berrywoman Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 World's most expensive cities Survey: Tokyo and Osaka take top spots, followed by London, Moscow and Seoul. June 22, 2005: 2:40 PM EDT NEW YORK (CNN/Money) – It's hard to make New Yorkers feel good about the absurd amounts of money required to live comfortably in Gotham. But a survey out this week might at least make them feel a little better. That's because Tokyo continues to earn the dubious distinction of being the world's most expensive city to live in, according to a survey released this week by Mercer Human Resources Consulting. No. 2 on the list is Osaka, another major Japanese city, which moved up from its fourth place ranking last year. Osaka's ascent pushed London to No. 3, and Moscow to No. 4. Coming in fifth is Seoul, which ascended two spots from its position in last year's survey. As for New York, it fell one spot in the rankings to No. 13 on a worldwide basis, tying it with Dublin. But New York still ranks No. 1 in North America, followed by Los Angeles, which ranks No. 44 on a worldwide basis, White Plains, N.Y. which ranks No. 45, and San Francisco which ranks No. 50. Mercer conducts the survey to help multinational companies and governments determine how much to pay their expatriate employees. The survey includes 144 cities across the world, and measures costs including housing, food, clothing, transportation and entertainment. So, if your company is shipping you off to Tokyo and you're negotiating compensation, you might remind them that a luxury two-bedroom apartment unfurnished might cost you $4,595 a month. And you also might remind them that with coffee running at over $4 a cup, there is some risk you'll be less productive due to loss of caffeine unless you're adequately paid. If you're making a move domestically, and you're interested in finding the place where your dollar will go the farthest, try Winston Salem, N.C., which is the least expensive U.S. city surveyed and ranks No. 119 on a worldwide basis. Heading north, Ottawa will provide you with the most bang for your buck in North America. If you head south to South America, you'll encounter some of the world's least expensive cities due to the lingering effects of the devaluation of the Argentine currency in 2002 and subsequent financial crisis, Mercer said. Asuncion, Paraguay, again ranks as the world's least expensive city, according to the survey. It is closely preceded by Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Caracas. http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/21/pf/costliest_cities/ click hereto see the entire list... final thought.. I live in the 13 costliest city in the WORLD!! I need to move.. :cry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 So London's fallen behind Osaka again? It had moved up to number two last time!! Oh well, perhaps it'll regain its "rightful" place once the congestion charge goes up to eight quid a time!! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Justine* Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 82 Toronto, Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 Only 82?? Then Toronto must be dirt cheap! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Justine* Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 Rent is high in some areas, depends where you are. But compared to the other places on that list it's cheap I guess. Rent isn't $4000 a month, that's for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 And is there a "congestion charge" for driving into the city?? And are the traffic wardens like vultures?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Justine* Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 congestion charge? No, you can drive into the city for sure. Parking is pricey (like in any downtown I am sure) and the smog is really bad. Public transit is really good in Toronto, you can get anywhere quickly, but not enough people use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 Completely the opposite from London, then. There, the public transport sucks and it's overcrowded!! :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted June 25, 2005 Author Share Posted June 25, 2005 ahh NYC transit is ace... it'll get you anywhere in the 5 boroughs.. and an easy connection to a major station such as Grand Central or Penn Station...and you can hop on the Long Island Railroad.... and it runs 24hrs a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 And is it all safe nowadays?? Don't you have lots of those "guardian angels" riding around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted June 25, 2005 Author Share Posted June 25, 2005 oh dear, is that what you guys think.. lol NY isnt like the movies you know.. :rolleyes: :P its all perfectly fine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 Oh come on - everyone KNOWS it's exactly as it was depicted on Kojak and Hill Street Blues!! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted June 25, 2005 Author Share Posted June 25, 2005 :dozey: more like NYPDBlue... thats close enough.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 Seoul? dayum :stunned: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 :dozey: more like NYPDBlue... thats close enough.. Was Cagney & Lacey set in New York? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 Dublin is as pricey as NY?! :o But we're like 1/8 in size!! :stunned: Damn the government! Greedy b******s :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 Not as greedy as Ken Livingstone in London!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 Very very true but at least london is amazing shopping-wise! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 If you can afford the extortionate prices, and if you can fight your way through the crowds!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 And if you can avoid falling down the big shiney stairs of new look on oxford street :idea2: :dizzy2: No your arguements were better.... :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonabon Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 woohoo! sydney comes 20th! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 Probably because of Bondi!! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted June 27, 2005 Author Share Posted June 27, 2005 Pfft, so much for me moving to London.. :embarrased: :cry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Manchester is one cool City... Home of a King.... ! Watch this space ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaht!! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now