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davecanadaFeb 17, 2012
Folks, it actually helps if you read the article...
blinker1315Feb 16, 2012
Tokyo, at least to an American, is outrageously priced. Fabulous city, but man, when the start of the taxi meter is about 10 bucks, you know your wallet's going to be emptied very fast.
anomaly100Feb 16, 2012
Damn, the clothes there - even the crappiest ones - are so expensive!
blinker1315Feb 16, 2012
Then again, you can walk the streets at 3 a.m. and not worry at all.
anomaly100Feb 16, 2012
I remember. I couldn't believe it the first time someone told me that when I was there. I thought they were nuts. I walked around all the time - of course, I went out every night back then.
clitniblr036Feb 17, 2012
I used to like how they would stock beer in their vending machines. I thought that was pretty neat back in the day.
Going clubbing all night til the sun came up and that wasn't even the best part. Going back to the hotel with a young hottie out of a crowd of young hotties every night was always the highlight for the evening.
Oh, the good ole days. (sigh)
superkendallFeb 17, 2012
There are a ton of cities where you can wander around at 3am.
utinamFeb 17, 2012
I've lived here for 4 years and never 'noticed' how expensive it is; you get used to it--and for every overpriced boutique you can find, there's another around the corner selling a new pair of shoes for 500 yen (~$6) and an outfit for as much. It's only expensive to tourists (no one takes a taxi unless they don't care about money or it's past 1 AM but not yet 5 AM); unless we're talking rent, which then it's outrageous anywhere near the capital.
screwkevinFeb 16, 2012
If Moscow is higher on that list than New York, how the heck do people survive there when their average salary is around $1500/month???
theveivFeb 16, 2012
They hunt.
caseycooldFeb 16, 2012
These number are not very meaningful at all. And it doesn't include real estate? It's liek taking a math test and never actually reading the problem.
fairdinkummateFeb 17, 2012
"The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey is a full service that enables human resources line managers and expatriate executives to compare the cost of living in 140 cities in 93 countries and calculate fair compensation policies for relocating employees."
How do you think they calculate te cost of living in a city without including the cost of somewhere to live in that city?
MORON!
caseycooldFeb 20, 2012
"keep in mind that real estate prices aren't factored into the survey"
Moron, eh?
camillewurmFeb 17, 2012
Ah, there is a reason for the Swiss Bank Account!
thrusthamsterFeb 17, 2012
Didn't need to read it to know that Oslo would be in the top 5. And worse, that opera house they used as an image is the only nice thing we have.
WineLandSAFeb 17, 2012
Isn't Luanda, Angola, the world's most expensive city?
jamboidFeb 17, 2012
I read an article on Digg (I think) just a couple of weeks ago saying that the most expensive city in the world is in Angola.
Expatriates there are paying something crazy like $20,000 monthly for their apartments (I can't remember the exact amounts).
blade201Feb 17, 2012
I thought Vancouver was the most expensive? It was even on the news a few days ago.
fairdinkummateFeb 17, 2012
Vancouver rates as one of the "most liveable cities in the world", not the most expensive. It wins this title regularly, but gave it up this year to Melbourne, Australia(which is apparently more liveable but MUCH more expensive!)
lordgagaFeb 17, 2012
IIRC: Vancouver was rated most expensive in North America, whereas this is the full worldwide list.
ngwrightFeb 17, 2012
I've lived in Vancouver and was surprised that it beat out New York for most expensive NA city
parasangerFeb 17, 2012
I am somehow saddened that my own San Francisco didn't rate expensive enough. Hipsters give a collective sigh of relief.
DemografixFeb 16, 2012
Not surprised to see Sydney up there, that's were I live and it's bloody expensive, especially house prices which are the highest in the world.
IxodoiFeb 16, 2012
Well in the fast 10 years Sydney climbed more than 70 places. This is mainly due to your coin and how strong it has become.
ancientdinkoFeb 17, 2012
It will be interesting to see what affect the changes in foreign ownership laws will have on Sidney in the years to come. Like Sidney, Vancouver is expensive because foreign investors only buy real estate. They drive up the cost of houses and don't contribute to the local economy, infrastructure or industries. This means the average person commutes more, pays more for gas, rent, property taxes etc. and has fewer prospects for a good paying job....
ngwrightFeb 17, 2012
Like Australia, the currency is also much more valuable than it was a few years ago. The City of Vancouver really needs to get off its ass and tax those people and companies who are buying condos and apartments and leaving them empty. Other cities already do this to incentivize people to rent them out
BullHawkFeb 17, 2012
Sydney house prices (in fact Australian house prices) are only thought to be 'most expensive in the world' because of the Demographia survey. But there are lots of flaws in that survey, they have incorrect income calculations.
See here..... http://australianpropertyforum.com/topic/9358309/5/#post8287630
I agree Australia is expensive, but there are plenty of places with more expensive housing.
lidintruthFeb 17, 2012
Hope that they never forget God