Laos, Vientiane Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Location: Laos is in Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam.

Country Climate: Tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April).

Country Terrain: Mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus.

Major Languages: Lao, French (for diplomatic purposes).

Major Religions: Buddhism.

Country Population: 6.3 million (2008 est.) 6.4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Laos is heavily dependent on investment and trade with its neighbors, Thailand, Vietnam, and, especially in the north, China. Much of the country lacks adequate infrastructure. Subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80 percent of employment.

Currency: Lao Kip (LAK).

Country Inflation: 7.6% (2008 est.) 0.2% (2009 est.).

City: Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Laos.

City Economy: Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point. A short link connects Vientiane with Thailand over the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.

Cost of Living: Vientiane 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. Vientiane is currently ranked 252 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Kyrgyz Republic.

Location: Kyrgyzstan is in Central Asia, west of China.

Country Climate: Dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone.

Country Terrain: Peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation.

Major Languages: Kyrgyz, Russian.

Major Religions: Islam, Christianity.

Country Population: 5.3 million (2008 est.) 5.4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Kyrgyzstan was severely affected by the collapse of the Soviet trading block. Despite the backing of major Western lenders, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, Kyrgyzstan has had economic difficulties following independence. Agriculture is an important sector of the economy in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is rich in mineral resources but has negligible petroleum and natural gas reserves.

Currency: Kyrgyzstan Som (KGS).

Country Inflation: 24.5% (2008 est.) 8.0% (2009 est.).

City: Bishkek is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan.

City Economy: The economy in Bishkek is primarily agricultural with the mass amounts of fruits, vegetables and livestock providing a co-existing system of bartering in the outlying regions.

Cost of Living: Bishkek 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. Bishkek is currently ranked 259 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Hungary, Budapest Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Hungary.

Location: Hungary is in Central Europe, northwest of Romania.

Country Climate: Temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers.

Country Terrain: Mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border.

Major Languages: Hungarian.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 10.0 million (2008 est.) 10.0 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Hungary is a medium-sized, structurally, politically and institutionally open economy in Central Europe and is part of the European Union’s (EU) single market. Like most Eastern European economies, the economy of Hungary experienced market liberalisation in the early 1990s as part of the transition from socialist economy to market economy.

Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF).

Country Inflation: 6.1% (2008 est.) 4.5% (2009 est.).

City: Budapest is the capital of Hungary.

City Economy: As the largest city of Hungary, Budapest serves as the country’s principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation center and is considered an important hub in Central Europe.

Cost of Living: Budapest 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. Budapest is currently ranked 80 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Kosovo, Pristina Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Kosovo. Status: Declared itself independent 17 February 2008. Serbia refuses to recognize declaration. UN-administered in the meantime.

Location: Kosovo is in South East Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia

Country Climate: Influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December.

Country Terrain: Flat fluvial basin with an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m.

Major Languages: Albanian, Serbian.

Major Religions: Islam, Christianity.

Country Population: 1.8 million (2008 est.) 1.8 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Kosovo is one of the poorest in Europe. Despite substantial development subsidies Kosovo was the poorest province of the former Yugoslavia. Over the course of the 1990s, poor economic policies, international sanctions, weak access to external trade and finance, and ethnic conflict severely damaged the already weak economy.

Currency: Euro (EUR).

Country Inflation: 5.3% (2007 est.).

City: Pristina is the capital and largest city of the disputed territory of Kosovo.

City Economy: The city is developing with many new roads being built in Pristina. The national government is taking part in modernising the roadways as well, building motorways linking the city.

Cost of Living: Pristina 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. Pristina is currently ranked 203 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Guernsey, St Peter Port Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Bailiwick of Guernsey. Status: UK Crown Dependency.

Location: Guernsey is in the English Channel, northwest of France.

Country Climate: Temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast.

Country Terrain: Mostly level with low hills in southwest.

Major Languages: English, French, local forms of French.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 0.066 million (2008 est.) 0.066 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Guernsey is linked to financial services, such as banking, fund management, and insurance. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, especially freesias, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular offshore finance centre for Private equity funds.

Currency: British Pound (GBP).

Country Inflation: 3.4% (2006)est.).

City: Saint Peter Port is the capital of Guernsey.

City Economy: St. Peter Port is a small town consisting mostly of steep narrow streets and steps on the overlooking slopes and is the main port.

Cost of Living: St Peter Port 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. St Peter Port is currently ranked 54 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Korea Republic of, Seoul Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Republic of Korea.

Location: The Republic of Korea is in Eastern Asia, in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea.

Country Climate: Temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter.

Country Terrain: Mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south.

Major Languages: Korean.

Major Religions: Buddhism, Christianity.

Country Population: 48.5 million (2008 est.) 48.6 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of South Korea is a developed, largely free-market economy that is the fourth largest in Asia and 15th largest in the world. An extremely competitive education system and a highly skilled and motivated workforce are two key factors driving this knowledge economy that has the world’s highest scientific literacy and second highest mathematical literacy.

Currency: South Korean Won (KRW).

Country Inflation: 4.7% (2008 est.) 2.6% (2009 est.).

City: Seoul is the capital and largest city of South Korea.

City Economy: Seoul, is a major global city and a leading international financial centre in Asia. Although Seoul accounts for only 0.6 percent of South Korea’s land area, it generates 21 percent of the country’s entire GDP.

Cost of Living: Seoul 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. Seoul is currently ranked 28 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Korea Democratic Republic of, Pyongyang Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Location: The Democratic Republic of Korea is in Eastern Asia, in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea.

Country Climate: Temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer.

Country Terrain: Mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east.

Major Languages: Korean.

Major Religions: Mainly atheist or non-religious, traditional beliefs.

Country Population: 23.8 million (2008 est.) 23.9 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of North Korea is an industrialised, highly centralized command economy. The role of market allocation is sharply limited – mainly in the rural sector where peasants sell produce from small private plots. There are almost no small businesses.

Currency: North Korean Won (KPW).

Country Inflation: N/A.

City: Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea.

City Economy: Pyongyang has been completely redesigned since the Korean War (1950?1953). It is designed with wide avenues, imposing monuments, and monolithic buildings. The city also has regular international train services to Beijing and Moscow. A journey to Beijing takes about 25 hours and 25 minutes; a journey to Moscow takes 6 days.

Cost of Living: Pyongyang 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. Pyongyang is currently ranked 187 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Kiribati, South Tarawa Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Republic of Kiribati.

Location: Kiribati is in Oceania, a group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia.

Country Climate: Tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds.

Country Terrain: Mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs.

Major Languages: English, Gilbertese.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 0.1 million (2008 est.) 0.1 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The eceonomy of the Republic of Kiribati’s is one of the poorest in the world. In one form or another, Kiribati gets a large portion of its income from abroad. Fishing fleets from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States pay a licensing fee in order to operate in Kiribati’s territorial waters.

Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD).

Country Inflation: 11% (2008 est.) 9.1% (2009 est.).

City: South Tarawa is the official capital of the Republic of Kiribati.

City Economy: Bairiki is a village and an islet now part of South Tarawa, and at one time itself the center of government (and therefore, capital) of Kiribati.

Cost of Living: South Tarawa 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. South Tarawa is currently ranked 12 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Kenya, Nairobi Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Republic of Kenya.

Location: Kenya is in Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania.

Country Climate: Varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior.

Country Terrain: Low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west.

Major Languages: Swahili, English.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 35.3 million (2008 est.) 35.9 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Kenya is market-based, with some state-owned infrastructure enterprises, and maintains a liberalized external trade system. The economy?s heavy dependence on rain-fed agriculture and the tourism sector leaves it vulnerable to cycles of boom and bust. The agricultural sector employs nearly 75 percent of the country?s 37 million people. Half of the sector?s output remains subsistence production.

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES).

Country Inflation: 13.1% (2008 est.) 12% (2009 est.).

City: Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya.

City Economy: Nairobi is the regional headquarters of several international companies and organiations. Goods manufactured in Nairobi include clothing, textiles, building materials, processed foods, beverages, cigarettes.

Cost of Living: Nairobi 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. Nairobi is currently ranked 212 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Kazakhstan, Almaty Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Kazakhstan.

Location: Kazakhstan is in Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Zhayyq) River in eastern-most Europe.

Country Climate: Continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid.

Country Terrain: Vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south.

Major Languages: Kazakh, Russian.

Major Religions: Islam, Christianity.

Country Population: 15.5 million (2008 est.) 15.6 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia. It possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves as well as minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production, as well as developed space infrastructure, which took over all launches to the International Space Station from the Space Shuttle. Energy is the leading economic sector which includes the production of crude oil and natural gas condensate.

Currency: Kazakhstan Tenge (KZT).

Country Inflation: 17.2% (2008 est.) 7.5% (2009 est.).

City: Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan.

City Economy: Almaty is the major commercial center of Kazakhstan.

Cost of Living: Almaty 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. Almaty is currently ranked 142 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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