Health
Check that Dollar's Worth Abroad
If you're thinking of a spur-of-the-moment trip -- or a possible move to another country, some research might help before you head off or sell the homestead.
You wouldn't want to find out too late that what costs a dollar in Denver might run two or three times that in, say, London or Tokyo. The Economist magazine's Intelligence Unit periodically releases statistics on the cost of living in various cities around the world, and the latest one provides some surprises.
Tokyo, at the top of the most expensive cities, isn't a surprise, since it held the title last year as well. London has risen to 6th most expensive, 12 percent more expensive than New York City, well down at No. 22.
Europe's costliest city is Oslo, ranking 4th in the world league, followed by Zurich. Paris, in 7th place, is a bit cheaper than London. Moscow, 4th in the table at one point last year, is now down at 10th as prices there have gone into steep decline.
Eastern Europe in general is the best bet for a cheap destination, and Budapest is 114th out of the 119 cities ranked. At the bottom, and least expensive, is Jakarta -- but read the headlines in the latest newspapers before you book the air ticket.
You wouldn't want to find out too late that what costs a dollar in Denver might run two or three times that in, say, London or Tokyo. The Economist magazine's Intelligence Unit periodically releases statistics on the cost of living in various cities around the world, and the latest one provides some surprises.
Tokyo, at the top of the most expensive cities, isn't a surprise, since it held the title last year as well. London has risen to 6th most expensive, 12 percent more expensive than New York City, well down at No. 22.
Europe's costliest city is Oslo, ranking 4th in the world league, followed by Zurich. Paris, in 7th place, is a bit cheaper than London. Moscow, 4th in the table at one point last year, is now down at 10th as prices there have gone into steep decline.
Eastern Europe in general is the best bet for a cheap destination, and Budapest is 114th out of the 119 cities ranked. At the bottom, and least expensive, is Jakarta -- but read the headlines in the latest newspapers before you book the air ticket.
