Bangkok gets cheaper for expats Mercer survey lists most-expensive cities worldwide

Bangkok gets cheaper for expats
Mercer survey lists most-expensive cities worldwide

Bangkok has become a markedly cheaper place for expatriates to live in the past year, according to Mercer LLC’s annual list of the world’s most-expensive cities

Thailand's capital fell from 66 to 88 on the 2014 survey of 211 cities worldwide, which measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment. Rankings are based on fluctuations of currencies against the US dollar and the impact of inflation on goods and services using New York as a baseline. 

Luanda, Angola remained the world's most-expensive city for expats and three Asian cities - Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai - ranked in the top 10. Mercer said Beijing (11), Seoul (12), Osaka (23), Guangzhou (24), Nagoya, Japan (40), Nanjing (47), Tianjin (50), Shenyang (54), Taipei (61), Yangon (66), and Chengdu (71) all are more expensive than Bangkok this year.

"Japanese cities have dropped in the ranking this year as a result of the yen's weakening against the US dollar," said Nathalie Constantin-Métral, the Mercer principal who compiled the survey. "However, Chinese cities jumped in the ranking, including Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen, due to the strengthening of the Chinese yuan."

Bangkok dropped 22 places on this year's survey, due largely to the baht's depreciation against the dollar and political instability that has made expat-quality accommodations easier to procure.

"Rankings in many regions were affected by recent world events, including economic and political upheavals, which resulted in currency fluctuations, cost inflation for goods and services, and volatility in accommodation prices," said Ed Hannibal, Partner and Global Leader for Mercer's Mobility practice.

Two African cities, Luanda and N'Djamena, Chad, topped the Mercer list, even though they are relatively inexpensive cities, Mr Hannibal said. The reason is that both "are quite costly for expatriates since imported goods come at a premium. In addition, finding secure living accommodations that meet the standards of expatriates can be challenging and quite costly as well."

Rounding out the top 10 were Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Moscow. Karachi, Pakistan was named the least-expensive expat city while Phnom Penh (169) was Asia's least-expensive city.

Examples of costs driving the survey were rent of a two-bedroom unfurnished apartment. In Birmingham, England - which ranked just one place below Bangkok - a flat cost $1,406 a month while the same apartment in Hong Kong cost $6.960.

A movie ticket in Birmingham was $15.72 vs. $11.60 in Hong Kong, and cup of coffee was $3.72 vs. $6.64 in Hong Kong.

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Police lose drug suppression lead

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) plans to authorise provincial governors and district chiefs to take the lead in narcotics suppression in their areas instead of local police 

In a three-hour meeting on narcotic suppression policies with 1,350 provincial authorities at the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok on Thursday, assistant army chief Gen Paiboon Khumchaya, who supervises legal and justice affairs for the NCPO, said that authority over narcotics suppression would be taken back from the police and politicians and delegated to provincial governors and district chiefs as the latter were naturally responsible for the well-being of their local people.

Gen Paiboon said laws would be amended to give the authority to provincial governors and district chiefs and it would include the power to promote and demote government officials in areas under their jurisdiction as far as drug suppression was concerned.

"You can tell me right away what the problems are and which laws must be amended. I can do it in seven days but you must do your best," Gen Paiboon told the meeting of provincial authorities including provincial governors, district chiefs and provincial police commanders.

The assistant army chief said during the tenure of the Pheu Thai-led coalition when former labour minister Chalerm Yubamrung supervised drug operations, power over narcotics suppression had been transferred to the police, and provincial governors had been powerless on drug control.

Gen Paiboon said narcotics problems and influential groups were rampant in Pattaya. He warned the authorities involved to stay away from illicit businesses or they would face tough action.

After the meeting, Gen Paiboon told reporters that the Ministry of Interior, which supervises provincial governors and district chiefs, will take the lead in narcotics suppression and provincial authorities would assigned to tackle narcotics problems systematically within three months.

He gave an assurance that he would support provincial and district authorities in their mission. He said he felt provincial governors and district chiefs were ready to take up the task.


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