Moscow world's most expensive city for expats: study

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Moscow is the world's most expensive city for expats, while Tokyo has pipped London to move into second place, according to a global cost of living survey published Thursday.

The study takes New York as the base measure for prices, comparing over 200 items, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment, in 143 cities across the globe.

Europe and Asia dominate the top 10 in the study by British-based consultancy firm Mercer, while the Paraguayan capital Asuncion is the least expensive for the sixth straight year.

The weakening dollar has a key impact on costs for expatriate staff, making American cities comparatively cheap for non-Americans while US executives sent abroad by their firms face huge bills in...