World's Most Expensive Cities To Live

[Iraira]

Think your morning commute is expensive? Think again. The ride on a bus or subway in Tokyo costs $3.25. Grab a newspaper and a cup of coffee on the way and the total comes to $11.70. That's more than anywhere else in the world--24% more than what those same things cost in New York, even.

Tokyo is the world's most expensive city, according to Mercer's 2009 Worldwide Cost of Living survey released today, with the cost of living up 13.1% from 2008; the city ranked at No. 2 in 2008's survey. Japan's capital is followed by Osaka and Moscow, which held the top spot in last year's rankings. Geneva comes in fourth.

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/worlds-most-expensive-cities-to-live.html;_ylc=X3oDMTFiYzg2YzRtBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawNleHBlbnNpdmUtd29ybGQ-

[Behan]

But we can crash at Iraira's place for free. And he'll even make breakfast for us.

[Greji]

But we can crash at Iraira's place for free. And he'll even make breakfast for us.

This is all right except if there is a full moon. Then you have to sleep with your back to the wall.

[Iraira]

This is all right except if there is a full moon. Then you have to sleep with your back to the wall.

Full moons are reserved for _____(name withheld, as I'm not recreationally abusing sodium pentathol anymore). Other days are fine, and you'll find that the chains used to ummmm....keep you from sliding down the wall as you sleep....really don't chafe as much as you think they would.

[Dragonette]

But these lists always seem so bogus to me - it comes down to that vague 200 items, what unsubstitutable items are on that list, and who did the "shopping".

The first time I stayed in Tokyo, I was a little apprehensive about money, but soon found out that though some stuff was more pricey (taxi rides, hamburgers, those fancy melons...) other stuff was a lot cheaper than here. (Non-tourist hotels, green tea, fish, chicken, pork, ciggies, small neighborhood restaurants - and they were more fun, too...and now that I know about Iraira's open house it will be cheaper still!)

Same with Hawaii - apples, a small fortune; papaya, coconut, mango, pineapple - cheap, cheap, cheap by NY prices!

[Greji]

now that I know about Iraira's open house it will be cheaper still!

Yeah, but like any flop house, it's a no frills flight. If you don't complain, he won't even comp the body lotion for the chains...

[Samurai_Jerk]

The other problem with these indexes is that they change a lot based on exchange rates. If you're getting paid in dollars, SF and NYC aren't any cheaper than they were a couple of years ago and if you're getting paid in yen, Tokyo and Osaka aren't any more expensive.

Here's a news flash: if you want to live a lifestyle that matches Western standards in any major city in the world, it's fucking expensive. Even in shit-hole third-world countries.

[Iraira]

I'm still trippin' on the math.
300 yen commute (less if you have a teiki)
400 yen coffee (give or take a little if you are are some vente ice mocha sprinkles whey protien with a lime twist loving person who should be shot...two types of coffee....hot and iced... and it also depends on whether you can digest the skid row blend at Cafe Veloce)
200 yen for the news paper

That's 900 yen folks which does not yet translate to the $11.70 that Sarah came up with. Yen would have to be at 76.92 to the dollar for that.

[TennoChinko]

I'm still trippin' on the math.
300 yen commute (less if you have a teiki)
400 yen coffee (give or take a little if you are are some vente ice mocha sprinkles whey protien with a lime twist loving person who should be shot...two types of coffee....hot and iced... and it also depends on whether you can digest the skid row blend at Cafe Veloce)
200 yen for the news paper

That's 900 yen folks which does not yet translate to the $11.70 that Sarah came up with. Yen would have to be at 76.92 to the dollar for that.

Maybe the Wall Street Journal? It costs Y500...

[Iraira]

Maybe the Wall Street Journal? It costs Y500...

Oh, I didn't think of that..Sarah did say, "educational purpose newspaper", so I assumed the other fishwraps. Wall Street Journal would mean a more expensive brand of coffee, too, but wouldn't the guy/gal buying the WSJ and drinking the 500 yen soy latte also drive to work?

[TennoChinko]

Oh, I didn't think of that..Sarah did say, "educational purpose newspaper", so I assumed the other fishwraps. Wall Street Journal would mean a more expensive brand of coffee, too, but wouldn't the guy/gal buying the WSJ and drinking the 500 yen soy latte also drive to work?

Yeah, I admit, it does not sound very realistic. (Or, maybe she forgot the Y230 cinnamon danish from Tully's ...)

My bet is that Sarah Lynch certainly did not have Forbes fly her over to Tokyo to write that small piece of "wisdom". One of her jobs is to cover these various standard of living surveys. She very likely grabbed a few inaccurate numbers out of the air and the rest out of her ass.

[Iraira]

(Or, maybe she forgot the Y230 cinnamon danish from Tully's ...)

I used to dig the raspberry scones at Starbucks....don't flame my ass just because it's Starbucks. They ousted those scones about 5 years ago, and I've been po'ed ever since. Although not po'ed enough to go to Doutor's, Cafe de Crie, Cafe Veloce, or Renoir (don't have stage 4 lung cancer, yet).

[Doctor Stop]

Renoir (don't have stage 4 lung cancer, yet).

Renoir is THE place if you want to get lung cancer without actually ever smoking a cigarette.

[Amanojakuu]

I've been lurking on these forums for quite some time so thought I'd say hi. I moved to Tokyo yesterday to live in Koenji with my missus. I'm currently NEET on a working holiday visa, but have a few interviews and hope to be working by the time the month closes.

It always suprises me when people talk about how Japan is so expensive. I've just moved from Brighton, UK which I find to be by far the most expensive place I've ever lived (and I used to live in Ehime, Japan). By all accounts, estimating my outgoings and incomings here, I should be significantly better off than I was in the UK (although with a much smaller flat). Walking around a supermarket yesterday was a pleasant suprise, and the local Izakaya (and not the cheapest by any account) charged 15 quid a head for a decent meal and a couple of drinks, which is roughly equivalent to a UK pub in price.

Tobacco is cheaper too, and you don't get Nomihodai in the UK

[Iraira]

[quote="Amanojakuu"]I've been lurking on these forums for quite some time so thought I'd say hi. I moved to Tokyo yesterday to live in Koenji with my missus. I'm currently NEET on a working holiday visa, but have a few interviews and hope to be working by the time the month closes.

It always suprises me when people talk about how Japan is so expensive. I've just moved from Brighton, UK which I find to be by far the most expensive place I've ever lived (and I used to live in Ehime, Japan). By all accounts, estimating my outgoings and incomings here, I should be significantly better off than I was in the UK (although with a much smaller flat). Walking around a supermarket yesterday was a pleasant suprise, and the local Izakaya (and not the cheapest by any account) charged 15 quid a head for a decent meal and a couple of drinks, which is roughly equivalent to a UK pub in price.

Tobacco is cheaper too, and you don't get Nomihodai in the UK ]

Welcome relatively to the 'hood". You've got a major event (consider it your welcoming party) on the 29th and 30th of this month in your town. If you're into traditional Japanese psychedelia, plan on hanging in your hood on at least the evening of the 29th.

[Amanojakuu]

Welcome relatively to the 'hood". You've got a major event (consider it your welcoming party) on the 29th and 30th of this month in your town. If you're into traditional Japanese psychedelia, plan on hanging in your hood on at least the evening of the 29th.

Oh yeah? Sounds interesting... Where's it at? I don't know my Japanese psychadelica, so links would be good. Is that not the same weekend as Awa Odori? Or is that what you're talking about?

To be honest as I have such little money I'll be doing lots of sitting in until I get a job... Then again, if I haven't got a job by then, I'll probably be wanting a drink or two!

I'm really liking Koenji already, I've got a feeling living in Japan this time is going to be very different to last time. Last time I was working amongst salarymen for 55ish hours a week, this time I'm NEET until further notice... I was in the middle of the country, just outside of Imabari, this time I'm in the middle of Tokyo. Last time I spoke no Japanese when I arrived, this time I'm conversational (I failed JLPT3 by .5% percent 2 years ago, and am aiming for JLPT2 by this December).

I should maybe post all this in the newbie thread hey...

[Iraira]

Oh yeah? Sounds interesting... Where's it at? I don't know my Japanese psychadelica, so links would be good. Is that not the same weekend as Awa Odori? Or is that what you're talking about?

You would be correct in assuming "Awa Odori".