Tokyo, Japan is Now the World's Most Expensive City for Expats for 2012

Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, has now surpassed Luanda, Angola as the world's most expensive city for expatriates, according to the latest report by Mercer, a research agency. 

Completing the top five are Osaka, Moscow, and Geneva. Many European cities have dropped down several ranks lower due to currency fluctuations, while many Asian cities have ranked higher or have maintained their positions from last year, due to a more stable economic situation. Paris, for example, dropped from the 27th spot in 2011 to the 37th in 2012. Stockholm, Sweden, meanwhile, dropped from the 39th spot to the 46th. 

This annual study, which covers over 200 cities around the world, measures the cost of different items or commodities at each of these locations, and compares them with all other cities included in the study. Usually, the cost of housing plays the biggest role in determining the rankings of these different cities, as this is usually the most important factor that people consider before moving in to another city abroad. 

Listed below are the different cities in the list, paired with sample average prices of different items according to numbeo.com, the largest cost of living database online.

1. Tokyo, Japan

Price of 1 cinema ticket: Php862.96

Price of a pack of cigarettes: Php238.34

Price of gasoline per liter: Php79.57

2. Luanda, Angola

Price of milk (1 liter): Php124.36

Price of rent per month (1-bedroom apartment in city centre): Php169,175.19

Price of potato (1 kg): Php213.18

3. Osaka, Japan

Price of bottled water: Php44.88

Price of 1 cinema ticket: Php1,038.17

Price of apples (1 kg): Php663.56

4. Moscow, Russia

Price of combo meal at fastfood restaurant: Php355.70

Price of fresh cheese (1 kg): Php428.25

Price of imported beer: Php107.41

5. Geneva, Switzerland

Price of three-course meal for two: Php4,652.67

Price of gasoline (1 liter): Php82.66

Price of Nike shoes: Php7,413.67

6. Zurich, Switzerland

Price of domestic beer: Php303.67

Price of oranges (1 kg): Php156.32

Price of taxi ride (1km): Php157.52

7. Singapore

Price of rent per month (three-bedroom apartment in city centre): Php201,074.23

Price of chicken breasts (1 kg): Php69.10

Price of one-way subway ticket: Php57.86

8. N'Djamena, Chad

Price of combo meal at fastfood restaurant: Php765.06

Price of gasoline (1 liter): Php73.54

Price of taxi meter flat rate: Php127.51

9. Hong Kong, China

Price of 1 pack of cigarettes: Php261.27

Price of 1 regular-sized Cappuccino: Php202.00

Price of rent per month (three-bedroom apartment in city centre): Php330,150.67

10. Nagoya, Japan

Price of lettuce: Php166.05

Price of internet (monthly; 6mbps): Php2,213.96

Price of 1 cinema ticket: Php966.56

Filipino Chef Recreates Record-Breaking Sushi

24-year old Filipino chef Angelito Araneta Jr., dubbed as the "Karat Chef", made it to the Guinness Book of of Records in 2010 when he created the most expensive sushi ever made, costing around Php91,800 (or US$1978.15). 

He recently recreated the dish at a restaurant in Makati City, which was wrapped in 24-karat gold leaf, placing three Mikimoto pearls on top of them as well as an African diamond which costs about P100,000 each. 

Most Expensive Cities in the World for 2011

If you're thinking of leaving the country to live abroad, you'd be better off avoiding these cities. Towards the middle of the year, the consulting firm Mercer released a list of the top ten most and least expensive cities in the world for 2011, basing it on the cost of living in these cities. It isn't really surprising to find Tokyo and Singapore on this list, though there are others that are quite surprising--Luanda (the capital of Angola) topped the list.  Imagine paying over $20 just for a sandwich! 

On the other hand, Mercer also released a list of the top ten least expensive cities in the world for 2011, though I'll be reserving the list for another blog entry. 

So, what are the most expensive cities in the world? Here they are (prices of items/commodities are estimates):

1. Luanda, Angola

Cost of movie ticket: $22

Cost of two-bedroom apartment (unfurnished): $7000

2. Tokyo, Japan

 Cost of subway ticket: $3.91

Cost of fast food meal (Big Mac): $4.17

3. N'Djamena, Chad

 Price of apartment (furnished): $525

Price of apples (1 kg): $11

4. Moscow, Russia

 Price of movie ticket: $9.05

Price of 3-bedroom apartment (rent): $3,570

5. Geneva, Switzerland

 Price of bottled water: $2.92

Price of pack of cigarettes: $7.32

6. Osaka, Japan

 Price of fast food meal: $10.49

Price of gasoline (per liter): $1.73

7. Zurich, Switzerland

 Price of subway ticket: $4.53

Price of movie ticket: $19.17

8. Singapore, Singapore

 Price of Cappuccino (regular): $4.14

Price of eggs (1 dozen): $2.06

9. Hong Kong, China

 Price of one pair of jeans (Levi's): $111.09

Price of oranges (1 kg): $2.82

10. Sao Paulo, Brazil

 Price of subway ticket: $1.72

Price of cheese (1 kg): $9.12

Some of the World's Most Expensive Food

Most Expensive Dessert

 

If you think paying about P170 for a single scoop of ice cream at Haagen-Dazs is ridiculous, then you obviously haven't heard of The Frrrozen Haute Chocolate sundae, which they serve over at the Serendipity 3 restaurant in New York City, USA. This frozen goodness is currently the Guinness World Record holder for the "Most Expensive Dessert", which has a selling price of US$25,000, or at least P1,060,000!

So, what makes this sundae so expensive? Apparently, it is made from top-grade cocoa from 14 different countries, decorated with a truffle that costs thousands of dollars. It is also topped with at least 5 grams of edible gold, and is served on a gold goblet with 1 carat diamonds. The spoon is also decorated with 3 carat diamonds.

 

Most Expensive Omelet

Just like the chocolate sundae listed above, the world's most expensive omelet can also be found in New York City. Priced at $1,000, the Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata is served at the Le Parker Meridien Hotel. According to luxurylaunches.com, the omelet is made with "six eggs, the tail of a roasted Maine Lobster, 10 ounces of Sevruga caviar, all priced for a $1,000. The caviar used in the Zillion Dollar Frittata supposedly comes from the Caspian Sea sturgeon and retails for $80-$170 an ounce."

 

Most Expensive Sandwich

The von Essen Platinum Club Sandwich, priced at $200, may be found at Cliveden's Waldo Restaurant in Berkshire, United Kingdom, and was created by James Parkinson. Weighing 530 grams, the sandwich is made from Iberico Ham (cured for 30 months), white truffles, quail eggs, Italian tomatoes (semi-dried), poulet de Bresse,  and fermented sour dough bread. According to it's creator, “The Platinum Club sandwich is made from the very finest ingredients and the taste is simply sublime. It’s a sandwich that lives-up to the sumptuous setting of Cliveden and its magnificent culinary pedigree.”

Most Expensive Hot Dog

The most expensive hot dog in the world right now is yet another creation of the chefs over at the Serendipity 3 restaurant in New York City. This hot dog is called the Foot Long Haute Dog, currently priced at $69. It is made from pure beef grilled in white truffle oil. The buns, meanwhile, are shipped in from Germany, toasted in truffle butter. Luxurylaunches.com adds that "this 30 cm roll will be served with medallions of duck foie gras with black truffles, black truffle Dijon mustard, caramelized Vidalia onions and heirloom tomato ketchup."