World’s most expensive city you probably never want to live in
The Angolan capital Luanda has regained the top spot in an annual survey of the most expensive cities for expatriates, followed by Moscow and Tokyo. The survey by the Mercer consulting group is published annually to help companies assess compensation allowances for expatriate workers. It compares the cost of over 200 items in 214 cities, including housing, food, transport and entertainment. “Despite being one of Africa’s major oil producers, Angola is a relatively poor country yet expensive for expatriates since imported goods can be costly,” Barb Marder, a senior partner at Mercer, said in a statement. “In addition, finding secure living accommodations that meet the standards of expatriates can be […]
Europe’s new hotspots
Iceland and Slovakia are among the fastest-growing tourist destinations in Europe for foreign tourists this year. According to the latest report out of the European Travel Commission, Iceland experienced an impressive 30% spike in foreign arrivals in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the same period last year. Slovakia saw a 20% increase in international visitors this spring. Overall, growth was strongest in smaller European regions such as the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Montenegro, Latvia, and Croatia, for example, each recorded a 9 percent growth, while visitor growth in Hungary and Poland also increased about 7 percent. Meanwhile, editors at Lonely Planet also named Iceland or rather northern Iceland, […]