Comments on: 8 Cities That Burn Through Your Money

By: Brendan

Brendan — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:42:35 +0000

Its interesting that Vegas was not one the list. As an american I always think of vegas as the place to go to burn though money. Its interesting to think about all these other citys.

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By: JoAnna

JoAnna — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:36:12 +0000

I wish I’d written this article a few years back before I considered going to Scandinavia for a study abroad program. I was floored by the prices in the major cities! Food, activities, transportation … luckily I found the best moments were unexpected and free, like the evening I wandered into a church to hear a choir practice.

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By: Emma

Emma — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:18:03 +0000

Great article. New York City is also so expensive

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By: JULIANE

JULIANE — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:54:38 +0000

Yea I had some friends who grew up there and knew the ropes. But lord if I had to figure it out myself, my wallet would be crying for mercy haha

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By: Jack is in London

Jack is in London — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:05:36 +0000

How did Zagat come to £58 for an 'average' dinner? You can get fantastic food for less than £30 per diner including wine, and more than decent (i.e. average…) for £15 or so!

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By: Sarah_Menkedick

Sarah_Menkedick — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:49:47 +0000

I've heard Moscow is out of control. I read that it's about ten dollars for a cappuccino in an expat cafe. In Beijing, the coffee was frighteningly expensive and my addiction threatened to drive me into destitution. It's around ten dollars for a quarter pound of coffee, and about five dollars for a cappuccino in a cafe. Thankfully beer was about fifty cents a bottle or I would've been hard up eating noodle soup in my torn jeans all year (which I was half the time anyway, but hey, beer prices allowed me to go for a hot pot from time to time.)

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By: Veronica

Veronica — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:06:51 +0000

Thanks! When did you live in Seoul? I'd love to hear about your experiences (especially where you found a deal). Yes, the Mercer ratings are surprising! One reason is because these ratings are based on cost of living estimates for expats working primarily in the business sector. Companies use ratings like these to decide whether it is economical to send employees abroad. Costs of necessary items, like food in supermarkets, are likely to be less pricey, especially for locals and budget travelers with a different lifestyle and a knack for finding a deal. That said, the Mercer ratings give us an idea of the places where we might need to watch our wallets. Seoul is one of the top three financial centers in the Asian region.

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By: Veronica

Veronica — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:00:15 +0000

Thanks! I agree– big, weallthy cities can be scary but also a lot of fun. It seems to me that being on the outside can sometimes be easier– you have the freedom to roam around and gawk at the wealth without the complications of watching all your hard-earned cash wither away. It seems to me like the political complications of this are quite complicated. Hopefully things will pick up soon for those most affected.

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By: Veronica

Veronica — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:54:35 +0000

Wow! I bet that was a shock– and an unsypmathetic station attendant to boot! Sometimes just arriving in a new place can be a jar to the system (financially speaking). Did you find more economical ways to have fun in Tokyo?

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By: Hal

Hal — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 02:46:12 +0000

Cool idea for an article, and well-written to boot. I'm surprised at how high up in the Mercer rankings Seoul is. Maybe it's different for Koreans themselves, but in my experience, it was quite cheap to live in (and/or visit) this fabulous city.

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