MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur cities among the cheapest in the world

Tokyo and Osaka in Japan are the most expensive cities in the world followed by London which remained top of the list in Europe because of its steep housing and transport costs, and Mercosur capitals are amongst the cheapest according to the latest report from Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

The report based on data from last March includes 144 cities in over 40 countries with New York as base reference with 100 points. This means Tokyo figures with 134,7 points and Asuncion, Paraguay, at the bottom of the list with 40,3 points.

Buenos Aires with 50,3 points figures in position 142, close to Montevideo, 53,5 points placed 140 and Caracas, Venezuela, 138 with 54,4 points. Lima, Peru figures as the dearest city in South America with 66,9 points.

The report is based on a poll and helps corporations and governments have an idea about levels of income for overseas officials, including the comparative cost of 200 different items such as housing, food, clothing, furniture, leisure.

London with 120 points is well ahead of Glasgow with 87,5 points and Birmingham with 85,8 points and ranked 47. Moscow figures in number 4 and is the second most expensive city in Europe with 119 points, followed by Geneva, 113,5 points and Zurich, 112,1.

New York is still the dearest city in USA, in position 13 and other cities similarly costly are Los Angeles, 86,7 points, position 44; San Francisco position 50; Chicago position 52 and Washington DC, position 78 with 77,4 points.

Toronto was the most expensive city of Canada placed 82 and in Oceania, Sydney came in 20 with Auckland and Wellington in positions 69 and 76.