Cyprus, Nicosia Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Cyprus.

Location: Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey.

Country Climate: Temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters.

Country Terrain: Central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast.

Major Languages: Greek, Turkish.

Major Religions: Christianity, Islam.

Country Population: 0.761 million (2008 est.) 0.768 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Cyprus is dominated by the division of the country into the southern area controlled by the Cyprus Government and the northern Turkish Cypriot-administered area. The Greek Cypriot economy is a prosperous one. Cyprus has an open, free-market, service-based economy with some light manufacturing. The Cypriots are among the most prosperous people in the Mediterranean region. Internationally, Cyprus promotes its geographical location as a bridge between West and East, along with its educated English-speaking population, moderate local costs, good airline connections, and telecommunications.

Currency: Euro (EUR).

Country Inflation: 4.4% (2008 est.) 0.4% (2009 est.).

City: Nicosia, known locally as Lefkosia is the capital and largest city of Cyprus.

City Economy: Nicosia is important commercially with many shops, two modern shopping malls, restaurants and entertainment. The city is a trade centre and manufactures textiles, leather, pottery, plastic, and other products. Copper mines are nearby. Nicosia is the seat of the University of Cyprus (UCY) and four other universities.

Cost of Living: Nicosia 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. Nicosia is currently ranked 152 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Cuba, Havana Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Cuba.

Location: Cuba is an island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida.

Country Climate: Tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October).

Country Terrain: Mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast.

Major Languages: Spanish.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 11.4 million (2008 est.) 11.5 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Cuba is a largely state-controlled, centrally planned economy overseen by the Cuban government, though there remains significant foreign investment and enterprise in Cuba. Most of the means of production are owned and run by the government and most of the labor force is employed by the state.

Currency: Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC).

Country Inflation: 3.1% (2008 est.) 3.4% (2009 est.).

City: Havana is the capital city, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba.

City Economy: Havana’s economy first developed on the basis of its location, which made it one of the early great trade centres in the New World. Sugar and a flourishing slave trade first brought riches to the city, and later, after independence, it became a renowned resort. Despite efforts by Fidel Castro’s government to spread Cuba’s industrial activity to all parts of the island, Havana remains the centre of much of the nation’s industry.

Cost of Living: Havana 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. Havana is currently ranked 217 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Croatia, Zagreb Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Croatia.

Location: Croatia is in South Eastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia.

Country Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast.

Country Terrain: Geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands.

Major Languages: Croatian.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 4.4 million (2008 est.) 4.4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The Economy of Croatia is a service-based economy, with the service sector accounting for two thrids of the total GDP.

Currency: Croatian Kuna (HRK).

Country Inflation: 6.1% (2008 est.) 2.8% (2009 est.).

City: Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia.

City Economy: Zagreb’s transport connections, concentration of industry, scientific and research institutions and industrial tradition underlie its leading economic position in Croatia.

Cost of Living: Zagreb 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. Zagreb is currently ranked 36 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Cote DIvoire, Abidjan Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Republic of Ivory Coast.

Location: Cote D’Ivoire is in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia.

Country Climate: Tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons – warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October).

Country Terrain: Mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest.

Major Languages: French, Indigenous languages.

Major Religions: Islam, Christianity, indigenous beliefs.

Country Population: 20.8 million (2008 est.) 21.4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The Ivorian economy is largely market based and depends heavily on the agricultural sector. Almost 70% of the Ivorian people are engaged in some form of agricultural activity.

Currency: CFA Franc (XOF).

Country Inflation: 6.3% (2008 est.) 5.9% (2009 est.).

City: Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Cote D’Ivoire as well as the largest city.

City Economy: Abidjan is characterized by high industrialization and urbanization. Major industries include food processing, lumber, automobile manufacturing, and the manufacture of textiles, chemicals, and soap.

Cost of Living: Abidjan 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. Abidjan is currently ranked 96 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Costa Rica, San Jose Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Costa Rica.

Location: Costa Rica is in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.

Country Climate: Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands.

Country Terrain: Coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes.

Major Languages: Spanish (official), English.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 4.5 million (2008 est.) 4.6 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Costa Rica heavily depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been reduced over the past 15 years, and a social safety net put into place.

Currency: Costa Rican Colon (CRC).

Country Inflation: 13.4% (2008 est.) 8.4% (2009 est.).

City: San Jose is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica.

City Economy: San Jose is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of Costa Rica.

Cost of Living: San Jose 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 Jose is currently ranked 234 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Location: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in Central Africa, northeast of Angola.

Country Climate: Tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator – wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator – wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October).

Country Terrain: Vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east.

Major Languages: French, Lingala, Kiswahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba.

Major Religions: Christianity, Islam.

Country Population: 62.9 million (2008 est.) 64.8 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has vast potential due to it’s natural resources and mineral wealth, yet the economy of the DRC has declined drastically since the mid-1980s.

Currency: Congolese Franc (CDF).

Country Inflation: 18.0% (2008 est.) 39.2% (2009 est.).

City: Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

City Economy: Kinshasa ties with Johannesburg for the status of the second largest city in sub-Saharan Africa and the third largest in the whole continent after Lagos and Cairo. Because the administrative boundaries cover such a vast area, over 60% of the city’s land is rural in nature, and the urban area only occupies a small section in the far western end of the province.

Cost of Living: Kinshasa 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. Kinshasa is currently ranked 239 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Congo, Brazzaville Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of the Congo.

Location: The Republic of the Congo is in Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon.

Country Climate: Tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator.

Country Terrain: Coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin.

Major Languages: French, indigenous African languages.

Major Religions: Christianity, indigenous African beliefs.

Country Population: 3.65 million (2008 est.) 3.76 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of the Republic of the Congo is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on petroleum extraction, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. The Congo’s growing petroleum sector is by far the country’s major revenue earner.

Currency: CFA Franc (XAF).

Country Inflation: 6.0% (2008 est.) 6.9% (2009 est.).

City: Brazzaville is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Congo.

City Economy: Over a third of the population of the Republic of Congo lives in the capital, and it is home to 40% of non-agricultural employment. It is also a financial and administrative capital. Industries present in Brazzaville include: machine shops, textiles, tanning, and manufacturing. As a key port on the Congo River, the city takes deliveries of raw materials, such as: rubber, wood and agricultural products. From here they are generally sent onward to Pointe-Noire for export.

Cost of Living: Brazzaville 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. Brazzaville is currently ranked 56 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Comores, Moroni Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Union of the Comoros.

Location: The Comores is in Southern Africa. A group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique.

Country Climate: Tropical marine; rainy season (November to May).

Country Terrain: Volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills.

Major Languages: Arabic, French, Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic).

Major Religions: Islam.

Country Population: 0.652 million (2008 est.) 0.666 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Comores with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) per capita income of about $700, is among the world’s poorest and least developed nations. Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance.

Currency: Comoros Franc (KMF).

Country Inflation: 4.8% (2008 est.) 4.9% (2009 est.).

City: Moroni is the capital and largest city of the Comoros.

City Economy: Moroni has many excellent beaches. Exports include vanilla, cocoa, and coffee.

Cost of Living: Moroni 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. Moroni is currently ranked 40 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Colombia, Bogota Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Colombia.

Location: Colombia is in Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama.

Country Climate: Tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands.

Country Terrain: Flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains.

Major Languages: Spanish.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 48.3 million (2008 est.) 49.0 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Colombia is that of a free market economy with major commercial and investment ties to the United Nations. Transition from a highly regulated economy has been underway for more than a decade.

Currency: Colombian Peso (COP).

Country Inflation: 7.0% (2008 est.) 4.6% (2009 est.).

City: Bogota is the capital city of Colombia.

City Economy: Bogota is Colombia’s largest economic center and most companies in Colombia have their headquarters in the city. Bogota is also a major center for the import and export of goods for Colombia and the Andean Community in Latin America.

Cost of Living: Bogota 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. Bogota is currently ranked 91 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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China, Wuhan Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Xpatulator

est.) 1334.3 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of the People’s Republic of China is a rapidly developing and influential market economy. China is the one of the worlds largest economies. China has had the fastest-growing major economy for the past 30 years with an average annual GDP growth rate above 10%. China’s per capita income has likewise grown at an average annual rate of more than 8% over the last three decades drastically reducing poverty.

Currency: Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY).

Country Inflation: 5.9% (2008 est.) -0.05% (2009 est.).

City: Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People’s Republic of China, and is the most populous city in central China.

City Economy: Wuhan is an important center for economy, trade, finance, transportation, information technology, and education in Central China. Its major industries includes optic-electronic, automobile manufacturing, steel manufacturing, new pharmaceutical sector, biology engineering, new materials industry and environmental protection. Wuhan has over one third of French investment in China, the most among Chinese cities.

Cost of Living: Wuhan 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. Wuhan is currently ranked 250 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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