China, Shenzhen – Cost of Living

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Xpatulator

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.

Shenzhen is a city of sub-provincial administrative status in southern China’s Guangdong province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. Shenzhen is a major manufacturing centre in China and is home to some of China’s most successful high-tech companies. Shenzhen’s economic output is ranked fourth among Chinese cities after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Shenzhen 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.

The latest cost of rank overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.

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China, Shanghai – Cost of Living

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

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.

Shanghai is the largest city in China, and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Located on China’s central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the city is administered as a municipality of the People’s Republic of China with province-level status. Shanghai is often regarded as the center of finance and trade in mainland China. Shanghai also hosts the largest share market in mainland China.

Shanghai 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.

The latest cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.

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China, Macao – Cost of Living

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

The economy of Macao is characterised by the policy of one country, two systems, by which the Central People’s Government is responsible for Macao’s defense and foreign affairs, while Macao maintains its own legal system, police force, monetary system, customs policy, immigration policy, and delegates to international organisations and events. The territory has thriving industries such as textiles, electronics and toys, and a notable tourist industry. This makes it one of the richest cities in the world.

The Macao Special Administrative Region is one of the two special administrative regions of the People’s Republic of China, the other being Hong Kong. Macao’s economy is based largely on tourism, much of it geared toward gambling. Other chief economic activities in Macau are export-geared textile and garment manufacturing, banking and other financial services. The clothing industry has provided about three quarters of export earnings, and the gaming, tourism and hospitality industry is estimated to contribute more than 50% of Macau’s GDP, and 70% of Macau government revenue.

Macao 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.

The latest cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.

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China, Hong Kong – Cost of Living

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

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.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. Hong Kong’s highly favorable geographical position and trading opportunities are wealth-generating assets.

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.

The latest cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.

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Clothing International Cost of Living Rank

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

This report provides you with the rank of Clothing cost of living indexes for 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).

Clothing costs include clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, children’s clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear.

The latest clothing international cost of living rank is now available.

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China, Guangzhou – Cost of Living

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

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.

Guangzhou is a sub-provincial city and the capital of Guangdong Province in the southern part of the People’s Republic of China. 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.

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.

The latest cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.

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China, Dalian – Cost of Living

Posted on July 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

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.

Dalian is the governing sub-provincial city in the eastern Liaoning Province of Northeast China. 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.

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.

The latest cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.

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Salary Purchasing Power Parity

Posted on July 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

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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Alcohol & Tobacco International Cost of Living Ranking

Posted on July 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

This report provides you with the rank of Alcohol & Tobacco cost of living indexes for 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).

Alcohol & Tobacco costs include alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes.

The latest alcohol & tobacco international cost of living rank is now available.

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Chad, NDjamena – Cost of Living

Posted on July 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

The economy of Chad ranks as one of the poorest in the world, with 80% of the population living below the poverty line. Years of civil war have scared away foreign investors; those who left Chad have only recently begun to regain confidence in the country’s future.

N’Djamena is the capital city of Chad. It is also the largest city in the country. N’Djamena is a regional market for livestock, salt, dates, and grains. Meat, fish and cotton processing are the chief industries, and the city continues to serve as the centre of economic activity in Chad, despite the violent civil conflicts.

N’Djamena 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.

The latest cost of living rank for each of the 13 Basket Groups is now available.

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