The Mercer CoL report suffers because it only seems to report on the costs of a few select expats. If you're in HR at Shell or BP and trying to figure out staff costs the list is useful. If you're an international playboy it's not that useful since you will be living more like a local than an oil industry expat. And believe me, locals in Luanda, Angola do not have one of the highest living costs in the world. More like one of the lowest.
As a contribution for people interested I'll breakdown living costs for an international playboy type on a budget in Cape Town, South Africa:
Basically, living in Cape Town Central Business District with lot's of bars/clubs nearby. Cost should be around....
$1,300 per month base for one person.
Including
Rent (likely very small, but nice enough, furnished studio apartment with parking)
Transport costs (basic car insurance, petrol for city trips, oil, bus fare when travelling by public transport, minor car servicing, the rare cab for CBD trips only late at night)
Food and Toiletries(Good whole foods, not packaged rubbish. But not organic The odd cheap meal out, but not really including eating out. The odd dinner for two...too.)
Cleaning supplies.
Internet and cell phone (3G or LTA. Limited to around 10 - 20 GB data per month. Internet expensive in SA. Moderate cellphone use)
Satelite TV (Also expensive in SA. Could do without it. Good for sports but SA is an ex-British colony. It's all rugby, cricket, soccer etc.)
Electricity
Gym (Use the gym in the apartment building. Around $60/month if you want an external gym)
Excluding:
Maid service/External laundry service
Clothing of any kind
Eating out. Partying in general
Capital cost and major repairs for the car
Medical costs and medical insurance.
Trips out of town.
Figure to add $200 per month at the low end for "entertainment"/partying, maybe up to $700 at the mid-level, and you have around $1,500 to $2,000 per month. which isn't really too bad. The split by category goes something like this:
Rent $650
Transport Costs $120
Food, Toiletries, Cleaning supplies $350
Internet and cellphone $65
Satelite TV $65
Electricity $35
As a contribution for people interested I'll breakdown living costs for an international playboy type on a budget in Cape Town, South Africa:
Basically, living in Cape Town Central Business District with lot's of bars/clubs nearby. Cost should be around....
$1,300 per month base for one person.
Including
Rent (likely very small, but nice enough, furnished studio apartment with parking)
Transport costs (basic car insurance, petrol for city trips, oil, bus fare when travelling by public transport, minor car servicing, the rare cab for CBD trips only late at night)
Food and Toiletries(Good whole foods, not packaged rubbish. But not organic The odd cheap meal out, but not really including eating out. The odd dinner for two...too.)
Cleaning supplies.
Internet and cell phone (3G or LTA. Limited to around 10 - 20 GB data per month. Internet expensive in SA. Moderate cellphone use)
Satelite TV (Also expensive in SA. Could do without it. Good for sports but SA is an ex-British colony. It's all rugby, cricket, soccer etc.)
Electricity
Gym (Use the gym in the apartment building. Around $60/month if you want an external gym)
Excluding:
Maid service/External laundry service
Clothing of any kind
Eating out. Partying in general
Capital cost and major repairs for the car
Medical costs and medical insurance.
Trips out of town.
Figure to add $200 per month at the low end for "entertainment"/partying, maybe up to $700 at the mid-level, and you have around $1,500 to $2,000 per month. which isn't really too bad. The split by category goes something like this:
Rent $650
Transport Costs $120
Food, Toiletries, Cleaning supplies $350
Internet and cellphone $65
Satelite TV $65
Electricity $35
