19. Libreville, Gabon
-- ECA International’s cost of living indices are calculated based upon surveys
carried out annually in March and September using a basket of day-to-day
goods and services. The data used refers to year on year movements between ECA
March 2011 and 2010 surveys (Image for illustrative purposes only)
18. Canberra,
Australia -- The data was used by ECA clients to calculate cost of living
allowances for employee-assignees around the world. The survey covers: Food:
Groceries; dairy produce; meat and fish; fresh fruit and vegetables Basic: Drink
and tobacco; miscellaneous goods; services General: Clothing; electrical goods;
motoring; meals out
17. Stockholm, Sweden
-- Certain living costs such as accommodation, utilities (electricity, gas,
water costs), car purchase and school fees are not included in the survey
16. Sydney, Australia
-- Food price increases of 5.2% in Sydney coupled with the impact of the strong
Australian dollar have seen the city shoot up ECA’s ranking looking at
cost of living around the world for international assignees
15. Caracas, Venezuela
-- Caracas (15th) is the most expensive location in the region for international
assignees - a result of rampant inflation
14. Moscow, Russia --
With the weakening of the euro against major currencies between surveys, many
eurozone locations have fallen down the ranking significantly
13. Helsinki, Finland
-- Living costs for assignees are affected by inflation, availability of goods
and exchange rates, all of which can have a significant impact on assignee
remuneration packages
12. Copenhagen,
Denmark -- To help multinational companies calculate assignment salaries, ECA
carries out a Cost of Living Survey twice a year comparing a basket of consumer
goods and services commonly purchased by assignees in 400 locations worldwide
11. Basel, Switzerland
-- Of the European locations surveyed cost of living has increased the most in
Swiss locations
10. Bern, Switzerland
-- Of the European locations surveyed cost of living has increased the most in
Swiss locations
09. Kobe, Japan --
Although Japan is the only Asian country surveyed where the actual cost of goods
in the ECA basket of goods has fallen, a strong currency and already higher
costs for goods mean that cost of living for assignees is significantly more
expensive than in other locations in the top ten
08. Geneva,
Switzerland
07. Luanda, Angola --
Luanda, Angola, ranked 7th globally, is the most expensive location for
international assignees in Africa followed by Libreville (Gabon, 19th) and
Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo, 24th)
06. Zurich,
Switzerland -- Of the European locations surveyed cost of living has increased
the most in Swiss locations. In Switzerland, where inflation is low, it is the strong
Swiss franc that has contributed to pushing Zurich up to 6th position globally
from 10
th
05. Yokohama, Japan --
Although Japan is the only Asian country surveyed where the actual cost of goods
in the ECA basket of goods has fallen, a strong currency and already
higher costs for goods mean that cost of living for assignees is significantly
more expensive than in other locations in the top ten
04. Stavanger, Norway
03. Nagoya, Japan --
Although Japan is the only Asian country surveyed where the actual cost of goods
in the ECA basket of goods has fallen, a strong currency and already
higher costs for goods mean that cost of living for assignees is significantly
more expensive than in other locations in the top ten
02. Oslo, Norway
01. Tokyo,
Japan -- Tokyo remains the most expensive location in Asia Pacific and
globally for international assignees
