Most Expensive Cities for ExPats to Live

[TotallyOz]

The survey covers 214 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. New York is used as the base city for the index and all cities are compared against New York. The cost of housing – often the biggest expense for expats - plays an important part in determining where cities are ranked.

 

http://www.guardian....ty-costs-living

[Guest beachlover]

A few surprises (or not surprises, depending on your awareness):

 

1. Sao Paulo, Brazil is more expensive than Sydney, Australia!

 

2. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil is more expensive than Melbourne, Australia!

 

3. Houston, USA is less expensive than Bangkok.

 

4. Sydney, Australia is more expensive than a lot of European cities like Brussels, Luxembourg, Vienna, Amsterdam, Munich and Berlin... In fact Sydney is rated quite expensive, more expensive than New York, San Fransisco, Rome etc...

 

London is more expensive than Sydney, but I've heard Sydney actually ends up more expensive than London when you do a cost of living vs average wages comparison.

 

Bangkok ranks pretty low/cheap on the list.

 

Should Thailand ever go to shit, some of you might consider Malaysia as an option. Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur appears very low. KL can be quite a beautiful thriving city. There's a decent sized non money boy gay scene there and whilst there's no gogo bars, I read there are moneyboys there on the old gayboythailand blog.

 

I think overall, this survey very much represents macro-statistics so it is less relevant on an individual basis.

[Guest fountainhall]

Sydney, Australia is more expensive than a lot of European cities like Brussels, Luxembourg, Vienna, Amsterdam, Munich and Berlin... In fact Sydney is rated quite expensive, more expensive than New York, San Fransisco, Rome etc...

 

London is more expensive than Sydney, but I've heard Sydney actually ends up more expensive than London when you do a cost of living vs average wages comparison

Given the cost of housing in Sydney and the continuing high valuation of the A$, I am really surprised that Sydney is not in the top half dozen. Perhaps because I have never been to those countries, I am also amazed at how expensive it is to live in Luanda, Ndjamena and Libreville! In fact, I had never heard of Ndjamena before today!

 

WIth the Baht now rising fast, look for Bangkok to climb up that table next year.

[Guest beachlover]

Yeah, true. I suppose I get used to it living here... But yeah, Sydney is freaking expensive compared to many other cities. Even other Australian cities are significantly cheaper than Sydney. A friend of mine moved here from Brisbane a couple of years ago. When he was hunting for a place to rent, he was gobsmacked how little his money got him here.... he had to settle for a lot less than he was used to having! ... Should've heard the filth coming out of his mouth LOL.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

But this is just comparing Bangkok. Their cost figures wouldn't hold up at all for out in rural areas, or even smaller locations like Pattaya. Bangkok and Phuket are for sure the most expensive places in Thailand that I have visited.

[Guest]

But this is just comparing Bangkok. Their cost figures wouldn't hold up at all for out in rural areas, or even smaller locations like Pattaya. Bangkok and Phuket are for sure the most expensive places in Thailand that I have visited.

 

I think Phuket is the most expensive that I visit. I love the city but only in small doses.

[Guest travelerjim]

I think Phuket is the most expensive that I visit. I love the city but only in small doses.

 

GT,

 

I agree...Phuket probably is more expensive,

but as I have not yet visited Koh Samui

and other places where real estate is targeting the wealthy,

there may be others vying for the most expensive crown.

 

On a better note, IMHO...at most affordable prices...yet

a great pace to visit and I think to retire to is this:

 

Personally, my favorite place in Thailand has been the

Thai City of Kaset Somboon. In Issan, about 100 km from Kohn Kaen,

and near Phu Khieo and Chaiyaphum.

 

http://travelingluck.com/Asia/Thailand/Chaiyaphum/_1607439_Phu+Khieo.html#local_map

 

Clean, wide streets, friendly locals, nice government hospital,

shopping.

 

A great little resort - BARRY HOUSE -

10 minutes from town - newly built by a UK man

and his Thai wife...8 large individual Cottages surrounding

a large swimming pool...with private patio seating area

overlooking the pool...

 

Great host and wonderful English Breakfast served 100 baht...

nice bar and internet too...just a very pleasant place.

 

from TeakDoor:

 

Barry House Kaset Somboon Reviews:

 

***Found this cracking little resort up in rural Chaiyapoom.

Run by a nice Guy from london, Barry, and his wife.

Lovely bungalows/chalets placed around a swimming pool.

 

There is a bar and outdoor gym. They do western food and have

a Thai menu also. The rooms were 400b per night with aircon

but cheap charlies can save 50b if they only use the fans.

Sorry don't have photos.

 

***Stayed Feb 2010, Cracking little resort with nice pool,

good food, clean rooms and run by a top bloke!

 

Barry House: 044869250 or 0817304977

 

 

 

400 baht off season, 500 baht high season

[Guest fountainhall]

Personally, my favorite place in Thailand has been the

Thai City of Kaset Somboon. In Issan, about 100 km from Kohn Kaen,

and near Phu Khieo and Chaiyaphum.

Scooby - this is a great report by tj. Is there any way the new site could have a section specifically for such valuable tips as this? Since i have been reading this site, there have been loads of excellent recommendations of inexpensive, quality places to stay. But when I try to find them some months later, it is always a huge headache - and I am usually unsuccessful. These tips are so valuable. Maybe you could have a restaurant section as well as a separate hotel/accommodation section?

[Guest HeyGay]

Now that Chiang Mai has been voted the cheapest place to live for your retirement, I would think all these type of surveys will do. is put the price up so it will not be soon.

 

I use to live in Florida, I use to go to Morocco a lot on vacation, I have a lot of good friends who invite me to go to Dubai and Qatar for a vacation.

 

What puts me off and drove me out of florida, is circumcision! I can stand it and love and easy peeler with a pink top, you can get them even in Thailand.

 

 

 

[TotallyOz]

Scooby - this is a great report by tj. Is there any way the new site could have a section specifically for such valuable tips as this? Since i have been reading this site, there have been loads of excellent recommendations of inexpensive, quality places to stay. But when I try to find them some months later, it is always a huge headache - and I am usually unsuccessful. These tips are so valuable. Maybe you could have a restaurant section as well as a separate hotel/accommodation section?

 

We will have this added to the list. Thank you for the suggestion. After the party this weekend, I'll pin the list back to the top of the site so others can add to it as well.

[Guest beachlover]

I think Phuket is the most expensive that I visit. I love the city but only in small doses.

 

I agree... The most expensive and the one that makes the least effort to please. All they have going for them is the natural beauty of the beaches.

[Guest beachlover]

But this is just comparing Bangkok. Their cost figures wouldn't hold up at all for out in rural areas, or even smaller locations like Pattaya. Bangkok and Phuket are for sure the most expensive places in Thailand that I have visited.

 

Well, of course. That would apply to every country they have covered.

 

I mean, Sydney (Australia) is rated quite highly on the list but I'm sure if you looked at some town out in 'woop woop' outback Australia it would be very cheap.

 

Some towns are so worthless, the local real estate agents don't find it profitable to sell properties. They have to sell entire streets to make it worthwhile (joke - but based on some real events).

[Guest fountainhall]

I don't want to pooh-pooh Sydney. I actually love the place. If I ever win a major lottery, my first purchase will be an apartment on the harbour there (fat chance, I know - but one lives and hopes). Apart from its absolutely stunning setting, the city has so much going for it. I think I have eaten more memorable meals there than anywhere else in my life (and I have been around a bit). The sun and thoughts of melanoma would worry me, but not enough to put me off. Plus, there are so many gorgeous Asians in that city, it is as close to heaven as I can think

[Guest beachlover]

Heh... You would have to win upwards $2 million for an apartment on the harbour... waterfront places are flipping costly here!

 

I get bored of Sydney, having lived here so long, but I have to admit the eating is great. And there are lots and lots of Asians in certain parts of the city. There's even an section in the central city area called, "Thainatown". It neighbours "Chinatown".

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I think I will stick with the cost of living out here in Eastern Thailand. Let's see for $2,000,000 I could buy....my goodness!!!

[Guest beachlover]

You could get an awesome apartment in Bangkok... that's what I would be getting if I had to buy there (not sure if I would though). Maybe a villa overlooking a beach in Phuket too...

[Guest GaySacGuy]

Is there some particular bank you plan to rob to finance all of these apartments and Villas???

[Guest fountainhall]

Heh... You would have to win upwards $2 million for an apartment on the harbour... waterfront places are flipping costly here!

Of that I am well aware. But once a month I do the 3-times-a-week Hong Kong lottery. The usual first prize is a measly US$650,000, but every couple of weeks there is no winner and so is rolled over - and often over again. One day I will win a jackpot of around $3 million. That's when I'll get my Sydney waterfront apartment

[Guest GaySacGuy]

Of that I am well aware. But once a month I do the 3-times-a-week Hong Kong lottery. The usual first prize is a measly US$650,000, but every couple of weeks there is no winner and so is rolled over - and often over again. One day I will win a jackpot of around $3 million. That's when I'll get my Sydney waterfront apartment

 

I kept thinking that about the California Lottery with its 30 million plus prizes..and then powerball with its 100 million plus prizes...and I am still waiting. BF hit Thai lottery for 14,000 baht, and was happy as hell. But not beachfront Villa

[Guest beachlover]

Yes... the bank of hard work

 

No, it was a hypothetical scenario... Referring to the lottery scenario fountainhall proposed above. I don't think I would ever buy an apartment in Bangkok unless I really decided to settle there... it's the kind of city where I'm quite happy staying in hotels when I visit.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

The Powerball Lottery in the US is the one to win. It gets to over 100Mil. often.

[Guest fountainhall]

The Powerball Lottery in the US is the one to win. It gets to over 100Mil. often.

But I'm not greedy!

[Guest beachlover]

Of that I am well aware. But once a month I do the 3-times-a-week Hong Kong lottery. The usual first prize is a measly US$650,000, but every couple of weeks there is no winner and so is rolled over - and often over again. One day I will win a jackpot of around $3 million. That's when I'll get my Sydney waterfront apartment

 

Heh... look, if you're going to have a lottery fantasy, may as well make it $10 million or $100 million

 

Having said that, I don't think I'd feel right if I won the lottery... It would be like receiving money for not doing anything, not adding any value. Just a personal thing. Strange huh.