Quote:
Originally Posted by bikegypsy
Thanks. This list only makes sense if we factor in the salaries, which the article doesn't mention. How are Mumbai, Dhaka, Manila and Bangkok more expensive than Vancouver and Toronto or even Luxembourg and Brussels? Incomes in these cities -- even for expats -- are relatively low, which makes one's buying power weaker thus making life more expensive, especially when one is trying to maintain a western type lifestyle. In Mumbai or Manila, $1000 rent will get you a 3 bedroom furnished luxury condo with a pool, gym and 24h security.... You get a hole in a wall for that price here. I took a friend out for dinner recently at a great Indian restaurant in Bangkok.... $30 for 2 including a bottle of wine. Let's note that the average restaurant meal in those cities is less than $2. This list and the way it's presented is extraordinarily misleading.
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No it doesn't factor in salaries but considers an expat lifestyle as they define it. This means living, eating and schooling are up to "European Standards". For example try to go for a steak dinner in any of these Asian cities and it will cost much more than Toronto. The meat will be imported from the US, Australia. Same story with rent for high quality housing which is generally very expensive in developing countries.
Gasoline is a big percentage of the cost of living indexes and is substantially more expensive in Montreal that might be the difference on its own.
Accurate or not it is taken serious by companies during relocation, though in North America they may do their own assessment as life is easily comparable.