongolia.

Location: Mongolia is in Northern Asia, between China and Russia.

Country Climate: Desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges).

Country Terrain: Vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central.

Major Languages: Mongolian.

Major Religions: Buddhism.

Country Population: 2.7 million (2008 est.) 2.7 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Mongolia has traditionally been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock. Mongolia also has extensive mineral deposits: copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. Mongolia is the most sparsely populated independent country in the world. The country contains very little arable land, as much of its area is covered by steppes, with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south. Approximately 30% of the population are nomadic or semi-nomadic.

Currency: Mongolian Tugrik (MNT).

Country Inflation: 26.8% (2008 est.) 8.5% (2009 est.).

City: Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia.

City Economy: Ulaanbaatar is the cultural, industrial, and financial heart of the country.

Cost of Living: Ulaanbaatar has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Ulaanbaatar is currently ranked 263 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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