Saint Lucia, Castries Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Saint Lucia.

Location: Saint Lucia is an island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago.

Country Climate: Tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August.

Country Terrain: Volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys.

Major Languages: English (official), French patois.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 0.2 million (2008 est.) 0.2 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Saint Lucia depends primarily on tourism, banana production, and light manufacturing.

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD).

Country Inflation: 7.2% (2008 est.) 2.2% (2009 est.).

City: Castries is the capital city of Saint Lucia.

City Economy: Castries houses the government and head offices of many businesses both foreign and local. It also has a sheltered harbour which receives cargo vessels and ferry boats as well as cruise ships.

Cost of Living: Castries 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. Castries is currently ranked 256 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Saint Helena, Jamestown Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Saint Helena. Status: British Overseas Territory.

Location: St Helena (Overseas territory of the UK) is comprised of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 700 nm northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 2,300 nm southwest of Saint Helena.

Country Climate: Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid
Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena).

Country Terrain: The islands of this group result from volcanic activity associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge
Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; ground rises to the east
Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs.

Major Languages: English.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 0.004 million (2008 est.) 0.004 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of St Helena is very weak, and the island is almost entirely sustained by aid from London. The public sector dominates the economy, accounting for about half of GDP.

Currency: Saint Helenian Pound (SHP).

Country Inflation: N/A.

City: Jamestown is the capital of the island of Saint Helena.

City Economy: Jamestown is the island’s port, with facilities for unloading goods delivered to the island, and the centre of the island’s road and communications network.

Cost of Living: Jamestown 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. Jamestown is currently ranked 118 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Saint Helena, Jamestown Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Saint Helena. Status: British Overseas Territory.

Location: St Helena (Overseas territory of the UK) is comprised of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 700 nm northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 2,300 nm southwest of Saint Helena.

Country Climate: Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid
Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena).

Country Terrain: The islands of this group result from volcanic activity associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge
Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; ground rises to the east
Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs.

Major Languages: English.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 0.004 million (2008 est.) 0.004 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of St Helena is very weak, and the island is almost entirely sustained by aid from London. The public sector dominates the economy, accounting for about half of GDP.

Currency: Saint Helenian Pound (SHP).

Country Inflation: N/A.

City: Jamestown is the capital of the island of Saint Helena.

City Economy: Jamestown is the island’s port, with facilities for unloading goods delivered to the island, and the centre of the island’s road and communications network.

Cost of Living: Jamestown 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. Jamestown is currently ranked 118 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Rwanda, Kigali Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Rwanda.

Location: Rwanda is in Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Country Climate: Temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible.

Country Terrain: Mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east.

Major Languages: Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), English (official), Swahili.

Major Religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs.

Country Population: 9.6 million (2008 est.) 9.8 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Rwanda is primarily rural with about 90% of the population engaged in agriculture with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary exports are coffee and tea.

Currency: Rwandan Franc (RWF).

Country Inflation: 15.4% (2008 est.) 11.5% (2009 est.).

City: Kigali is the capital and largest city of Rwanda.

City Economy: Kigali is the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda.

Cost of Living: Kigali 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. Kigali is currently ranked 166 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Poland, Warsaw Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Republic of Poland.

Location: Poland is in Central Europe, east of Germany.

Country Climate: Temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers.

Country Terrain: Mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border.

Major Languages: Polish.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 38.1 million (2008 est.) 38.1 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Poland is considered to be one of the healthiest economies of the post-communist countries, and is currently the fastest growing country within the EU.

Currency: Polish Zloty (PLN).

Country Inflation: 4.2% (2008 est.) 3.4% (2009 est.).

City: Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland.

City Economy: Warsaw is home to many national institutions and government agencies, as well as to many domestic and international companies. Warsaw produces 12% of Poland’s national income. Warsaw has the biggest concentration of electronics and high-tech industry in Poland.

Cost of Living: Warsaw 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. Warsaw is currently ranked 129 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Romania, Bucharest Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Romania.

Location: Romania is in South Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine.

Country Climate: Temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms.

Country Terrain: Central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps.

Major Languages: Romanian.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 21.5 million (2008 est.) 21.4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: Romania is an upper-middle income European Union member economy of Central-Eastern Europe.

Currency: Romanian New Lei (RON).

Country Inflation: 7.8% (2008 est.) 5.5% (2009 est.).

City: Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania.

City Economy: Bucharest is the industrial, cultural, and financial centre of Romania and is one of the main industrial centres and transportation hubs of Eastern Europe.

Cost of Living: Bucharest 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. Bucharest is currently ranked 188 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Panama, Panama City Cost of Living

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Xpatulator

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

Country Climate: Tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May).

Country Terrain: Interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills.

Major Languages: Spanish, English.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 3.4 million (2008 est.) 3.5 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The Economy of Panama is free market economy with a history of low inflation. It is based mainly on the services industry, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism.

Currency: Panamanian Balboa (PAB).

Country Inflation: 8.8% (2008 est.) 2.3% (2009 est.).

City: Panama City is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama.

City Economy: Panama City has more than 80 banks, more than 15 of them being national. The city also boasts several tourist attractions, and is a stopover for other nearby destinations in the country as well as a tourist destination in its own right.

Cost of Living: Panama City 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. Panama City is currently ranked 245 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Qatar, Doha Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: The State of Qatar.

Location: Qatar is a peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia.

Country Climate: Arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers.

Country Terrain: Mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel.

Major Languages: Arabic.

Major Religions: Islam.

Country Population: 1.1 million (2008 est.) 1.4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: Petroleum is the cornerstone of Qatar’s economy and accounts for more than 70% of total government revenue.

Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR).

Country Inflation: 15.0% (2008 est.) -5.0% (2009 est.).

City: Doha is the capital and largest city of the state of Qatar.

City Economy: Doha is Qatar’s largest city, with over 80% of the nation’s population residing in Doha or its surrounding suburbs, and is also the economic center of the country.

Cost of Living: Doha 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. Doha is currently ranked 41 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Puerto Rico, San Juan Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Puerto Rico.

Location: Puerto Rico (Territory of the USA with Commonwealth status) is an island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic.

Country Climate: Tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation.

Country Terrain: Mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas.

Major Languages: Spanish, English (both official).

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 4 million (2008 est.) 4 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Puerto Rico is dynamic with a diverse industrial sector that has surpassed agriculture as the primary focus of economic activity and income.

Currency: US Dollar (USD).

Country Inflation: N/A.

City: San Juan is the capital and largest municipality in Puerto Rico.

City Economy: San Juan is one of Puerto Rico’s most important seaports, and is the island’s manufacturing, financial, cultural, and tourism center.

Cost of Living: San Juan 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. San Juan is currently ranked 148 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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Portugal, Lisbon Cost of Living April 2010

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Xpatulator

Country Full Name: Portuguese Republic.

Location: Portugal is in South Western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain.

Country Climate: Maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south.

Country Terrain: Mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south.

Major Languages: Portuguese.

Major Religions: Christianity.

Country Population: 10.6 million (2008 est.) 10.6 million (2009 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Portugal is a high income mixed economy. Fisheries and agriculture account for about 4% of the GDP, employing 13% of the labour force. The tertiary sector has grown, producing 66% of the GDP and providing jobs for 52% of the working population. Unemployment is relatively high.

Currency: Euro (EUR).

Country Inflation: 2.7% (2008 est.) -0.6% (2009 est.).

City: Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal.

City Economy: The Lisbon region is the wealthiest region in Portugal and is the countries chief seaport. Lisbon’s economy is based primarily on the tertiary sector. Most of the headquarters of multinationals operating in Portugal are concentrated in the Grande Lisboa subregion.

Cost of Living: Lisbon 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. Lisbon is currently ranked 87 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations.

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