Expatriate International Cost of Living

This report provides you with the rank of Miscellaneous cost of living indexes as at April 2010 for each of our 282 global locations. The indexes are calculated using the prices for specific quantities of the same goods and services in each location, based on expatriate spending patterns across 13 broad categories (Basket Groups).

Miscellaneous costs include stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps.

The April 2010 miscellaneous international cost of living rank is as follows:

April 2010 Rank Country, City

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

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Internationally comparable cost of living data is crucial to forming sustainable expatriate pay policies and monitoring progress.  Market exchange rates give misleading comparisons because they do not reflect salary purchasing power differences. Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) accounts for price differences between countries and so measures real quantities.

The purpose of an expatriate pay program is to maintain employee spending power and standard of living irrespective of global location. Salary Purchasing Power Parity (SPPP) is the amount of salary that equalizes the purchasing power of different currencies given the relative cost of the same basket of goods (cost of living) at the exchange rate versus one US Dollar.  This means that a given salary, when converted into different currencies at the SPPP rates, will buy the same basket of goods and services in all countries.

Currency exchange rates are highly volatile as they are based on short-term factors and are subject to substantial distortions from speculative movements, economic outlook and government interventions. Currency exchange rates, on their own, do not in our view reflect cost of living changes in the short-term. Exchange rates, even when averaged over a period of time such as a year, are not a good measure of the comparative value of a salary in relation to its comparative international purchasing power. In the short to medium term at least, apparent changes in the comparative level of remuneration between one country and another may be principally a function of changes in the exchange rate as opposed to cost of living.

The basket of goods and services used in SPPP calculations is derived on an International basis and includes certain items often excluded from expatriate cost of living data (most notably housing costs), however any or all of the 13 basket groups can be included or excluded from a calculation.  SPPP’s provide a reasonably good picture of the differences in standards of living for individual’s resident and paid in different countries.

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Country Full Name: People’s Republic of China. Hong Kong Status: Semi-autonomous, special administrative region of China.

Location: China is in Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam.

Country Climate: Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north.

Country Terrain: Mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east.

Major Languages: Chinese (mainly Cantonese), English (both official).

Major Religions: Buddhism, Taoism.

Country Population: 7.0 million (2008 est.) 7.1 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Hong Kong is characterised by the principle of one country, two systems, whereby Hong Kong runs on economic and political systems different from those of mainland China. Hong Kong is one of the world’s leading international financial centres, with a major capitalist service economy characterized by low taxation, free trade and minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism.

Currency: Hong Kong Dollar(HKD).

Country Inflation: 4.3% (2008 est.) -1.0% (2009 est.).

City: Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China.

City Economy: Hong Kong’s highly favorable geographical position and trading opportunities are wealth-generating assets.

Cost of Living: Hong Kong 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. Hong Kong is currently ranked 8 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

For more cost of living information on China, Hong Kong

Country Full Name: People’s Republic of China.

Location: China is in Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam.

Country Climate: Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north.

Country Terrain: Mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east.

Major Languages: Mandarin Chinese.

Major Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism.

Country Population: 1327.7 million (2008 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: Guangzhou is a sub-provincial city and the capital of Guangdong Province in the southern part of the People’s Republic of China.

City Economy: Guangzhou is the main manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta, one of mainland China’s leading commercial and manufacturing regions. Guangzhou’s economic output is ranked third among Chinese cities after Beijing and Shanghai.

Cost of Living: Guangzhou 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. Guangzhou is currently ranked 272 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

For more cost of living information on China, Guangzhou

This report provides you with the rank of Personal Care cost of living indexes as at April 2010 for each of our 282 global locations. The indexes are calculated using the prices for specific quantities of the same goods and services in each location, based on expatriate spending patterns across 13 broad categories (Basket Groups).

Personal Care costs include personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner.

The April 2010 personal care international cost of living rank is as follows:

April 2010 Rank Country, City

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

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Engagement is a fairly recent term in business. In the past the talk was about “attracting, motivating and retaining” expatriate employees. All three strategies focused primarily on money. A competitive salary that takes into account the relative cost of living, exchange rate and hardship together with global expatriate benefits such as longer vacations, flights home, private school, club membership and the like were typically used to “attract” expatriates to where their skills were needed most. Bonuses, performance based pay, and recognition plans were used to “motivate” expatriates. Shares, retirement plans and tax-free gratuities were typically used to “retain” expatriates using the so-called golden handcuff approach.

The financial crises and recession have in my view provided further proof that money alone is not enough. When money gets tight will your expatriate employees stay and will they be motivated? Money on it’s own will not motivate or retain an expatriate when annual salary increases are reduced, bonuses are negligible if they are paid at all and shares are not performing.

To ensure expatriates will stay when times get tough, an engaged expatriate is required. An engaged expatriate is one who is committed to the organization (i.e. the host organization). An engaged expatriate is willing to exert extra effort in accomplishing tasks important to the achievement of the organizations goals.

Recruitment and Promotion
Ensuring that expatriates are put in the right job is a prerequisite for engagement. In reality expatriates are often hired because their skills are not locally available and because they are willing to relocate to a location that most people would not want to live in. As a result expatriates are often hired for their technical skills and not for their behavior, which in their home country would have been closely analyzed and subject to rigorous reference checking. It is critical that the right expatriate is recruited into the right job taking all aspects into account, including personality, age, culture, attitude, and previous track record through quality reference checks.

High Performance Standards
Average performance is usually associated with easy, low demand work. Responsibilities and accountabilities need to be well defined with clear perceptible differences compared to those they report to and to those who in turn report to them. Where differences in accountability are not clearly defined the result is a “non-job”. It is not possible to perform in a non-job as it is not clear who is accountable for what!

For engagement, expatriates need to be challenged with high standards of performance that will test their abilities fully. Hiring over qualified, over experienced expatriates into jobs that are too small for them will leave them unchallenged. Expatriates often perform badly when unchallenged by the job, but rise to accomplish the most difficult tasks when properly challenged.

Feedback
An engaged expatriate requires feedback. With this information the expatriate can control their outputs, measure how they are doing, guide themselves to reach their goals, and accept complete responsibility for their tasks, assignment and job.

In conclusion I ask again. When money gets tight will your expatriate employees stay and will they be motivated? A competitive salary that takes into account the relative cost of living, exchange rate and compensation for the hardship of living in an unfamiliar/foreign location together with global expatriate benefits will attract and to some degree retain expatriates. However if you really want your expatriates to stay motivated when times get tough you need to ensure you have engaged expatriates. Engaged expatriates are committed to the organization. You can better engage your expatriates by ensuring that expatriates are put in the right job, are challenged with high standards of performance that will test their abilities fully, and by providing feedback on how they are doing.

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Country Full Name: People’s Republic of China.

Location: China is in Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam.

Country Climate: Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north.

Country Terrain: Mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east.

Major Languages: Mandarin Chinese.

Major Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism.

Country Population: 1327.7 million (2008 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: Dalian is the governing sub-provincial city in the eastern Liaoning Province of Northeast China.

City Economy: The city has enjoyed a continuous double-digit increase in GDP since 1992. According to a nationwide appraisal by the National Bureau of Statistics, Dalian ranks eighth among Chinese cities in terms of overall strength. The city?s main industries include machine manufacturing, petrochemicals and oil refining, and electronics.

Cot of Living: Dalian 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. Dalian is currently ranked 254 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

For more cost of living information on China, Dalian

Country Full Name: People’s Republic of China.

Location: China is in Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam.

Country Climate: Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north.

Country Terrain: Mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east.

Major Languages: Mandarin Chinese.

Major Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism.

Country Population: 1327.7 million (2008 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: Beijing is a metropolis in northern China and the capital of the People’s Republic of China.

City Economy: Beijing is amongst the most developed cities in China with tertiary industry accounting for 73.2% of its GDP. Finance is one of the most important industries of Beijing. Beijing is home to 26 Fortune Global 500 companies, the third most in the world behind Tokyo and Paris.

Cost of Living: Beijing 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. Beijing is currently ranked 110 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

For more cost of living information on China, Beijing

This report provides you with the rank of Recreation and Culture cost of living indexes as at April 2010 for each of our 282 global locations. The indexes are calculated using the prices for specific quantities of the same goods and services in each location, based on expatriate spending patterns across 13 broad categories (Basket Groups).

Recreation and Culture costs include books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets.

The April 2010 recreation and culture international cost of living rank is as follows:

April 2010 Rank Country, City

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

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Country Full Name: Republic of Chile.

Location: Chile is in Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru.

Country Climate: Temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south.

Country Terrain: Low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east.

Major Languages: Spanish.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 16.8 million (2008 est.) 17.0 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Chile is a dynamic market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade.

Currency: Chilean Peso (CLP).

Country Inflation: 8.7% (2008 est.) 2.0% (2009 est.).

City: Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile.

City Economy: Santiago is the industrial and financial centre of Chile, and generates almost half the country’s GDP.

Cost of Living: Santiago 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. Santiago is currently ranked 135 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

For more cost of living information on Chile, Santiago