Definition:
A Cost Of Living Index (COLI) is a price index that measures the relative cost of living over time. It is an index that measures differences in the price of goods and services.
A COLI measures changes over time in the amount that consumers need to spend to reach a certain level or standard of living. COLI is typically a number, where the Base Index is 100.
A Consumer Price Index (CPI) on the other hand is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers. CPI is typically a percentage change compared to the previous period. An increase in CPI is called inflation, while a decrease is called deflation. Both the COLI and the CPI use a market basket of consumer goods and services.
A COLI is also used to measure the price of the same quantities and types of goods and services in different geographic locations. The COLI used in this way shows the difference in living costs between different locations.
An international COLI measures the differences in the local currency price of the same quantities and types of goods and services in different countries converted to a single currency. This shows the difference in relative living costs between international cities. The cost of living difference between locations indicates the amount that consumers need to spend to maintain a certain level or standard of living.
Amongst other uses, COLI’s are used by organizations and individuals in the calculation of expatriate salary and cost of living allowances in order to ensure consistent salary purchasing power between the home and host country.
Next we will discuss how to calculate a COLI between 2 locations applicable to expatriate employees.
Methodology:
For consistency the goods and services are grouped into similar/related basket groups.
For accuracy the exact quantity and type of each of the goods and services within each basket are defined. Using these definitions, the prices of the same quantities and types of goods and services in each geographic location is obtained from at least 3 different suppliers representative of those that would typically be used by expatriates.
When calculating the cost of living between 2 locations the difference in the aggregate cost of all the selected basket groups are examined in each location using the average reported price in each location for the same quantity of each item. The basket groups are weighted according to Expatriate expenditure norms.
If for example the following 13 basket groups had the following weighting, The 13 basket groups do not count equally.:
•Alcohol & Tobacco (Weight 2.0%)
•Clothing (Weight 2.5%)
•Communication (Weight 2.0%)
•Education (Weight 5.0%)
•Furniture & Appliances (Weight 5.0%)
•Groceries (Weight 16.5%)
•Healthcare (Weight 5.0%)
•Household (Weight 30.0%)
•Miscellaneous (Weight 3.0%)
•Personal Care (Weight 3.0%)
•Recreation and Culture (Weight 6.0%)
•Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels (Weight 2.0%)
•Transport (Weight 18.0%)
The prices for the defined quantities and types of goods and services in each location are gathered on a quarterly basis and the resulting index is updated for each of the 13 baskets in each location. These indexes are then used to calculate the COLI between any 2 locations. The COLI is the relative differential in the local cost of the basket groups and the ruling exchange rate between the 2 selected locations.
When comparing the cost of living between different locations the objective is to calculate the difference in the cost of living expressed as an index using one of the locations as the Base. We typically refer to the home location as the Base Location (Index = 100).
Practical Example:
Take for example a company headquartered in Location A with overseas operations in Location B and C. They send employees on 2 to 3 year assignments from time to time to Location B and C and need a set of COLI’s using Location A as the Base City in order to calculate assignment salary and cost of living allowances.
In our example Location A has an index of 92, Location B has an index of 129, and Location C has an index of 75.
Using our example, you want to know what the COLI is for Location B and C using Location A as the Base Location:
•Location A COLI = (Location A / Location A) X 100 = (92 / 92) X 100 = 100
•Location B COLI = (Location B / Location A) X 100 = (129 / 92) X 100 = 140.2
•Location C COLI = (Location C / Location A) X 100 = (75 / 92) X 100 = 81.5
The COLI indicates the difference in the cost of living between the locations. In the above example the COLI of 140.2 means that Location B is 1.402 times more expensive than Location A. In this example the COLI is positive (higher). This would mean that a person who moves from Location A to Location B would need to earn 40.2% more, to have the same standard of living in Location B as they have currently in Location A.
Location C on the other hand has a COLI of 81.5. This means that Location C is 0.815 times less expensive than Location A. In this example the COLI is negative (lower). This would mean that a person who moves from Location A to Location C could earn 18.5% less and have the same standard of living in Location C as they have currently in Location A.
Steps to calculating a cost of living index:
Given that it is costly and time consuming to create comprehensive baskets and to price them accurately in each location yourself, it is generally more cost effective to use a service provider such as Xpatulator. Xpatulator has comprehensive index data for 13 basket groups in 282 global locations updated quarterly and available online.
The following steps will help you create a set of COLI’s using Xpatulator’s Cost of Living Index Calculator (COLI):
Before you start you will need to have registered.
1) Login using your username and password
2) Check that you have sufficient credit(s)
3) Select "Calculators" from the left hand menu
4) Choose the Cost of Living Index Calculator (COLI): The COLI report calculates cost of living indexes for the locations you select using the base location you specify. You can select between 1 and all 282 locations. You can choose from any one of the 13 baskets or you can choose the overall cost of living index for each location. The COLI report uses 1 credit per set of 4 cost of living indexes.
The calculator will prompt you for the following inputs:
5) Reference Information: Give your report a reference. This will help you identify your reports for future reference.
6) Base Location: Select the location that will be the base location. All other selected locations will be compared to this location.
7) Available Locations: Select all locations that you require a cost of living index for. Each credit will allow you to select 4 locations. You will notice that as you select each additional location the "Remaining number of locations you can select" will change decrease by 1. You will also notice that for each set of 4 locations the "Selected locations will cost" will increase by 1 credit.
8) Select which cost of living index basket you require. The Overall Cost of Living Index covers all 13 Cost of Living Baskets, weighted for expatriate expenditure norms.
9) Run Report: When you are sure that all your selection criteria are correct, click on run report. At this point the calculator will use the number of credits shown in the calculator. Just above the cost of living baskets the number of credits required will be displayed "Selected locations will cost: XX credits". If you do not have enough credits you will need to either need to "Purchase Credits" using the left hand menu or decrease the number of locations selected.
Using Xpatulator’s Cost of Living Index Calculator (COLI) your report will look like the attached example View Demo
Applying a cost of living index to a salary calculation:
The COLI values are useful in calculating an appropriate salary in another location. A calculator such as Xpatulator’s Salary Purchasing Power Parity Calculator (SPPP) calculates an appropriate salary using the COLI, exchange rate and hardship difference.
The salary used in the calculator is gross or net salary. We advise using net (after tax) salary. This has will result in a net salary result in the new location, which would then be grossed up for tax and any other statutory deductions in the new location. The calculator will then apply the following formula based on the selections in the calculator:
Salary X Cost of living Index Differential X Exchange Rate X Hardship Differential = Calculated Salary in new location
Applying the formula to our earlier example with a salary of $100,000 in Location A, sent on assignment to Location B, with an increase in hardship of 10% and paid in US Dollars:
•Location B COLI = 140.2
•Location C COLI = 81.5
Salary Calculation = $100,000 X 1.402 X 1 X 1.1 = $154,220
This means that an employee earning a salary of $100,000 in Location A, requires a salary of $154,220 in Location B to compensate for a 40.2% higher cost of living and a 10% higher level of hardship.
Using Xpatulator’s SPPP Calculator your report will look like the attached example
View Demo
Embark on a journey with Xpatulator, your guide to mastering global living standards. Explore the intricacies of relocating with our insights on cost of living, quality of life, and the unique challenges faced when moving across borders. Our calculators offer essential data for over 780 destinations worldwide, helping you navigate cost-of-living comparisons, purchasing power parity, and tailor international packages. Perfect for those seeking to balance lifestyle and expenses in new locations.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Expat life in Sri Lanka, Colombo
I recently visited the wonderful island of Sri Lanka, and found a country full of surprises.
Sri Lanka is situated just south of India, in the Indian Ocean. Once known as the Dominium of Ceylon and often referred to as the tea country, tea plantations abundantly thrive across the island, with spice gardens, banana and coconut palms growing randomly to create a jungle of natural resources.
People, animals and transport seem to co-exist side by side with no animosity towards each other. Dogs wonder aimlessly across or bask in the sun at the side of roads, cows and goats roam around everywhere, even on the beaches (which I found rather amusing) and people are everywhere, whether walking, cycling, using a tuc-tuc, motorbike with 5 astride, in a taxi, bus, car or truck, each takes up a space of the not too wide road. But co-exist they do, there is no anger at being stuck behind a truck, merely a short hooting of the horn to say I am here and would like to pass, politeness abounds and the expression and sounds are all of friendliness, within a country that sorely needs help at redeveloping itself since the tsunami. People are poor and yet happiness is everywhere…. Not just for the child on the hip or the person at their side, but for expats and tourists as well.
Tourists fluctuate towards the resorts and some chance the areas slightly outside of these areas, to experience a quieter less harassed holiday. Small pockets of expats can be found, dotted all over the country. When you bump into these people and chat about life on the island, there is not much to complain about. Yes, sometimes the water gets turned off or the electricity, yes the internet is not as fast as they would like it to be. Isn’t that how most people feel in developed countries anyway: The faster it gets the faster we want it. In this little piece of paradise, expats are not too concerned that it takes a little longer to do things here, the people are prepared to wait, not too hasty to move forward too quickly. There was a lot of talk and concern about the elections and safety within the country and there are still road blockades and police / army personnel with guns wandering around keeping peace if necessary. However, with 70% of the population being Buddhists, the lifestyle is peaceful and life simplistic.
From an expat perspective, I could not fault the lifestyle. As said above, yes there are definite things missing, things are slower, it takes a good 4 – 6 hours to get from Colombo to Galle and similarly to anywhere about 200km’s apart. I cannot say that the roads are particularly in good condition, but in the 10 days that I visited, I did not see one accident. Hardships could include the lack of being able to get from one part of the island to another quickly, the lack of fast internet connection, perhaps the human waste / refuse, which allows for the influx of flies, the dirt which is left to lie around and lastly the lack of funds to rebuild the country to what it was before the Tsunami.
Having said that, I have to look at all the good things that you find there, the beauty of the natural resources, how the nationals and expats are trying to rebuild the country, the beaches, game parks and mountains. This is truly a beautiful part of the world.
Expat Cost of living summary
The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee LKR
The Exchange rate as at 15 January 2010 was $1 = 114.217 Rupees
I am going to break the Cost of living down according to some of the Xpatualtor basket items :
Alcohol and Tobacco : Alcohol at Bar, Beer, Cigarettes, Locally Produced Spirit, Whiskey, Wine
Cigarettes (20s) - $3.14 - $9
Domestic Beer(500ml) - $2.50
Imported Beer (330ml) - $5.80
Wine at a bar - $6 a glass
Wine at a shop - $15 (750ml bottle)
Hotels tend to increase the prices of alcohol as it is the one way that they can make a profit. There are many small hotels and restaurants which create a competitive edge to where you can stay.
Clothing : Business Suits, Casual Clothing, Children’s Clothing and footwear, Coats and hats, Evening Wear, Shoe Repairs, Underwear
Casual Long Sleeved Shirt (Men) - $12
Casual Long Sleeved Trousers (Men) - $20
Shorts (Men) - $11
T-Shirt (Men) - $6
Casual Blouse (Women) - $7
Casual Skirt (Women) - $12
Children’s Jeans (Boys) - $5
Children’s Jeans (Girls) - $3.50
Children’s Shirt(Boys) - $5
Children’s Shirt(Girls) - $4
Clothes are extremely cheap, in Colombo a person can get most of the name branded clothing at fairly reasonable prices in Factory shops.
Communication : Home Telephone Rental and Call Charges, Internet Connection and service provider fees, Mobile / Cellular Phone Contract and Calls
Monthly phone rental - $4.36
Phone call rate - $0.05 for a local call
Internet line connection fee - $104 (buy all equipment with installation)
Internet service provider fee - $17 (1 geg free thereafter)
Monthly mobile contract fee - $2.18 (for the year)
Mobile / cellular call rate - 90% of phones are prepaid,
Mobile Phone 100 Minutes Call - $38
- $0.012 - $0.05 sms peak times
Due to so many of the nationals working overseas to send money home, the communication costs are extremely low and there are often special deals or no cost is involved in the actual call.
Education : Crèche / Pre-School Fees, High School / College Fees, Primary School Fees, Tertiary Study Fees
Annual Creche fee - $4.36 per month
Annual Primary school fee - $260 - $436 per month
Annual High School fee - $260 - $436 per month
Annual 1st Year Tertiary / University fee - $260 - $436 per month (dependent on which
private school they go to)
Private schooling is the most expensive on the island for expat children to attend, however the rates in comparison to other countries are reasonable. Expats that I came across spoke highly of the education system in the country and were happy with the private education that their children were receiving.
Furniture and Appliances : DVD Player, Fridge Freezer, Iron, Kettle, Toaster, microwave, Light Bulbs, Television, Vacuum Cleaner, Washing Machine
DVD Player - $87
Fridge / Freezer - $489 (LG / Whirlpool – 4 year guarantee)
Iron - $12 cheap - $35 top of the range
Kettle - $20 cheap - $37 top of the range
Microwave - $191
TV 21 inch - $244 (2 year guarantee)
Washing Machine LG - $570
Discounts can be negotiated with stores on all items
Groceries bought in a grocery store : Baby Consumables, Baked Goods, Baking, Canned Foods, Cheese, Cleaning Products, Dairy, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Fruit Juices, Frozen, Meat, Oil & Vinegars, Pet Food, Pre-Prepared Meals, Sauces, Seafood, Snacks, Soft Drinks, Spices & Herbs
Powdered baby formula (400g) - $7
Plain biscuits (100g) - $0.20
Loaf white bread (200g) - $0.70
Cake Flour (1kg) - $2.80
Baked Beans (415g) - $1.92
Tuna (185g) - $2.75
Cheese : Cheddar (250g) - $6.63
Crisps : Pringles (139g) - $2.50
Autowash clothing powder (750g) - $1.57
Dishwash liquid (500g) - $0.87
Clothing Softener (2l) - $5.40
Breakfast Cereal (250g) - $2.45
Butter (227g) - $2.18
Milk (1l) - $1.40
Eggs (12) - $1.80
Orange Juice (1l) - $2.80
Frozen Mixed Vegetables (1kg) - $6.20
Cooking oil (1l) - $3.22
Olive oil (500ml) - $8.28
Can of coke (355ml) - $1.00
Local Fizzy Soft Drink (1l) - $1.30
Local Natural Mineral Water (5l) - $1.08
Tea Bags (200g) - $1.85
Instant Coffee (100g) - $6.75
Local Ground Coffee (200g) - $3.66
Salt (400g) - $0.26
Pepper (400g) - $0.35
Prices were obtained from local grocery stores, there are no big department stores to shop in.
Healthcare : General Practitioner Consultation rates, Hospital Private Ward Daily, Rate, Non-Prescription Medicine, Private Medical Insurance / Medical Aid Contributions
GP Private rate visit with meds - $3.50
Hospital Private ward rates - $28 per day
Dentistry – Tooth extraction - $4.35
Most expats use Bupa or the Sri Lankan Equivalent
Household : House / Flat Mortgage, House / Flat Rental, Household Electricity Consumption, Household Gas / Fuel Consumption, Household Water Consumption, Local Property Rates / Taxes / Levies
Rent 2 bed Apartment City Centre - $700
Rent 2 bed Apartment outside of City Centre - $600
Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage per - $80 - $90 per month for an average
household, this is expensive when taking household
air conditioning into account
Gas / Fuel – 12 ½ kg bottle - $14
Local property Rates - 8 – 10% of value of property
Expats cannot buy a property directly, this has to be done via a Lawyer who owns the property. Mortgage for locals is 4/5%. This is where most expats find the costs creep in, running the air conditioners is extremely expensive as well as the cost of water.
Miscellaneous : Domestic Help, Dry Cleaning, Linen, Office Supplies, Newspapers and Magazines, Postage Stamps
Domestic Rates – full time per person - $80 average
1 Black inkjet printer cartridge - $14
1 Color inkjet printer cartridge - $21
500 sheets printer paper - $5.23
Local Daily Newspaper - $0.17
International Daily Newspaper - $0.45
International Magazine - $20
International Airmail Stamps - $0.22
Domestic Stamps - $0.12
Domestic help is cheap and most employees either live on the property or close by. Office supplies are reasonable, with CD’s and DVD’s freely available on the street where most locals buy them.
Personal Care : Cosmetics, Haircare, Moisturiser / Sun Block, Nappies, Pain Relief Tablets, Toilet Paper, Toothpaste, Soap / Shampoo / Conditioner
Body lotion (400ml) Vaseline Intensive car - $4.53
Toilet paper 1 ply per roll - $0.50
Toothpaste (200g) - $1.92
Shampoo (200ml) - $2.40
Some of the items that can be purchased can be expensive, like creams, sunblocks and cosmetic creams. Name brand products are the most expensive.
Recreation and Culture : Books, Camera Film, Cinema Ticket, DVD and CD’s, Sports goods, Theatre Ticket
Books paper back - $10
Cinema ticket - $0.50
DVD / CD Imported - $2
Cricket ticket - $0.50 to $8
Theatre Ticket – only in Colombo - $30
Hard cover books are expensive in the country, but paper back books are of a similar cost to the US and UK. Cinema tickets are cheap due to the availability of cheap DVD replicas which can be bought on street corners. International cricket tickets are also kept cheap for the local population.
Restaurants / Meals out / Hotels : Business Dinner, Dinner at Restaurant (non fast food), Hotel Rates, Take Away Drinks & Snacks (fast Food)
Business Dinner excl Alcohol - $22 per person
Dinner / lunch at local restaurant - $8 per person
Mc Donalds Big Mac - $4.10
Hotel Rates 3* - $8 - $50 pppn
Hotel Rates 4* - $80 - $120 pppn
Hotel Rates 5* - $140 pppn upwards
Take away - Can of coke x 1 - $0.70
Medium pizza - $3.50
Hamburger - $2.00
Coffee – pot x 3 cups - $1.40
As in most countries how much you pay for a meal is dependent on where you go, the local restaurants have great local meals, as well as international flavours, we found a fabulous vegetarian restaurant in Galle, well worth a visit and all prices were fairly cheap. Some restaurants do take advantage of the tourist population and serve sub standard meals. However, most restaurants were good with their portions and meal plans.
Transport : Hire Purchase / Lease of Vehicle, Petrol / Diesel, Public Transport, Service Maintenance, Tyres, Vehicle Insurance, Vehicle Purchase
Hire / Lease car – Sedan Toyota Corolla - $37.14 per day for 1 week
Hire / Lease car – Toyota RAV4 - $46.71 per day for 1 week
Petrol unleaded per litre - $1.23
Diesel per litre - $0.64
Bus Ticket (one way) - $1.00
Taxi Ride – per km - $0.50
Tuc Tuc – 10 km ride - $6.00
Train Ticket 2nd class - $1.57
If you are visiting I would suggest you use the local taxis and tuc-tucs, driving can be a head-ache and unpleasant experience if you are not used to the local norms. However, speeds do not go over 80km on the bigger roads and overall a safe place to drive.
The above detail are some of the items form the basis of the cost of living indexes for each basket group in the Xpatulator calculators, these costs are then used with their indexes and exchange rates to calculate the cost of living in different locations.
For more information on the Xpatulator calculators, cost of living and locations please go to www.xpatulator.com
Sri Lanka is situated just south of India, in the Indian Ocean. Once known as the Dominium of Ceylon and often referred to as the tea country, tea plantations abundantly thrive across the island, with spice gardens, banana and coconut palms growing randomly to create a jungle of natural resources.
People, animals and transport seem to co-exist side by side with no animosity towards each other. Dogs wonder aimlessly across or bask in the sun at the side of roads, cows and goats roam around everywhere, even on the beaches (which I found rather amusing) and people are everywhere, whether walking, cycling, using a tuc-tuc, motorbike with 5 astride, in a taxi, bus, car or truck, each takes up a space of the not too wide road. But co-exist they do, there is no anger at being stuck behind a truck, merely a short hooting of the horn to say I am here and would like to pass, politeness abounds and the expression and sounds are all of friendliness, within a country that sorely needs help at redeveloping itself since the tsunami. People are poor and yet happiness is everywhere…. Not just for the child on the hip or the person at their side, but for expats and tourists as well.
Tourists fluctuate towards the resorts and some chance the areas slightly outside of these areas, to experience a quieter less harassed holiday. Small pockets of expats can be found, dotted all over the country. When you bump into these people and chat about life on the island, there is not much to complain about. Yes, sometimes the water gets turned off or the electricity, yes the internet is not as fast as they would like it to be. Isn’t that how most people feel in developed countries anyway: The faster it gets the faster we want it. In this little piece of paradise, expats are not too concerned that it takes a little longer to do things here, the people are prepared to wait, not too hasty to move forward too quickly. There was a lot of talk and concern about the elections and safety within the country and there are still road blockades and police / army personnel with guns wandering around keeping peace if necessary. However, with 70% of the population being Buddhists, the lifestyle is peaceful and life simplistic.
From an expat perspective, I could not fault the lifestyle. As said above, yes there are definite things missing, things are slower, it takes a good 4 – 6 hours to get from Colombo to Galle and similarly to anywhere about 200km’s apart. I cannot say that the roads are particularly in good condition, but in the 10 days that I visited, I did not see one accident. Hardships could include the lack of being able to get from one part of the island to another quickly, the lack of fast internet connection, perhaps the human waste / refuse, which allows for the influx of flies, the dirt which is left to lie around and lastly the lack of funds to rebuild the country to what it was before the Tsunami.
Having said that, I have to look at all the good things that you find there, the beauty of the natural resources, how the nationals and expats are trying to rebuild the country, the beaches, game parks and mountains. This is truly a beautiful part of the world.
Expat Cost of living summary
The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee LKR
The Exchange rate as at 15 January 2010 was $1 = 114.217 Rupees
I am going to break the Cost of living down according to some of the Xpatualtor basket items :
Alcohol and Tobacco : Alcohol at Bar, Beer, Cigarettes, Locally Produced Spirit, Whiskey, Wine
Cigarettes (20s) - $3.14 - $9
Domestic Beer(500ml) - $2.50
Imported Beer (330ml) - $5.80
Wine at a bar - $6 a glass
Wine at a shop - $15 (750ml bottle)
Hotels tend to increase the prices of alcohol as it is the one way that they can make a profit. There are many small hotels and restaurants which create a competitive edge to where you can stay.
Clothing : Business Suits, Casual Clothing, Children’s Clothing and footwear, Coats and hats, Evening Wear, Shoe Repairs, Underwear
Casual Long Sleeved Shirt (Men) - $12
Casual Long Sleeved Trousers (Men) - $20
Shorts (Men) - $11
T-Shirt (Men) - $6
Casual Blouse (Women) - $7
Casual Skirt (Women) - $12
Children’s Jeans (Boys) - $5
Children’s Jeans (Girls) - $3.50
Children’s Shirt(Boys) - $5
Children’s Shirt(Girls) - $4
Clothes are extremely cheap, in Colombo a person can get most of the name branded clothing at fairly reasonable prices in Factory shops.
Communication : Home Telephone Rental and Call Charges, Internet Connection and service provider fees, Mobile / Cellular Phone Contract and Calls
Monthly phone rental - $4.36
Phone call rate - $0.05 for a local call
Internet line connection fee - $104 (buy all equipment with installation)
Internet service provider fee - $17 (1 geg free thereafter)
Monthly mobile contract fee - $2.18 (for the year)
Mobile / cellular call rate - 90% of phones are prepaid,
Mobile Phone 100 Minutes Call - $38
- $0.012 - $0.05 sms peak times
Due to so many of the nationals working overseas to send money home, the communication costs are extremely low and there are often special deals or no cost is involved in the actual call.
Education : Crèche / Pre-School Fees, High School / College Fees, Primary School Fees, Tertiary Study Fees
Annual Creche fee - $4.36 per month
Annual Primary school fee - $260 - $436 per month
Annual High School fee - $260 - $436 per month
Annual 1st Year Tertiary / University fee - $260 - $436 per month (dependent on which
private school they go to)
Private schooling is the most expensive on the island for expat children to attend, however the rates in comparison to other countries are reasonable. Expats that I came across spoke highly of the education system in the country and were happy with the private education that their children were receiving.
Furniture and Appliances : DVD Player, Fridge Freezer, Iron, Kettle, Toaster, microwave, Light Bulbs, Television, Vacuum Cleaner, Washing Machine
DVD Player - $87
Fridge / Freezer - $489 (LG / Whirlpool – 4 year guarantee)
Iron - $12 cheap - $35 top of the range
Kettle - $20 cheap - $37 top of the range
Microwave - $191
TV 21 inch - $244 (2 year guarantee)
Washing Machine LG - $570
Discounts can be negotiated with stores on all items
Groceries bought in a grocery store : Baby Consumables, Baked Goods, Baking, Canned Foods, Cheese, Cleaning Products, Dairy, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Fruit Juices, Frozen, Meat, Oil & Vinegars, Pet Food, Pre-Prepared Meals, Sauces, Seafood, Snacks, Soft Drinks, Spices & Herbs
Powdered baby formula (400g) - $7
Plain biscuits (100g) - $0.20
Loaf white bread (200g) - $0.70
Cake Flour (1kg) - $2.80
Baked Beans (415g) - $1.92
Tuna (185g) - $2.75
Cheese : Cheddar (250g) - $6.63
Crisps : Pringles (139g) - $2.50
Autowash clothing powder (750g) - $1.57
Dishwash liquid (500g) - $0.87
Clothing Softener (2l) - $5.40
Breakfast Cereal (250g) - $2.45
Butter (227g) - $2.18
Milk (1l) - $1.40
Eggs (12) - $1.80
Orange Juice (1l) - $2.80
Frozen Mixed Vegetables (1kg) - $6.20
Cooking oil (1l) - $3.22
Olive oil (500ml) - $8.28
Can of coke (355ml) - $1.00
Local Fizzy Soft Drink (1l) - $1.30
Local Natural Mineral Water (5l) - $1.08
Tea Bags (200g) - $1.85
Instant Coffee (100g) - $6.75
Local Ground Coffee (200g) - $3.66
Salt (400g) - $0.26
Pepper (400g) - $0.35
Prices were obtained from local grocery stores, there are no big department stores to shop in.
Healthcare : General Practitioner Consultation rates, Hospital Private Ward Daily, Rate, Non-Prescription Medicine, Private Medical Insurance / Medical Aid Contributions
GP Private rate visit with meds - $3.50
Hospital Private ward rates - $28 per day
Dentistry – Tooth extraction - $4.35
Most expats use Bupa or the Sri Lankan Equivalent
Household : House / Flat Mortgage, House / Flat Rental, Household Electricity Consumption, Household Gas / Fuel Consumption, Household Water Consumption, Local Property Rates / Taxes / Levies
Rent 2 bed Apartment City Centre - $700
Rent 2 bed Apartment outside of City Centre - $600
Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage per - $80 - $90 per month for an average
household, this is expensive when taking household
air conditioning into account
Gas / Fuel – 12 ½ kg bottle - $14
Local property Rates - 8 – 10% of value of property
Expats cannot buy a property directly, this has to be done via a Lawyer who owns the property. Mortgage for locals is 4/5%. This is where most expats find the costs creep in, running the air conditioners is extremely expensive as well as the cost of water.
Miscellaneous : Domestic Help, Dry Cleaning, Linen, Office Supplies, Newspapers and Magazines, Postage Stamps
Domestic Rates – full time per person - $80 average
1 Black inkjet printer cartridge - $14
1 Color inkjet printer cartridge - $21
500 sheets printer paper - $5.23
Local Daily Newspaper - $0.17
International Daily Newspaper - $0.45
International Magazine - $20
International Airmail Stamps - $0.22
Domestic Stamps - $0.12
Domestic help is cheap and most employees either live on the property or close by. Office supplies are reasonable, with CD’s and DVD’s freely available on the street where most locals buy them.
Personal Care : Cosmetics, Haircare, Moisturiser / Sun Block, Nappies, Pain Relief Tablets, Toilet Paper, Toothpaste, Soap / Shampoo / Conditioner
Body lotion (400ml) Vaseline Intensive car - $4.53
Toilet paper 1 ply per roll - $0.50
Toothpaste (200g) - $1.92
Shampoo (200ml) - $2.40
Some of the items that can be purchased can be expensive, like creams, sunblocks and cosmetic creams. Name brand products are the most expensive.
Recreation and Culture : Books, Camera Film, Cinema Ticket, DVD and CD’s, Sports goods, Theatre Ticket
Books paper back - $10
Cinema ticket - $0.50
DVD / CD Imported - $2
Cricket ticket - $0.50 to $8
Theatre Ticket – only in Colombo - $30
Hard cover books are expensive in the country, but paper back books are of a similar cost to the US and UK. Cinema tickets are cheap due to the availability of cheap DVD replicas which can be bought on street corners. International cricket tickets are also kept cheap for the local population.
Restaurants / Meals out / Hotels : Business Dinner, Dinner at Restaurant (non fast food), Hotel Rates, Take Away Drinks & Snacks (fast Food)
Business Dinner excl Alcohol - $22 per person
Dinner / lunch at local restaurant - $8 per person
Mc Donalds Big Mac - $4.10
Hotel Rates 3* - $8 - $50 pppn
Hotel Rates 4* - $80 - $120 pppn
Hotel Rates 5* - $140 pppn upwards
Take away - Can of coke x 1 - $0.70
Medium pizza - $3.50
Hamburger - $2.00
Coffee – pot x 3 cups - $1.40
As in most countries how much you pay for a meal is dependent on where you go, the local restaurants have great local meals, as well as international flavours, we found a fabulous vegetarian restaurant in Galle, well worth a visit and all prices were fairly cheap. Some restaurants do take advantage of the tourist population and serve sub standard meals. However, most restaurants were good with their portions and meal plans.
Transport : Hire Purchase / Lease of Vehicle, Petrol / Diesel, Public Transport, Service Maintenance, Tyres, Vehicle Insurance, Vehicle Purchase
Hire / Lease car – Sedan Toyota Corolla - $37.14 per day for 1 week
Hire / Lease car – Toyota RAV4 - $46.71 per day for 1 week
Petrol unleaded per litre - $1.23
Diesel per litre - $0.64
Bus Ticket (one way) - $1.00
Taxi Ride – per km - $0.50
Tuc Tuc – 10 km ride - $6.00
Train Ticket 2nd class - $1.57
If you are visiting I would suggest you use the local taxis and tuc-tucs, driving can be a head-ache and unpleasant experience if you are not used to the local norms. However, speeds do not go over 80km on the bigger roads and overall a safe place to drive.
The above detail are some of the items form the basis of the cost of living indexes for each basket group in the Xpatulator calculators, these costs are then used with their indexes and exchange rates to calculate the cost of living in different locations.
For more information on the Xpatulator calculators, cost of living and locations please go to www.xpatulator.com
Zimbabwe, Harare Cost of Living January 2010
LOCATION: Zimbabwe is in Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia.
CAPITAL CITY: Harare
LARGEST CITY: Harare
CURRENCY: Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWD)
ECONOMY: Zimbabwe is a low-income developing country. The government of Zimbabwe faces a variety of economic problems after having abandoned earlier efforts to develop a market-oriented economy. Problems include a shortage of foreign exchange, soaring inflation, and supply shortages. Mineral exports, agriculture, and tourism are the main foreign currency earners of Zimbabwe.
Harare 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. Harare is currently ranked 275 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 276 international locations. The cost of living overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:
Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 268 out of 276.
Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 257 out of 276.
Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 270 out of 276.
Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 236 out of 276.
Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 256 out of 276.
Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 275 out of 276.
Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 276 out of 276.
Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 260 out of 276.
Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 264 out of 276.
Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 265 out of 276.
Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 255 out of 276.
Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 271 out of 276.
Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 269 out of 276.
Your exact customized cost of living index for Harare is based on which of the above basket groups as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators.
In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Harare is ranked as an extreme hardship location with a hardship index of 40%.
Your exact customized hardship index premium for Harare is based on the comparison location that you select in the Calculators.
CAPITAL CITY: Harare
LARGEST CITY: Harare
CURRENCY: Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWD)
ECONOMY: Zimbabwe is a low-income developing country. The government of Zimbabwe faces a variety of economic problems after having abandoned earlier efforts to develop a market-oriented economy. Problems include a shortage of foreign exchange, soaring inflation, and supply shortages. Mineral exports, agriculture, and tourism are the main foreign currency earners of Zimbabwe.
Harare 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. Harare is currently ranked 275 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 276 international locations. The cost of living overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:
Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 268 out of 276.
Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 257 out of 276.
Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 270 out of 276.
Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 236 out of 276.
Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 256 out of 276.
Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 275 out of 276.
Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 276 out of 276.
Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 260 out of 276.
Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 264 out of 276.
Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 265 out of 276.
Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 255 out of 276.
Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 271 out of 276.
Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 269 out of 276.
Your exact customized cost of living index for Harare is based on which of the above basket groups as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators.
In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Harare is ranked as an extreme hardship location with a hardship index of 40%.
Your exact customized hardship index premium for Harare is based on the comparison location that you select in the Calculators.
Zambia, Lusaka Cost of Living January 2010
LOCATION: Zambia is in Southern Africa, east of Angola.
CAPITAL CITY: Lusaka
LARGEST CITY: Lusaka
CURRENCY: Zambian Kwacha (ZMK)
ECONOMY: Zambia is a low-income developing country. The Zambian economy has historically been based on the copper mining industry. Output of copper had fallen, however, to a low of 228,000 metric tons in 1998, after a 30 year decline in output due to lack of investment, low copper prices, and uncertainty over privatization. In 2002, following privatization of the industry, copper production rebounded to 337,000 metric tons. Improvements in the world copper market have magnified the effect of this volume increase on revenues and foreign exchange earnings. The Zambian government is pursuing an economic diversification programme to reduce the economy's reliance on the copper industry. This initiative seeks to exploit other components of Zambia's rich resource base by promoting agriculture, tourism, gemstone mining, and hydro-power.
Lusaka 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. Lusaka is currently ranked 114 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 276 international locations. The cost of living overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:
Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 66 out of 276.
Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 191 out of 276.
Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 218 out of 276.
Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 87 out of 276.
Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 92 out of 276.
Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 162 out of 276.
Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 142 out of 276.
Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 126 out of 276.
Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 182 out of 276.
Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 112 out of 276.
Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 72 out of 276.
Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 145 out of 276.
Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 91 out of 276.
Your exact customized cost of living index for Lusaka is based on which of the above basket groups as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators.
In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Lusaka is ranked as a high degree of hardship location with a hardship index of 30%.
Your exact customized hardship index premium for Lusaka is based on the comparison location that you select in the Calculators.
CAPITAL CITY: Lusaka
LARGEST CITY: Lusaka
CURRENCY: Zambian Kwacha (ZMK)
ECONOMY: Zambia is a low-income developing country. The Zambian economy has historically been based on the copper mining industry. Output of copper had fallen, however, to a low of 228,000 metric tons in 1998, after a 30 year decline in output due to lack of investment, low copper prices, and uncertainty over privatization. In 2002, following privatization of the industry, copper production rebounded to 337,000 metric tons. Improvements in the world copper market have magnified the effect of this volume increase on revenues and foreign exchange earnings. The Zambian government is pursuing an economic diversification programme to reduce the economy's reliance on the copper industry. This initiative seeks to exploit other components of Zambia's rich resource base by promoting agriculture, tourism, gemstone mining, and hydro-power.
Lusaka 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. Lusaka is currently ranked 114 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 276 international locations. The cost of living overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:
Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 66 out of 276.
Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 191 out of 276.
Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 218 out of 276.
Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 87 out of 276.
Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 92 out of 276.
Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 162 out of 276.
Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 142 out of 276.
Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 126 out of 276.
Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 182 out of 276.
Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 112 out of 276.
Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 72 out of 276.
Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 145 out of 276.
Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 91 out of 276.
Your exact customized cost of living index for Lusaka is based on which of the above basket groups as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators.
In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Lusaka is ranked as a high degree of hardship location with a hardship index of 30%.
Your exact customized hardship index premium for Lusaka is based on the comparison location that you select in the Calculators.
Yemen, Sanaa Cost of Living January 2010
LOCATION: Yemen is in the Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia.
CAPITAL CITY: Sanaa
LARGEST CITY: Sanaa
CURRENCY: Yemeni Rial (YER)
ECONOMY: Yemen is a low-income developing country. Remittances from Yemenis working abroad and foreign aid pays for trade deficits. Substantial Yemeni communities exist in many countries of the world. Yemen?s economy is highly dependent on oil production, with the country?s oil exports accounting for around 85 percent of export revenues.
Sanaa 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. Sanaa is currently ranked 272 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 276 international locations. The cost of living overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:
Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 264 out of 276.
Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 273 out of 276.
Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 240 out of 276.
Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 253 out of 276.
Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 276 out of 276.
Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 274 out of 276.
Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 272 out of 276.
Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 258 out of 276.
Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 232 out of 276.
Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 225 out of 276.
Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 226 out of 276.
Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 233 out of 276.
Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 188 out of 276.
Your exact customized cost of living index for Sanaa is based on which of the above basket groups as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators.
In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Sanaa is ranked as an extreme hardship location with a hardship index of 40%.
Your exact customized hardship index premium for Sanaa is based on the comparison location that you select in the Calculators.
CAPITAL CITY: Sanaa
LARGEST CITY: Sanaa
CURRENCY: Yemeni Rial (YER)
ECONOMY: Yemen is a low-income developing country. Remittances from Yemenis working abroad and foreign aid pays for trade deficits. Substantial Yemeni communities exist in many countries of the world. Yemen?s economy is highly dependent on oil production, with the country?s oil exports accounting for around 85 percent of export revenues.
Sanaa 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. Sanaa is currently ranked 272 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 276 international locations. The cost of living overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:
Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 264 out of 276.
Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 273 out of 276.
Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 240 out of 276.
Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 253 out of 276.
Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 276 out of 276.
Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 274 out of 276.
Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 272 out of 276.
Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 258 out of 276.
Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 232 out of 276.
Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 225 out of 276.
Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 226 out of 276.
Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 233 out of 276.
Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 188 out of 276.
Your exact customized cost of living index for Sanaa is based on which of the above basket groups as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators.
In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Sanaa is ranked as an extreme hardship location with a hardship index of 40%.
Your exact customized hardship index premium for Sanaa is based on the comparison location that you select in the Calculators.
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