World's most expensive cities

CNN/Money ^ | June 14, 2004

[tdadams]

Expensive living is yours for the taking if you're an ex-pat living in Tokyo, London and Moscow.

Those three cities ranked as the most expensive in the world, according to the latest annual cost-of-living survey released Monday by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

The three least expensive cities were Asuncion, Paraguay; Montevideo, Uruguay; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

[snip]

The goods and services include the monthly rent for a two-bedroom luxury apartment unfurnished, the cost of a hamburger, the price of transportation and entertainment.

For one month in that two-bedroom apartment in Tokyo, you'll drop a stunning $4,501. In Paris, you can expect to pay $2,422 and in Beijing about $3,700.

The same flat in London will cost you about $3,603, whereas in New York you'll pay about $3,500. The best deals are in Buenos Aires or Johannesburg, where such an apartment will only cost you about $600.

[tdadams]

$4500 a month for a two bedroom apartment? Who spends like that?

[KangarooJacqui]

The Japanese, it seems.

[struggle]

OSAKA! OSAKA! ARE MO KORE MO ANDE!
OSAKA! OSAKA! EE TOKO YA DE OIDE!

OSAKA #4 KAIYO! NANDEYANEN!!!!!!
I lived in Osaka for a year in a 10 by 18 foot apartment for $560 a month! But Osaka is number 1!

[NautiNurse]

Few surprises here--although it's hard to believe Miami is more expensive than Boston.

Years ago, Copenhagen was at the top of the list.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I guess living in Alabama means I have no ambition.

[tdadams]

I flew over Osaka last November. I was just amazed at how incredibly huge it is. It just spreads out forever.

[cav68]

Democrats

[Lakeside]

Ha! Sweet Home Alabama. Ain't it great? (she types while looking at the lake while drinking her morning coffee. Ambition? What's that?) I live in paradise and it doesn't cost a bundle.

[katana]

Somehow I think it's the 10 x 18 foot dimensions that will attract most peoples' attention, but you're right. If you can live like a local (as opposed to demanding American size floor space and furnishings) someplace other than the center of the capitol Japan can be quite livable.

[ErnBatavia]

Is Choctaw County still as rural and woodsy as it was 30 years ago? Butler is where most of my relatives on Mom's side live.

[clarissaexplainsitall]

Locals in NYC live in these types of small spaces. For years, I lived in a 450 sf two bedroom! But it was on Bleecker and West 10th Street. Location, location, location.

[clarissaexplainsitall]

Locals in NYC live in these types of small spaces. For years, I lived in a 450 sf two bedroom! But it was on Bleecker and West 10th Street. Location, location, location.

[Conspiracy Guy]

You've got that right.

[WKB]

Years ago, Copenhagen was at the top of the list.



A can of that stuff will cost you over $2.00 now.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Choctaw is so rural that they have unpaved the roads.

[Lakeside]

Yup. Sure is. Butler has grown a little (very little) but all around it is beautiful woods and hills.

[Lazamataz]

Choctaw is so rural that they have unpaved the roads.

Yeah, but taxes went way up, to pay for it.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Well of course.

[Lakeside]

Yea, but they repaired all those nasty little bridges around Butler. I'll have you know they are now wide AND blacktopped. Hehe

[tdadams]

How do you even fit two bedrooms into 450sf, assuming you also had something of a living room and kitchen?