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A comprehensive cost of living survey was recently conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting and, for the second year in a row, Moscow topped the list. I’ve been to Moscow. I can tell you first-hand: dinner and a recently-released Hollywood movie costs you about as much as your monthly car payment (if you go, though, be sure to order the pelmeni; at a good restaurant it’s almost totally worth it).
Moving up from the number 5 spot to number 2 –that’s right blokes—London, where even a McDonald’s combo-meal will set you back a day’s pay. The survey included 143 cities across six continents and measured the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. Here’s the top 10 with the rest of the list after the jump.
I am surprised to see Seoul so high on the list. I spent some time there about a decade ago and it was very inexpensive. It really depends on where you go.
For instance, if you eat at a Korean restaurant - the kind where you sit on the floor and cook the food at your table using red-hot rocks (Among the most delicious food I have ever eaten) the cost comes out to less than $4 per person, including four courses. However if you go to a TGIFriday’s, or the like, the cost was more than $35 per person - no dessert.
Plus, the counterfeit products cost next to nothing (I have a good/bad story about that).
posted by n2y2 on 6-20-2007 at 8:51 am
wow. europe is getting expensive and the us is getting cheap(er). i wonder if i should be surprised? still, london was a shocker at no. 2 i guess i should follow current events more often if im this surprised at where everyone is on that list.
posted by trouble on 6-20-2007 at 9:46 am
Well, now I know where not to go on vacation. Anyone know of a study showing the *cheapest* destinations in the world?
posted by Tru on 6-20-2007 at 10:22 am
I notice South America skipped this list entirely. Guess I’m going South o’ the border for vacation.
posted by Tei on 6-20-2007 at 10:34 am
Wow, Los Angeles dropped down from #29 to #42(the answer to the universe.It really should be much higher if you just isolated the Beach Cities.
Housing-1940’s Cottage 1100 sq. ft.
$1,000,000
New construction will run between $2,000,000 & $3,000,000 ( without a yard)
Transportation-1 SUV for Mom $50,000
1 BMW for Dad $75,000
1 Minivan for Nanny
$25,000
Food-This number can vary depending on if they are health conscious and shop at the farmer’s market & Trader Joe’s Or eat out 7 nights a week.
Clothing-Sheesh, the kids go to school in little Juciy Couture outfits. I honestly can’t imagine how much the parents spent on clothes! $ TOO MUCH
Household Goods-Flat screen Tv’s with full satellite, Over stocked pantries from Cost-co (look at us we’re thrifty) ,Is a Nanny, a Gardener and the Housekeeper considered household goods? They are Good for the House? $100,000
Entertainment-Let’s see you have season tickets to the Lakers,the Kings,the Disney Concert Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, The Limo et all, for the Oscars, if you are “in the business” Plus your Netflix subscription @ $4.99 a month.(That brings us to about…)
First Place,(thanks to Netflix :)
posted by CropTillDawn on 6-20-2007 at 10:37 am
Seoul does seem a little high on the list, but I think that it’s as high as it is because of the cost of housing. Food and stuff is cheap-dirt cheap compared with the States- except if you eat at TGI Fridays, or Outback, but it doesn’t taste very good, so why would you?(They used whipping cream to make sour cream when I ate at one in Seoul once)But, housing is ridiculously expensive. You have to put “key money” down in order to rent (kind of like a deposit) and it can run into the thousands (of dollars). Theoretically you can get it back, but it’s not easy. Plus the apartments are closet-sized. Gas is also really expensive, but I didn’t have to worry about any of that when I lived in Korea. .. The school I worked for paid for it.
posted by greenstrawberries on 6-20-2007 at 11:12 am
I have to agree with CropTillDawn; I go to Europe regularly, and with the exception of London nothing is really more expensive than my home city of West Hollywood. Can’t even imagine how Beverly Hills or Malibu would stack up.
posted by Fernando on 6-20-2007 at 5:19 pm
Hong Kong’s listing is like korea and is a little misleading as the high cost of living there is almost entirely comprised of the ridiculous prices in the housing market. (public) transport, clothing, food, shopping and entertainment is cheaper than any major city I’ve been to in the US.
posted by Joman on 6-20-2007 at 11:32 pm
I’m frankly amazed that Vancouver’s not on the list. Is local income taken into account as well, perhaps?
posted by Thursday on 6-21-2007 at 11:51 pm
Tru asked: “Anyone know of a study showing the *cheapest* destinations in the world?”
Well, Pittsburgh is nice this time of year.
Wow! I knew Moscow would be high but I would have guessed it to be around 10th.
posted by Tdave on 6-23-2007 at 1:45 am
By boyfriend recently returned to London after spending a year in Auckland (New Zealand, a relatively inexpensive city) only to find it cost him 17 pounds for two cups of tea at a cafe Piccadilly Circus. He was not impressed.
posted by Bobofett on 7-7-2007 at 8:11 pm
I knew I lived in an expensive city but I am totally shocked to see mine on that list! My city is a dump!
posted by Ari on 8-15-2008 at 4:39 am
I live in Birmingham, UK and don’t find it that bad (I guess because I’m used to it). But last year I spent a weekend in London and it easily set us back £200, even though we got our hotel, the London Dungeons and Madame Tassauds for free!
However I don’t think a McDonald’s meal would set you back an entire day’s pay! Maybe an hour’s pay, though.
posted by Nikki on 8-15-2008 at 8:55 am
Bratislava? Eurotrip anyone? Ok it wasnt nearly that bad when I was there but still, I got an amazing 3 course meal for 3 Euros, which was around 33 korunas… I cant see how Bratislava is so high on the list!
posted by Mike S. on 8-15-2008 at 9:04 am
I’m wondering why Vancouver isn’t on this list as well.
posted by Mark on 8-15-2008 at 9:33 pm
Moscow at the top? My hometown at 12th? this list is such a sham its really quite affordable at these cities. Its only if you go to the ultra touristy based places where you’ll truly be had on price. I mean i can get a big lunch with a main and appetizer for 3 for 30$.
posted by sonata on 8-19-2008 at 12:49 am