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At the end of last year, ECA International, a British-based international human resources research and analysis organisation, released their newest report ranking the world's costliest cities for expats. According to the report, Japan's capital, Tokyo, claimed the top spot, while Beijing became China's most expensive city, the 7th most expensive city in Asia and the 35th most expensive city in the world – eight spots higher than it was the previous year. To calculate its rankings, ECA conducts a cost of living survey twice annually, which compares the price of various goods and services typically consumed by foreigners living in 400 cities around the world. In addition, rates of inflation and currency exchange rates are also factored in. Found below are the cost of living rankings for other Chinese cities:
Chinese Cost of Living Rankings (for Asia / World)
Beijing: 7th / 35th
Shanghai: 8th / 41th
Hong Kong: 9th / 58th
Taipei: 12th / 80th
Guangzhou: 13th / 84th
Shenzhen: 14th / 89th
Shenyang: 17th / 112th
Tianjin: 18th / 116th
Qingdao: 19th / 119th
Dalian: 20th / 124th
See also: New "Global Broadband Speed Rankings" Data Released
Taipei is ranked as more expensive than shenzhen. Ive lived in both cities the last ffew years and I spend about twice as much money per month in shenzhen than i did in taipei for a similar quality of life.
That's because Taipei is in/on Taiwan. It is thus run by a different government, The Republic of China. In order to promote economic growth within mainland China, the government of the PRC enforce huge taxes on anything from outside China. Living in the ROC is much cheaper to live comfortable as it's cheaper to buy thing a foreigner often sees as necessary (milk, bread, decent cereal, booze, uncensored books, etc).
Beijing is more expensive than Hong Kong? REALLY??? Cmon.... Please, editors, do something...
Yes Beijing is more expensive than HK - Prices and costs in Beijing are not based on the market - instead prices are determined by (1) greed and (2) some sort of status being gained for them as being very expensive.
HK can somewhat warrant why it is expensive (minimal land available, good efficient services, availability of vast resources etc etc). Beijing has nothing to qualify it as a world city, has tons of space, disgusting or non existent services, and very few resources, and the place stinks like you wont believe - and that's what they're charging you for.
HK and Shanghai is more expensive than beijing, just check on TAXI fare. food, hotel, bus feare, train fare, and i could go on and on and on. Beijing is a better place, not the most expensive.
I agree. Saying Beijing is more expensive than Hong Kong is laughable.
Keep in mind these statistics include "rates of inflation and currency exchange rates are also factored in." Having lived in HK and Beijing, most recently Beijing for 3 years up until last year Oct. Beijing has definitely become the most expensive in China, probably in Asia as far as inflation, cost of living in such a short period of time. The price factor of many thing's have increased for Chinese, for foreigners calculating the exchange rates creates even more inflation. With the rmb as strong as 6.29RMB to 1USD from around 7RMB to 1USD 4 years ago makes a huge difference. I was considering moving back to HK, various costs are actually around the same or not that much more in HK. HK exchange rate has remained consistent with the USD over the years with minor -/ fluctuations. Rental prices have sky rocketed in Beijing in just the 3 years I was there. Yes public transport and taxi's are still cheaper in Beijing, but HK is a much more efficient liveable city, but that's getting into a whole other topic, lol!
These rankings are laughable. I've lived in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and have spent a considerable amount of time in HK too. Although you can argue inflation has taken off in major mainland cities since 2008, in no way are any of them more expensive than HK.
If you did these rankings in 2008, it would be 1. HK, 2, Shanghai, 3. Shenzhen, 4 Beijing.
I recently returned to Beijing after a 3 year hiatus in Shanghai and have seen how much inflation has changed the cost of living in Beijing. But, I have also been to all 4 of these cities within the past several months. HK is still more expensive than all 3 of these cities, especially when you consider housing prices/ rents, basic needs, transportation, etc. Shanghai is still #2, but barely edging out Beijing and Shenzhen. Those 3 cities are pretty similar in cost of living with some categories slightly higher than others.
Luckily it wasn't eChinaCities who did their own independent poling. This is an independent survey done and if you really want to disprove them, follow that link at the bottom of the article. Bitching on here won't change anything.
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