Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Location: Trinidad and Tobago are islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela.

Country Climate: Tropical; rainy season (June to December).

Country Terrain: Mostly plains with some hills and low mountains.

Major Languages: English.

Major Religions: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam.

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

Country Economy: The economy of Trinidad is based on natural gas and oil. Recent growth has been fueled by investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG), petrochemicals, and steel. Tourism and manufacturing are also important to the local economy.Tourism is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. Agricultural products include citrus, cocoa, and other products.

Currency: Trinidad/Tobago Dollar (TTD).

Country Inflation: 12.0% (2008 est.) 7.2% (2009 est.).

City: Port of Spain is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

City Economy: Port of Spain is Trinidad and Tobago’s most developed city. The city serves primarily as a retail and administrative center.

Cost of Living: Port-of-Spain 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. Port-of-Spain is currently ranked 108 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Tonga, NukuAlofa Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Kingdom of Tonga.

Location: Tonga is in Oceania, and consists of an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.

Country Climate: Tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December).

Country Terrain: Most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base.

Major Languages: Tongan, English.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 0.103 million (2008 est.) 0.103 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Tonga is characterized by a large non monetary sector and a heavy dependence on remittances from the half of the country’s population that lives abroad, chiefly in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Currency: Tonga Pa’anga (TOP).

Country Inflation: 14.5% (2008 est.) 12.3% (2009 est.).

City: Nuku’Alofa is the capital and commercial, transport and social center of Tonga.

City Economy: Nuku’Alofa is the economic hub of the country.

Cost of Living: Nuku’Alofa 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. Nuku’Alofa is currently ranked 265 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Togo, Lome Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Togolese Republic.

Location: Togo is in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana.

Country Climate: Tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north.

Country Terrain: Gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes.

Major Languages: French (official), local languages.

Major Religions: Indigenous beliefs, Christianity, Islam.

Country Population: 6.6 million (2008 est.) 6.8 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity in Togo; the majority of the population depends on subsistence agriculture. Phosphates are Togo’s most important commodity, and the country has an estimated 60 million metric tons of phosphate reserves.

Currency: CFA Franc (XOF).

Country Inflation: 8.4% (2008 est.) 2.8% (2009 est.).

City: Lome is the capital and largest city of Togo.

City Economy: Lome is the country’s administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels. It also has an oil refinery.

Cost of Living: Lome 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. Lome is currently ranked 59 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Timor-Leste, Dili Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Democratic Republic of East Timor.

Location: Timor-Leste is in South Eastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note – Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco.

Country Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons.

Country Terrain: Mountainous.

Major Languages: Tetum and Portuguese (official), Indonesian and English (working languages).

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 1.06 million (2008 est.) 1.08 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of East Timor is one of the world’s poorest, in part due to decades of both neglect and misaligned economic priorities under Portuguese and subsequent Indonesian administration.

Currency: US Dollar.

Country Inflation: 7.6% (2008 est.) 4.0% (2009 est.).

City: Dili is the capital and largest city of East Timor.

City Economy: Dili is the chief port and commercial centre for East Timor.

Cost of Living: Dili 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. Dili is currently ranked 186 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Thailand, Bangkok Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Kingdom of Thailand.

Location: Thailand is in South Eastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma.

Country Climate: Tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid.

Country Terrain: Central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere.

Major Languages: Thai.

Major Religions: Buddhism.

Country Population: 66.4 million (2008 est.) 67.1 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Thailand is an emerging economy which is heavily export-dependent, with exports accounting for more than two thirds of gross domestic product (GDP).

Currency: Thai Baht (THB).

Country Inflation: 5.5% (2008 est.) -1.2% (2009 est.).

City: Bangkok is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand.

City Economy: Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand, dominating the country’s economy.

Cost of Living: Bangkok 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. Bangkok is currently ranked 224 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Tanzania, Dar es Salaam Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: United Republic of Tanzania.

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

Country Climate: Varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands.

Country Terrain: Plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south.

Major Languages: English, Swahili.

Major Religions: Christianity, Islam.

Country Population: 39.7 million (2008 est.) 40.5 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Tanzania is mostly based on agriculture, which accounts for more than half of the GDP, provides approximately 85% of exports, and employs approximately 80% of the workforce.

Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS).

Country Inflation: 10.3% (2008 est.) 10.6% (2009 est.).

City: Dar es Salaam is the largest city in Tanzania.

City Economy: Dar es Salaam is the country’s richest city and a regionally important economic centre. About one half of Tanzania’s manufacturing employment is located in the city despite the fact that Dar holds only ten percent of Tanzania’s population.

Cost of Living: Dar es Salaam 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. Dar es Salaam is currently ranked 151 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Tajikistan, Dushanbe Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Tajikistan.

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

Country Climate: Midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains.

Country Terrain: Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest.

Major Languages: Tajik, Uzbek, Russian.

Major Religions: Islam.

Country Population: 6.5 million (2008 est.) 6.5 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Tajikistan has been gravely weakened by civil conflict and by the loss of subsidies from Moscow and of markets for its products. Tajikistan depends to a large degree on aid from Russia and Uzbekistan and on international humanitarian assistance for much of its basic subsistence needs. Foreign remittance flows from Tajik migrant workers abroad, mainly in Russia, has become by far the main source of income for millions of Tajikistan’s people and represents additional 36.2 % of country’s GDP directly reaching the poverty-stricken population.

Currency: Tajikistan Somoni (TJS).

Country Inflation: 20.4% (2008 est.) 8.0% (2009 est.).

City: Dushanbe is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan.

City Economy: Coal, lead, and arsenic are mined nearby in the cities of Nurek and Kulob allowing for the industrialization of Dushanbe. The Nurek Dam, the world’s highest as of 2008, generates 95% of Tajikistan’s electricity.

Cost of Living: Dushanbe 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. Dushanbe is currently ranked 277 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Taiwan, Taipei Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of China (ROC).

Location: Taiwan is in Eastern Asia, and comprises islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China.

Country Climate: Tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year.

Country Terrain: Eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west.

Major Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Min Nan Chinese (Taiwanese).

Major Religions: Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity.

Country Population: 23.0 million (2008 est.) 23.2 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Taiwan is a dynamic capitalist economy. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8% during the past three decades. The service sector makes up 73% of the economy.

Currency: Taiwan Dollar (TWD).

Country Inflation: 3.5% (2008 est.) -0.5% (2009 est.).

City: Taipei is the largest city in Taiwan and is the de facto capital of the Republic of China.

City Economy: As the capital of the Republic of China, Taipei has been at the center of rapid economic development in the country and has now become one of the global cities in the production of high technology and its components.

Cost of Living: Taipei 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. Taipei is currently ranked 53 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Syria, Damascus Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The Syrian Arab Republic.

Location: Syria is in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey.

Country Climate: Mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus.

Country Terrain: Primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west.

Major Languages: Arabic.

Major Religions: Islam.

Country Population: 19.9 million (2008 est.) 20.4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Syria is that of a middle-income, developing country with a diversified economy based on agriculture, industry, and energy.

Currency: Syrian Pound (SYP).

Country Inflation: 15.2% (2008 est.) 7.5% (2009 est.).

City: Damascus is the capital and largest city of Syria.

City Economy: Damascus is home to a wide range of industrial activity, such as Textile, food processing, Cement and various Chemical industries. The historical role that Damascus played as an important trade center has changed in recent years due to political development in the region as well as the development of modern trade.

Cost of Living: Damascus 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. Damascus is currently ranked 202 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Switzerland, Zurich Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Swiss Confederation.

Location: Switzerland is in Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy.

Country Climate: Temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers.

Country Terrain: Mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes.

Major Languages: German, French, Italian, Romansch.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 7.3 million (2008 est.) 7.3 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Switzerland is one of the world’s most stable economies. Its policy of long-term monetary security and bank secrecy has made Switzerland a safe haven for investors, creating an economy that is increasingly dependent on a steady tide of foreign investmen.

Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF).

Country Inflation: 2.4% (2008 est.) -0.4% (2009 est.).

City: Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich.

City Economy: Zurich is Switzerland’s main commercial and cultural centre.

Cost of Living: Zurich 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. Zurich is currently ranked 4 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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