Eritrea, Asmara Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The State of Eritrea.

Location: Eritrea is in Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan.

Country Climate: Hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands.

Country Terrain: Dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains.

Major Languages: Tigrinya, Tigre, Arabic, English.

Major Religions: Islam, Christianity.

Country Population: 5.0 million (2008 est.) 5.2 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Eritrea is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in farming and herding. Drought has often created difficulty in the farming areas.

Currency: Nakfa (ERN).

Country Inflation: 12.6% (2008 est.) 14.0% (2009 est.).

City: Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea.

City Economy: Textiles and clothing, processed meat, beer, shoes, and ceramics are the major industrial products of Asmara.

Cost of Living: Asmara 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. Asmara is currently ranked 238 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Equatorial Guinea, Malabo Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

Location: Equatorial Guinea is in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon.

Country Climate: Tropical; always hot, humid.

Country Terrain: Coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic.

Major Languages: Spanish, French.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 1.2 million (2008 est.) 1.3 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Equatorial Guinea has benefited from the discovery of large oil reserves in 1996 and its subsequent exploitation. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. The deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished any potential for agriculture-led growth.

Currency: CFA Franc (XAF).

Country Inflation: 5.9% (2008 est.) 4.1% (2009 est.).

City: Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea.

City Economy: Despite its status as the capital of Equatorial Guinea for several decades, Malabo’s street network remains poorly developed. Malabo itself has few paved roads leading into it, and fewer than one hundred paved and developed streets.

Cost of Living: Malabo 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. Malabo is currently ranked 171 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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El Salvador, San Salvador Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of El Salvador.

Location: El Salvador is in Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras.

Country Climate: Tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands.

Country Terrain: Mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau.

Major Languages: Spanish.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 5.8 million (2008 est.) 5.8 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of El Salvador has been hampered by natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, but El Salvador currently has a steadily growing economy. The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 64%, followed by the industrial sector at 25%. Agriculture represents only 11% of GDP.

Currency: US Dollar.

Country Inflation: 7.3% (2008 est.) 1.0% (2009 est.).

City: San Salvador is the capital and largest city of the nation of El Salvador.

City Economy: San Salvador is home to one-half of El Salvador’s wealth. The city offers the widest boulevards in Central America and is served by a railroad that connects to other cities.

Cost of Living: San Salvador 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. San Salvador is currently ranked 246 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Egypt, Cairo Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Arab Republic of Egypt.

Location: Egypt is in Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula.

Country Climate: Desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters.

Country Terrain: Vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta.

Major Languages: Arabic.

Major Religions: Islam, Christianity.

Country Population: 75.2 million (2008 est.) 76.7 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Egypt depends mainly on agriculture, media, petroleum exports, and tourism; there are also more than three million Egyptians working abroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf and Europe.

Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP).

Country Inflation: 11.7% (2008 est.) 16.2% (2009 est.).

City: Cairo is a megacity and a global city serving as the capital of Egypt.

City Economy: Cairo is the center of Egypt, as it has been almost since its founding in 969 AD. 15% of all Egyptians live there. The majority of the nation’s commerce is generated there, or passes through the city.

Cost of Living: Cairo 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. Cairo is currently ranked 216 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Ecuador, Quito Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Ecuador.

Location: Ecuador is in Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru.

Country Climate: Tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands.

Country Terrain: Coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente).

Major Languages: Spanish, indigenous languages.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 13.9 million (2008 est.) 14.1 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Ecuador is dominated by natural resources which include petroleum, fish, shrimp, timber and gold. In addition, it has rich agriculture: bananas, flowers, coffee, cacao, sugar, tropical fruits, palm oil, palm hearts, rice, roses, and corn. The country´s greatest national export is crude oil.

Currency: US Dollar.

Country Inflation: 8.4% (2008 est.) 5.0% (2009 est.).

City: Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador.

City Economy: Quito is the second-highest administrative capital city in the world (after La Paz, Bolivia), and the highest legal capital (ahead of Sucre, also in Bolivia, and Bogota, Colombia).

Cost of Living: Quito 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. Quito is currently ranked 274 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Dominican Republic.

Location: The Dominican Republic is in the Caribbean, and consists of the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti.

Country Climate: Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall.

Country Terrain: Rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed.

Major Languages: Spanish.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 8.9 million (2008 est.) 9.0 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of the Dominican Republic is the largest in Central America and the Caribbean. It is a upper middle-income developing country.

Currency: Dominican R. Peso (DOP).

Country Inflation: 10.6% (2008 est.) 0.9% (2009 est.).

City: Santo Domingo, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic.

City Economy: Santo Domingo is the center of economic activity in the Dominican Republic. Many national and international firms have their headquarters or regional offices in the city. The city attracts many international firms and franchises due to its geographic location, stability and vibrant economy.

Cost of Living: Santo Domingo 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. Santo Domingo is currently ranked 240 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Dominica, Roseau Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Commonwealth of Dominica.

Location: Dominica is an island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago.

Country Climate: Tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall.

Country Terrain: Rugged mountains of volcanic origin.

Major Languages: English (official), French patois.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 0.072 million (2008 est.) 0.072 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Dominica is dominated by bananas and other agriculture, and nearly one-third of the labour force works in agriculture. This sector, however, is highly vulnerable to weather conditions and to external events affecting commodity prices.

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD).

Country Inflation: 6.3% (2008 est.) 1.8% (2009 est.).

City: Roseau is the capital and largest city of Dominica.

City Economy: The urban structure of Central Roseau is based on an irregular grid system of miniature proportions. Exports include bananas, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges and cocoa, services.

Cost of Living: Roseau 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. Roseau is currently ranked 227 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Djibouti, Djibouti Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Republic of Djibouti.

Location: Djibouti is in Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia.

Country Climate: Desert; torrid, dry.

Country Terrain: Coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains.

Major Languages: French, Arabic, Somali, Afar.

Major Religions: Islam.

Country Population: 0.784 million (2008 est.) 0.804 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Djibouti is based on service activities connected with the country’s strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scant rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported.

Currency: Djibouti Franc (DJF).

Country Inflation: 12.0% (2008 est.) 5.5% (2009 est.).

City: The City of Djibouti is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Djibouti.

City Economy: The Djibouti-Addis Ababa Railway runs from the city to Addis Ababa, while it is also home to the Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport. Northwest of the city centre lies the city’s port, used for international trade, for fishing, and by ferries to Obock and Tadjoura.

Cost of Living: Djibouti 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. Djibouti is currently ranked 95 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Denmark, Copenhagen Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Kingdom of Denmark.

Location: Denmark is in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn).

Country Climate: Temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers.

Country Terrain: Low and flat to gently rolling plains.

Major Languages: Danish.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 5.5 million (2008 est.) 5.5 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Denmark is a mixed economy with very few natural resources that relies almost entirely on human resources. The service sector makes up the vast amount of the employment and economy. Its industrialized market economy depends on imported raw materials and foreign trade.

Currency: Danish Krone (DKK).

Country Inflation: 3.4% (2008 est.) 1.7% (2009 est.).

City: Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark.

City Economy: Copenhagen is the economical and financial centre of Denmark and also a strong business and economic centre in the Scandinavian-Baltic region.

Cost of Living: Copenhagen 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. Copenhagen is currently ranked 6 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Czech Republic, Prague Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Czech Republic.

Location: Czech Republic is in Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovikia, and Austria.

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

Country Terrain: Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country.

Major Languages: Czech.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 10.4 million (2008 est.) 10.4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of the Czech Republic is developed and industrialized. It is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe.

Currency: Czech Koruna (CZK).

Country Inflation: 6.3% (2008 est.) 1.0% (2009 est.).

City: Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic.

City Economy: Prague’s economy is based on various industrial sectors. Prague’s industrial sector is split into aircraft engines, diesel engines, refined oil products, electronics, chemicals, food, printing, automobiles etc. Also a significant proportion of research and development is based in Prague. Approximately one-fifth of all investment in the Czech Republic takes place in Prague city.

Cost of living: Prague 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. Prague is currently ranked 79 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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