finance-worldwide

Americas Cost of Living 2010

By: Steven Coleman

The Americas most expensive city is Brasilia which is the world’s fourth most expensive city to live in. The economy of Brazil is a federal economy. Brazil is the ninth largest economy in the world and the second largest in the Americas, after the United States. The major roles of construction and of services (government, communications, banking and finance, food production, entertainment, and legal services) in Brasilia’s economy reflect the city’s status as a governmental rather than an industrial centre.

The Brazilian Real has strengthened by 11% against the United States Dollar in the past year, although it is still weaker than it was two years ago. Brasilia is ranked in the top 60 out of 282 most expensive cities in the world for each of the 13 basket group costs as follows:
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Middle East and Africa Cost of Living 2010

By: Steven Coleman

The Middle East has experienced a drop in inflation in most cities over the past two years following a few years of relatively high inflation. The strong link of most regional currencies to the United States Dollar has resulted in many regional currencies strengthening against other major currencies. The United States Dollar has strengthened against the Euro by around 21% in the past two years making imports from Europe into the region cheaper.

Doha (ranked 69 in the world), with one of the highest economic growth rates in the world, is the most expensive city in the Middle East, followed by Abu Dhabi (ranked 73 in the world).
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Europe Cost of Living 2010

By: Steven Coleman

Europe’s most expensive cities are those that are not on the Euro.

The most expensive city in Europe is Geneva (ranked 3 in the world), with a cost of living index of 124.49 (New York = 100), mainly as a result of being relatively expensive in most of the basket groups with the exceptions being alcohol & tobacco (ranked 194 in the world), education (ranked 167 in the world), and communication (ranked 108 in the world). Also contributing to the high cost of living, the Swiss Franc has strengthened by 8% in the past year and by 16% over the past 2 years.
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Asia Pacific Cost of Living 2010

By: Steven Coleman

Tokyo is first and Hong Kong the second most expensive location in the world, as well as in the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong is the most expensive location in greater China.

Tokyo is the most expensive city in Asia-Pacific. Tokyo is comparatively inexpensive for alcohol & tobacco, however it is the most expensive place in the world for groceries and healthcare, and is second only to Hong Kong for housing related expenses. The Japanese Yen has strengthened by approximately 18% against the US Dollar over the past two years
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International Cost of Living Index Rank 2010

By: Steven Coleman

Tokyo is the costliest city in the world in which to live.

Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world in which to live out of 282 global locations surveyed as at 1 July 2010. While Tokyo is relatively cheap for items such as alcohol & tobacco (ranked 173), it is the most expensive for groceries and healthcare, and second only to Hong Kong for household accommodation costs. Whilst Tokyo has always been relatively expensive, this trend has been strengthened again recently, as a result of the Japanese Yen which has gained in value by about 18% against the United States Dollar in the past two years.
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Kabul Afghanistan Cost of Living

By: Steven Coleman

LOCATION: Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in the heart of Asia.

CAPITAL CITY: Kabul

LARGEST CITY: Kabul

CURRENCY: Afghanistan Afghani (AFN)

ECONOMY: Afghanistan is relatively impoverished, however, it has achieved a more respectable economic recovery and growth since 2002.
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Algiers Algeria Cost of Living

By: Steven Coleman

LOCATION: Algeria is in Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia.

CAPITAL CITY: Algiers

LARGEST CITY: Algiers

CURRENCY: Algerian Dinar (DZD)

ECONOMY: Algiers is an important economic, commercial and financial point, including a stock exchange recording an annual capitalization of 60 billion Euros. The port of Algiers is also one of the most important of West Africa. There is structural reform within the economy, such as the development of the banking sector and the construction of infrastructure.
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