How is the survey used?
Who subscribes to the survey?
Which cities are covered?
What types of product are included in the survey?

How is the survey used?

The Worldwide Cost of Living survey 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.

The survey gathers detailed information on the cost of more than 160 items--from food, toiletries and clothing to domestic help, transport and utility bills--in every city. More than 50,000 individual prices are collected in each survey round, which take place in March and September, and surveys are updated each June and December. A cost-of-living index is calculated from the price data to express the difference in the cost of living between any two cities.

Companies can then apply this index to an executive's spendable income to reach a fair cost of living allowance. The purpose of a cost of living allowance is to reimburse employees for excess living costs resulting from a foreign assignment. Payment is based on the assumption that an expatriate has a right to live at the assignment site in the same manner and with the same kind of goods and services he would find at home. A salary calculator on the site enables you to make these calculations within seconds.

The survey also contains price information for other cost categories, helping you create separate allowances to cover housing costs, school fees and business trips. In addition, background information is provided on each city's housing market and on local disposable income levels.

 Who subscribes to the survey?

Remuneration is not the sole preserve of HR directors, personnel managers or vice presidents of people. Our list of buyers reflects this, increasingly so as people management responsibilities spread throughout organisations. Clients include heads of research, accountants and strategy advisors as well as CEOs, CFOs and, of course, the HR director.

Which cities are covered? 

It is also possible conduct one-off surveys of cities not included in the list above or of a selection of items not included in the normal basket. For more details of the opportunities for custom surveys, please contact the Economist Intelligence Unit.

What types of product are included in the survey?

Each city report lists local prices for 167 products and services. These are divided into 13 sub-categories, the first 10 of which are included in the weighted index calculation: 

 The final three subcategories are included in the price survey but not included in the index calculation: