Is it Better to Buy a New or Used Car in 2009?

The bleak economic picture has many people who need to buy a car in a quandary as to whether it is better to buy a new car with the many deals and 0% financing available or a good used car.

There are great deals to be made out there on new cars. Car companies are offering 0% financing and large discounts on cars. Those people with good credit ratings and job security who prefer to buy new cars and need a new car should be looking in 2009. It is still important to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. There are excellent warranties on cars today so it is important to feel comfortable with the service department of the dealer you purchase from. You will most likely be taking your car there for years to be serviced.

There are additional costs associated with buying a new car versus a used car. Depreciation is a significant expense to the new car buyer. Cars can depreciate anywhere from 20% to 40% in the first year after purchase. They typically depreciate 15% the 2nd year, 13% the 3rd year and 12% in the 4th year. People are keeping their new cars on average about 5 years today unlike 20 years ago when they would trade every year or every other year. If you go to trade your car in the 5th year it has depreciated approximately 70%.

Taxes are another additional cost associated with buying a new car versus a used car. Typically taxes are a lot lower on a used car than a new car. Insurance costs can be much higher on new cars. Some states require consumers to buy full coverage for new cars and only require liability coverage for used vehicles which is much cheaper.

New car prices are affected by the state of the economy much more than used car prices. Typically, automobile companies have several layers of incentives for dealers and during a weak economy they can offer more vehicles at lower pricing to dealers combined with attractive financing packages. Used car dealers, on the other hand, still purchase cars predominantly at auctions and put the same profit margin on vehicles during bad times or good.

The decision to purchase a new or used vehicle in the current recession requires considering many variables. The most important variable is what makes the most sense for the consumer based on their financial situation. If there is any doubt about job security or if the consumer already has high levels of consumer debt purchasing a cheaper used car and paying with as much cash as possible may be the smartest choice .to make.

Lollapalooza 2009, Media Leaders Meeting, GCDC Europe, bitfilm09: Hackin’ Hollywood, London International Animation Festival

From You To You Tube: A Filmmaking Summer Camp For Young Adults, is a workshop in New York running till August 14, with another session closely following, from August 17-28, teaches concepts of story and structure, how to use a camera for your own shoot, the basics of film editing theory and technique, and how to compress your final product down to a size to share on the web. Chicago’s annual Lollapalooza 2009 music festival gets going again this year, August 7-9, and as part of Citi’s sponsorship of emerging artists at this year’s festival you’re invited to take part in a grassroots music-meets-art installation that allows you and your friends to take away a prized photographic memento of your time at Lollapalooza. Also, there will be chances to win VIP passes, stage passes to the PlayStation® Stage and even chances to win PS3®/PSP® system prize packs. The Florida Writers Association partners with UNF to start a three-day conference from August 7-9 in Jacksonville, with a full day of writing workshops for each day. Sunday afternoon’s schedule includes a marketing panel and a workshop featuring the UNF Writers Conference Book & Film Deal Connection, an opportunity for attendees to submit their work to agents, book editors and film producers after the conference closes. The Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video is Chicago’s annual showcase for films that tell stories, raise questions, or touch on issues that relate to the black African, African American, and African diasporic experience, and it will be hosted this year in Chicago, August 7 through September 3.

A Media Leaders Meeting in Austin, a monthly “experiential mixing event” on August 11, brings together leaders in media, marketing, advertising and entertainment to discuss current events and new ideas. The LatinVision Hispanic Business Networking Event, an exclusive gathering of U.S. Hispanic and Latin American professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners in a relaxed atmosphere that facilitates networking, holds this month’s New York meeting on August 13, with an exclusive VIP after party to follow in the far west Chelsea district. A San Jose workshop for YouTubers who already shoot their own videos and post their content online takes place August 14, focusing on how can implement a successful video marketing strategy in this relatively new and rapidly changing field. The International Odense Film Festival is a short and documentary film festival that takes place every year in August, screening international short fiction and short documentaries as well as Danish short fiction and Danish short and feature length documentaries. Games Convention Developers Conference (GCDC), GDC Europe, hosted this year in Cologne, August 17-19, encompasses learning, networking, and inspiration via the GDC’s conference content quality and access to the industry leaders driving innovation in games across the globe. GDC Europe focuses on Business, Game Design, Production, and Programming for games. In addition, this three day conference will emphasize timely content and topics in Serious Games and Mobile Games in Europe and worldwide today.

bitfilm09: Hackin’ Hollywood begins with a three day event of indoor and outdoor screenings, a workshop for the creative industry, an opening reception, and a public open air screening in a park in the centre of Hamburg. National Alliance for Media Art & Culture Conference 2009 is for media and visual arts leaders, practitioners, researchers, technologists, advocates, scholars, students, funders, and policymakers to share experiences and pool  knowledge among attending conference members, and across networks within the arts, media and culture fields, at sessions running August 28-29 in Boston. MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, August 26-30 in Edinburgh, celebrates success in the TV industry and is committed to the development of new talent. The Festival carries over 60 individual sessions covering the most important issues facing the industry, from policy to programme making, alongside plenty of fun sessions as well. Each year London International Animation Festival 2009 focuses on a specific animation technique. So in 2009 they take a close up look at sand animation. This involves an animator placing and moving coloured sand, salt and other powders on a light box and using hand brushes, air brushes and an array of other tools to create thousands of textured pictures that make up the finished film. To showcase this technique, they put together a programme, running August 28 through September 6, which mixes recently released sand animations carefully blended with a collection of classics from the last 25 years.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist podcast blog. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: twitter.com/actorschecklist. This month on the video news summary you will again see a dynamic array of artists in performance of film and music. These videos are now available on the Free Home Video Showcase which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration. The Actor’s Checklist is proud announce the return of the photo gallery which you can visit to upload valuable head shots or other photos of your choice, create profiles, and use your pictures or others found on the gallery as ecards which you can email to friends and associates with messages

Fantasy Football News: Get the Facts About 2009 NFL Players and Recent Injuries

In June each year the football season really starts to heat up. The draft has been completed, mini camps are finished and training camps are almost in full swing. The summer is when football experts begin to make strong projections about player value and team performance. Injuries are one of the most talked about topics during this time, while final trades are made and contracts signed. Injuries in the NFL and football in general are common. In a report titled “Players’ Positions, Not Prior Injuries, Predict NFL Career Length” (May 28, 2009) from MedicalNewsToday.com, a new study on NFL injuries and career longevity is highlighted.

The study was primarily authored by, former Rookie-of-the-Year, All Pro defensive back and NFL scout for over 30 years, Milt Davis, Ph.D.  Unfortunately Davis died in September of 2008 before he could present the findings. Pat Lombardi, Ph.D., another author of the study stated, “During the course of the study, Milt demonstrated that nearly three-fourths of all players had more than two significant injuries, and that one of two had a major surgery prior to entering the NFL.” (Source: American College of Sports Medicine)  Although injuries don’t have to shorten a player’s career, they have a dramatic effect on fantasy football value. Now that the 2009 draft is over, let’s review some of the most recent NFL injury reports.

Dallas Cowboys Handle Common Knee and Hamstring Injuries

CBSSports.com recently reported that wide receivers Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback are unlikely to be present at the start of the Cowboys’ training camp. According to the Dallas Morning News Austin’s hamstring injury has cost him three weeks of practice, but he is hoping to be ready and healthy by the start of the 2009 season. CBSSports.com confirms Austin’s sleeper value will increase if he comes back on the field healthy. CowboysBlog.DallasNews.com reported in May that Stanback did have “arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee.” It is doubtful he will be ready at the start of training camp, but Jerry Jones is quoted as saying, “I know that that’s frustrating for him, but he’s got enough time. He works hard, and he’ll get back out there.” The bodes well for Cowboys fans.

Knee Injuries Lead to Different Outcomes for Patriots WR Tate and QB Brady

Pat’s wide receiver Brandon Tate could very likely end up on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list due to his slow recovery from knee surgery according to CBSSports.com. Although the surgery took place in October, his rehab has been slow. On a better note, CBSSports.com reported on June 9, 2009 that Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady had been practicing on the field in the rain. Brady in full practice is a good sign after his surgery for a torn ACL and MCL. Brady will continue to be a fantasy football favorite if he proves his reconstructed knee can go the distance.

Raiders WR Javon Walker Chooses to Keep Surgery on the Down Low

On May 9, 2009 Nfl.Fanhouse.com revealed that Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker had knee surgery in April and did not notify the team. Coach Tom Cable is quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle saying he believes Walker “did the right thing by getting the surgery.” It is still unclear what the season holds for Walker.

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook’s Ankle Surgery

According to writer Michael Davis Smith of NFL.Fanhouse.com, “the Philadelphia Eagles have confirmed that running back Brian Westbrook will have surgery to remove bone spurs in his right ankle.” Recovery time for this procedure is usually 2 or 3 months so Westbrook may miss training camp and the preseason. Smith wonders if Westbrook’s time as an elite running back is coming to an end.

Seattle Seahawks WR Deion Branch Says “His Knee Will Never Feel Normal Again”

Wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks Deion Branch underwent reconstructive knee surgery this year. Branch was recently quoted by the Associated Press as saying, “You will never be back to normal once you have this type of procedure done.” If his recovery goes well Branch will make a decent fantasy receiver, but his performance may fall short of previous years.

Additional Fantasy Football Considerations

There are endless stories involving NFL injuries and potential fantasy problems. Keep these facts in mind when choosing you fantasy draft this season.

1. Pittsburg Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a minor knee injury in early June, but was back at practice a day later according to the Associated Press.

2. Marshawn Lynch, running back for the Buffalo Bills, skipped minicamp due to a swollen foot. Xrays and tests show the injury is minor according to BuffaloBills.com. Fantasy leagues should consider Fred Jackson as a necessary backup.

3. An HBO interview with Brett Favre confirmed his shoulder surgery. Decisions regarding Favre and the Vikings will be made at the end of July once his health has been evaluated.

3 #12 Seeds Upset #5 Seeds as the 2009 March Madness Tournament Begins

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

Fourteen top-four seeded teams made it to the Sweet 16 and three #12 seeds upset #5 seeds during the first two rounds of the 2009 NCAA Basketball Tournament March 19-22.

Advancing to the Sweet 16 to continue their March Madness bids were #1 seeds Pittsburgh, Connecticut, North Carolina and Louisville, #2 seeds Duke, Memphis, Oklahoma and Michigan State, #3 seeds Villanova, Missouri, Syracuse and Kansas, and #4 seeds Xavier and Gonzaga. Only #4 seed Wake Forest was eliminated by #13 Cleveland State and #4 seed Washington was eliminated by #5 seed Purdue.

The three #12 seeds that pulled off upsets of #5 seeds included Wisconsin over Florida State, Western Kentucky over Illinois and Arizona over Utah. Other upsets included #11 Dayton over #6 West Virginia, and #10 Michigan over #7 LSU. Only one game went into overtime as #9 Siena eliminated #8 Ohio State in double overtime.

There were two horrific blowouts as #1 Connecticut swamped poor #16 Chattanooga by 56 points, 103-47, and #1 North Carolina made short work of #16 Radford by 43 points, 101-58. Connecticut ripped #9 Texas A&M by 26 (92-66) in its second contest.

Besides Siena’s double overtime win over Ohio State, 6 other teams won games by a basket or less. They included Wisconsin, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Marquette, Purdue and Gonzaga. Only Purdue would make it to the Sweet 16.

Only one double digit seed–#12 Arizona—would make it into the Sweet 16. When you add up all 16 seeding spots, the total of 49 set a record for the lowest ever, besting the prior record of 50 set in 1989.

The place top-seeded teams fared worst this year was the Midwest Regional which saw #4 Wake Forest, #5 Utah, #6 West Virginia, #7 Boston College and #8 Ohio State get eliminated in their first game.

The Big East became this year’s elite conference with an NCAA-record 5 teams among the final Sweet 16: Louisville, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Villanova and Syracuse. North Carolina also tied Kentucky for the most NCAA tournament victories (98) with its win over LSU.

Here are the 2009 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Regional Semifinal Match-Ups:

East Regional:

#1 Pittsburgh versus #4 Xavier – Thursday, March 26

#2 Duke versus #3 Villanova – Thursday, March 26

West Regional:

#1 Connecticut versus #5 Purdue – Thursday, March 26

#2 Memphis versus #3 Missouri – Thursday, March 26

South Regional:

#1 North Carolina versus #4 Gonzaga – Friday, March 27

#2 Oklahoma versus #3 Syracuse – Friday, March 27

Midwest Regional:

#1 Louisville versus #12 Arizona – Friday, March 27

#2 Michigan State versus #3 Kansas – Friday, March 27

So who will make it to the Elite 8?

Consider these cold, hard historical facts:

1) When you know that no team less than a #4 seed has won the championship for 20 straight years, you might want to eliminate #5 Purdue and #12 Arizona.

That leaves #1 seeds Pittsburgh, Connecticut, North Carolina and Louisville, #2 seeds Duke, Memphis, Oklahoma and Michigan State, #3 seeds Villanova, Missouri, Syracuse, and Kansas, and #4 seeds Xavier and Gonzaga.

2) Only three of the #1 seeds are likely to advance to the Final 4 since only 70% of #1 seeds advance into the Elite 8. The odds say that either Pittsburgh, Connecticut, North Carolina or Louisville will not make it among the Elite 8.

3) Amazingly, only one or two of the #1 seeds have made it to the Final 4 in 18 of the last 24 years. Last year was an exception as ALL four #1 seeds made it into the Final 4 for the first time ever.

Morehead State eliminated Alabama State 58-43 in the play-in game for the 64th slot in the tournament.

Here are the 2009 NCAA Tournament First Round Results:

East Regional:

#1 Pittsburgh eliminated #16 East Tennessee State 72-62

#2 Duke eliminated #15 Binghamton 86-62

#3 Villanova eliminated #14 American University 80-67

#4 Xavier eliminated #13 Portland State 77-59

#12 Wisconsin upset #5 Florida State 61-59

#6 UCLA eliminated #11 Virginia Commonwealth 65-64

#7 Texas eliminated #10 Minnesota 76-62

#8 Oklahoma State eliminated #9 Tennessee 77-75

West Regional:

#1 Connecticut eliminated #16 Chattanooga 103-47

#2 Memphis eliminated #15 Cal State Northridge 81-70

#3 Missouri eliminated #14 Cornell 78-59

#4 Washington eliminated #13 Mississippi State 71-58

#5 Purdue eliminated #12 Northern Iowa 61-56

#6 Marquette eliminated #11 Utah State 58-57

#7 California eliminated #10 Maryland 84-71

#9 Texas A&M eliminated #8 Brigham Young 79-66

South Regional:

#1 North Carolina eliminated #16 Radford 101-58

#2 Oklahoma eliminated #15 Morgan State 82-54

#3 Syracuse eliminated #14 Stephen F. Austin 59-44

#4 Gonzaga eliminated #13 Akron 77-64

#12 Western Kentucky upset #5 Illinois 76-72

#6 Arizona State eliminated #11 Temple 66-57

#10 Michigan upset #7 LSU 62-59

#8 LSU eliminated #9 Butler 75-71

Midwest Regional:

#1 Louisville eliminated #16 Morehead State 74-54

#2 Michigan State eliminated #15 Robert Morris 77-62

#3 Kansas eliminated #14 North Dakota State 84-74

#13 Cleveland State upset #4 Wake Forest 84-69

#12 Arizona upset #5 Utah 84-71

#11 Dayton upset #6 West Virginia 68-60

#10 Southern California eliminated #7 Boston College 72-55

#9 Siena eliminated #8 Ohio State 74-72 in Double Overtime

Here are the 2009 NCAA Tournament Second Round Results:

East Regional:

#1 Pittsburgh eliminated #8 Oklahoma State 84-76

#2 Duke eliminated #7 Texas 74-69

#3 Villanova eliminated #6 UCLA 89-69

#4 Xavier eliminated #12 Wisconsin 60-49

West Regional:

#1 Connecticut eliminated #9 Texas A&M 92-66

#2 Memphis eliminated #10 Maryland 89-70

#3 Missouri eliminated #6 Marquette 83-79

#5 Purdue eliminated #4 Washington 76-74

South Regional:

#1 North Carolina eliminated #8 LSU 84-70

#2 Oklahoma eliminated #10 Michigan 73-63

#3 Syracuse eliminated #6 Arizona State 78-67

#4 Gonzaga eliminated #12 Western Kentucky 83-81

Midwest Regional:

#1 Louisville eliminated #9 Siena 79-72

#2 Michigan State eliminated #10 Southern California 74-69

#3 Kansas eliminated #11 Dayton 60-43

#12 Arizona eliminated #13 Cleveland State 71-57

Spring break in Rocky Point 2009 – Where to go?

We are full of expectation for a Fantastic Spring Break in Rocky Point 2009. The weather this winter has been very mild, and we think we will get a perfect few weeks to enjoy the change of season and, of course, welcome all the college students that come down to visit us every year. If you have been to Rocky Point for other Spring Breaks, you know where to go, except of course there are a few new spots to consider. If this is your first trip, there are lots of choices in town. The favorite place for Spring Breakers is what called “The Strip” in El Mirador Beach. This is actually on the street (Matamoros) that runs alongside the beach. The busiest spot is Manny’s Beach Club, they’re open for breakfast and lunch but famous for the night life. During the day Manny’s is a family spot, where you can have a drink and play on the beach with the kids. During Spring Break nights, the place goes wild. It might even be hard to get in, since it is so packed. Don’t try to park your car here or anywhere around during Spring Break. The whole strip is closed and only pedestrians are allowed. Some empty lots in the vicinity become pay parking lots. There will be many taco and hot dogs stands, with lots of security and people trying to redirect traffic. Your best bet, if you are not staying nearby, is to get a cab. This is also the safest way to get there, if you don’t have designated driver. Taxi’s in Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) are abundant and a taxi ride in town is just $ 2.00 usd per person per ride (Watch out if you are staying on Sandy Beach, in Cholla Bay or at Mayan Palace, as it can be considerably more, but don’t be afraid to try to arrive at a better price before you get into the taxi). If you are coming down mainly to party, staying close to “the Strip” is a good idea. Bars in this area include Baja Cantina (rooms available), Ice House, Pink Cadillac, Sandals Bar, Club Havana (Adult Entertainment), Around the Corner, Coyote Ugly and, just off the strip and favorite for the locals lately, Elixir.

The next favorite place for Spring Breakers is what we call 13 th street, or Calle 13. It boasts, many restaurants including Sushi Sun, Lucky House, El Sombrero, Max’s Cafe, Austin’s Pizza, Asadero Gus, lots of taco places and the Famous Sunset Cantina plus many adult entertainment choices. Also, just off 13 th on the road towards Playa Bonita, there is the new “Camel Toe Cantina” which has been a popular spot since it opened. In this same area you can rent ATV’s and dune buggies during the day.

The Malecon, in Old Port along the Sea of Cortez, is a must see if you are coming down. It is a great spot to watch the sun go down. Buy fresh fish and seafood at the fish market, shop for souvenirs and enjoy the many restaurants including The Point, The thirsty Parrot, Regina’s, Flavio’s, Portofino, Blue Marlin, Lapa Lapa, Senor Shrimp II, Mary’s Fish Market and also several bars like Boo bar, and Shark Bite.

Author: Steve Schwab

Excuses for not Getting in Shape That Won’t Fly in 2009

It’s 2009. Your old excuses for not getting in shape won’t work. As Dr. Evil (Austin Powers) said, ZIP IT! I don’t want to hear them anymore! Read em’, then haul your excuseless butt to the gym!

1. I have no time

According to a story in a recent issue of Men’s Health magazine, Barack Obama works out for 45 minutes a day, 6 days a week. Obama doesn’t just play basketball either. Our new president stays fit to lead with cardio and weight lifting. He also says he wishes he could train 90 minutes a day. Have you ever seen what the daily schedule of a U.S. president looks like? If the busiest man in the world can train every day for 45 minutes a day, then what’s your excuse? ZIP IT! You ain’t got one!

2. It’s too expensive

Getting in shape certainly is expensive… if you keep wasting hundreds of dollars, month after month on worthless “miracle” weight loss pills, internal cleansing gimmicks and “magic” potions that all claim to make you slim. Deceptive advertising and slick marketing for bogus diet aids is more rampant than ever. 2008 was the year of the wu-long scam and acai berry scam and of course the ubiquitous “cleansing” and “detox” gimmicks. Unless you put on your critical thinking cap and learn to investigate before you invest, then you’ll get scammed by 2009′s flavor of the year as well. Your quest for those elusive “6-pack” abs will not only continue to be expensive, you’ll go broke. Walking, jogging, calisthenics and body weight exercises are FREE. If you want to know what’s really expensive, tally up the cost of legitimate expenses like natural food, gym memberships, fitness education, dumbbells and so on, and compare that to your doctor’s bill when you’re sick.

3. No one will support me

Experts on social influence say your income will be approximately equal to the average of your 5 closest friends. Not only do I think that’s pretty darn accurate, I also believe that your health is your greatest wealth, and your physical condition will be about equal to the average of your 5 closest friends. It’s a real challenge to stay positive, focused and active when you’re surrounded by critical people and negative influences. However, in 2009, lack of support is no longer a valid excuse. Online social networking is exploding (check out Twitter and Facebook) and more IN PERSON friendships and associations are being made from an internet connection than ever before. Training buddies can be found online. Connect with them. Mentors and coaches are easily found online. Hire them. Support forums have been around for years. Use them. No support from your current friends? Stop whining, start reaching out and go make new ones. In 2009, support partners and new friends are just a click away.

4. I can’t lose weight because of my genetics

The marvels of modern medical and biological research are astonishing. Our top scientists have mapped the human genome! In the past few years, numerous genes linked to obesity have been discovered. However, the obesity epidemic we’re facing today has only developed over the past 50 years and genetic mutations that lead to serious obesity are extremely rare . Genetic predisposition only means that you have a tendency. It’s when the genetics meet lifestyle and environment that the genes express themselves. If you have a family history of heart disease, is it smart to smoke, eat junk, be a stressed-out type-A maniac and a couch potato? Well of course not, and it’s the same with obesity. If you have a tendency predisposing you towards obesity, you’d better be the person doing the MOST exercise not the least. You’d better be the person paying the MOST attention to your nutrition. You’d better be the person with the healthiest lifestyle. But unfortunately, it’s usually the opposite. Most people throw up their arms in frustration saying, “what’s the use, I was dealt a bad hand.” Sorry. That won’t fly in 2009. The latest research says genetics are a factor, but a tendency is not a destiny!

5. I don’t know how

The lamest excuse of them all in 2009 is “I don’t know how.” NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL AFTER THEY HAVE ACTUALLY DONE IT! Ponder that for a while. You don’t need to know how at first. To get started, you only need to know WHAT… what is the goal? Setting well-formed goals is the master skill of success. Not wishy-washy resolutions that have no resolve behind them, but real goals. In writing. With emotional ooompf! As you continue to affirm, visualize and focus on your goal with clarity, belief, and expectation, your new goal or intention will be received by your subconscious. Once a goal is accepted into your subconscious mind, your brain, being a goal-seeking mechanism, will turn on your attention filters to seek out all the information you will ever need to reach your goal. It will also turn on an infallible navigation system to guide you to your goal like a torpedo to its target. As your brain guides your attention, your direction and your behavior, you will discover that today, in 2009, there is more good information, coaching and instruction available than ever before. And when you’ve activated that “success radar” in your brain by setting goals effectively, it’s not as hard to find honest, accurate and helpful HOW-to advice as you might think. In fact, you found this webpage, so you’re doing pretty good right now aren’t you?

No more excuses. In 2009, remember my Fat Burning Creed: You can either make excuses or get results, but you can’t do both!

Citizen Cope Tickets- Citizen Cope to Tour in 2009

Citizen Cope, aka singer/songwriter Clarence Greenwood and his band, will hit the road in early 2009 for a string of dates across the South into the late winter. Citizen Cope will stop at The National in Richmond, Va. (Jan. 30), The Lyric Oxford in Mississippi (Feb. 9), Stubb’s Bar-B-Q/Waller Creek Amphitheater in Austin (Feb. 14), Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge, La. (Feb. 21) and NorVa in Norfolk, Va. (Feb. 28) among other locations. Cope is expected to release a new acoustic solo album before the end of the year, although no release date has been finalized as of yet. If you can’t wait for some new Citizen Cope, you can hear Clarence Greenwood on Dido’s latest release, Safe Trip Home, as he guests on “Burnin Love.” Cope’s tour kicks off Jan 27 at Recher Theatre in Towson, Md. So check out http://www.stubhub.com/citizen-cope-tickets for Citizen Cope tickets.

Clarence Greenwood was born in Memphis, Tennessee and got his start in the music business when he appeared on a few albums by Maryland rapper Basehead, such as 1993′s Not in Kansas Anymore and 1996′s Faith. Right around this time Citizen Cope released his first album, confusingly titled Cope Citizen. Subsequent to its release, Greenwood donated a string of songs to several independently released compilations such as 1997′s Settling the DC Score, 1999′s Anti-Racist Action Benefit and more into the new millennium. After inking a recording contract with Dreamworks in 2000, Greenwood released his debut full-length effort, Citizen Cope, in 2002. (His actual first full-length album recorded in 1997 was never released by Capitol.) The album spawned promising songs like “If There’s Love” and “Contact” and revealed Clarence Greenwood or Citizen Cope to be an unconventional artist definitely worth listening to. Greenwood had more contract issues, as he didn’t mesh with Dreamworks and thought the label mishandled his record, thus he bought out of his contract with money from an advance with his soon-to-be-label Arista. Unfortunately, the label saga continued as things with Arista didn’t pan out either and he jumped label again, this time to RCA.

After label jumping for a number of years, Clarence Greenwood moved to RCA and released The Clarence Greenwood Recordings in September 2004. One song from the album, “Son’s Gonna Rise,” was used in a GM Pontiac television commercial and The Clarence Greenwood Recordings made the number 27 spot on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart. Other standout singles were “Bullet and a Target,” “Pablo Picasso” and “Penitentiary.” In 2006, still with RCA, Greenwood released Every Waking Moment. The album made the Top 100 of the Billboard 200 at number 69 and included gems like “Brother Lee” and Awe.”

In the same vein as artists like G. Love, Mat Kearney and Everlast, Clarence Greenwood is known for his penchant for blues and rock with slight hip-hop tendencies. The singer/songwriter may confuse fans with his alter ego, but one thing is for sure, his music is attracting fans of both the blues and hip-hop crowds. To see him live, get your Citizen Cope tickets soon!

Nba Basketball – 2009 Season Schedule

The season will see some of the best basketball results with top stars facing each other across different arenas in the USA and Canada.

2009 has several basketball events scheduled which will include the 2009 NBA playoffs, NBA draft lottery, NBA finals, NBA draft 2009 along with 2009 NBA All-Star Game to be held at Phoenix on 15 February 2009.

NBA playoffs 2009 will begin from 18 April 2009, which will be the postseason for NBA’s 2009-09 season. The top 8 basketball teams from each conference (Eastern and Western) will qualify for the playoffs. After the first round, the conference semifinals and the conference finals will take place, which will eventually be followed by the NBA finals.

NBA draft lottery is scheduled to be held on 19 May 2009 which will determine the order of the NBA Draft for that year. NBA draft 2009 is planned to be held on 25 June 2009, at Madison Square Garden, New York. Drafted players between the age of 19 and 22 years will participate in this event. The latest 2009 NBA Mock Draft based on Standings include 30 players including Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio, James Harden, Hasheem Thabeet, Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry, Jordan Hill, BJ Mullens, Greg Monroe, Earl Clark, Brandon Jennings, Demar DeRozan, AlFarouq Aminu, Cole Aldrich, Gani Lawal, Austin Daye, Tywon Lawson, Chase Budinger, Patrick Mills, Andrew Oqilvy, Kyle Singler, Darren Collison, Jonny Flynn, Patrick Patterson, Jerome Jordan, Tyreke Evans, Tyler Hansbrough, Tyler Smith, Sam Young and Willie Warren.

The NBA finals are expected to start from 5 June 2009, which could be possibly moved up to start from 3 June 2009. The tentative end date is expected to be 18 June 2009 for the NBA finals. It will be the conclusion of the season’s playoffs which will be played in a best of seven series. 15 teams from each conference will participate in this final basketball event, with 5 teams each coming from Atlantic, Central and Southeast from the Eastern Conference, and 5 teams each coming from Southwest, Northwest and Pacific from the Western Conference.

Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors will play from Atlantic, Eastern Conference, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks will play from the Central, Eastern Conference and Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards will play from the Southeast, Eastern Conference.

Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets and San Antonio Spurs will play from Southwest, Western Conference, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz will play from the Northwest, Western Conference and Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings will play from the Pacific, Western Conference.

Global Cost of Living Ranking – 1 April 2009

International Cost of Living Rankings

International cost of living rankings are the result of comparing the cost of an expatriate’s personal budget, using the local prices for the same defined quantities of the same goods and services in each country throughout the world.

Our findings show that the compound impact of the multifaceted global economic trends that impact each country in one way or another, are contributing to rapid substantial changes in the relative cost of living of countries around the world. The changes in relative cost of living are large and have occurred in a relatively short period of time. The reason for this is due to the fact that so many economic crises are occurring simultaneously. 2008 saw the housing bubble burst followed by the failure of a number of global fund / asset management, insurance and banking giants. Some have been liquidated or taken over; others have been bailed out with government funds. In 2009 we have seen the continued fall in house prices which many believe have yet to bottom out. Stock prices and market indexes are down to levels last seen a decade or more ago. The trend towards decreased inflation and lower interest rates continues in developed and developing markets. We are also experiencing exchange rate volatility with a number of large economies seeing their currency weaken considerably in the past year. The economic impact is continuing to spread around the globe. We are currently seeing a truly global recession with reduced demand for manufacturing inputs and outputs as well as reduced energy demand and large scale job losses.

This study of 276 global locations covered every country in the world. The study comprised the cost of several hundred items that expatriates typically spend their pay on, grouped into 13 Basket Groups. The findings as at 1 April 2009 have been compared to the previous findings of 1 December 2008.  The Index uses New York as the base (New York = 100).  An index greater than 100, means that the cost of living is higher than New York, an index less than 100, means that the cost of living is lower than New York.

Geneva has a cost of living index of 110 for example. That means that on average, goods and services that cost $100 in New York, cost $110 in Geneva. Each city is ranked according to their overall cost of living index which includes the cost of all basket groups.

A cost of living index increases or decreases based on the local price of the goods and services used in the study and the ruling exchange rate. As a general principle, a country with a currency that has increased against other currencies (stronger currency) and which has relatively high local inflation (rapid/large price increases), will generally experience an increase in cost of living compared to other countries. On the other hand, a country with a currency that has decreased against other currencies (weaker currency) and which has relatively low local inflation will generally experience a decrease in cost of living compared to other countries.  It is important to note that we are talking about relative changes. Take London as another example. As recently as December 2008, London was still ranked the 6th most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live. As at April 2009 it is the 23rd most expensive place in the world for expatriates. That does not mean that the local cost of living for expatriates living in London has decreased. What it does mean is that relative to other places in the world, London is no longer as expensive as it was last year.  What makes London’s cost of living relatively lower than it was is mainly due to the increase in the cost of living elsewhere together with the weaker British Pound.

These relative changes have a substantial impact on expatriate employees. An expatriate working in a high cost of living – strong currency country such as Hong Kong where the Hong Kong Dollar is pegged to the US Dollar illustrates this point. The high cost of living makes it difficult to save due to high local prices; Household (Accommodation including utilities) in particular is very expensive. However, an expatriate working in Hong Kong will now likely find that remitting money back home provides greatly increased spending power at home.  In the past year the Hong Kong Dollar has increased 15% against the Malaysian Ringgit, and 30% against the Indonesian Rupiah and the Australian Dollar.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Places for Expatriates to Live

Tokyo has retained its status as the most expensive city in the world for expatriates to live. The cost of living index for Tokyo has increased from 126 in December 2008 to 143 as at 1 April 2009, and the Yen has strengthened against the US Dollar. At the other end of the scale, Harare has retained its status as the least expensive city in the world and is ranked 276 with an index of just 17 and a currency which is still in free-fall. Tokyo is ranked 1st for Healthcare expenses, 2nd for Groceries and 2nd for Household (Accommodation including utilities).

Hong Kong is now ranked 2nd overall having climbed from 33rd place in December 2008. Its cost of living index has increased from 103 to 121 and is ranked 1st for Household expenses and 2nd for Healthcare. It is interesting however to note that Hong Kong is not expensive in all categories. It is ranked 202nd for Alcohol & Tobacco, 226th for Recreation & Culture, 227th for Education, and 247th for Furniture & Appliances.

Lagos is the 3rd most expensive city in the world for expatriates, having previously been ranked 11th.  It is ranked 1st for Groceries and for Furniture & Appliance expenses, 6th for Healthcare, and 18th for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels. 

Caracas has moved substantially up the rankings to 4th, having been ranked just 32nd in December 2008. It is ranked 1st for Education expenses, 5th for Healthcare, and 6th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities).

Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea is the 5th ranked overall most expensive city for expatriates due to most goods and services being imported from Australia. Port Moresby is ranked 6th for Recreation & Culture, 7th for Communication and for Healthcare, and 8th most expensive for Clothing.

Geneva has dropped slightly to 6th, having been ranked 4th in December 2008.  It is ranked 3rd most expensive for Transport expenses, 11th for Recreation & Culture, 15th for Healthcare, and 20th for Clothing.

Dubai has moved into the top 10 most expensive places in the world for expatriates to live for the first time. Dubai is now ranked 7th, substantially up from 34th in December 2008. Its cost of living index has increased from 103 to 109 since December 2008. It is ranked 1st for Restaurants Meals Out and Hotel expenses, 6th for Clothing, 11th for Healthcare, and 16th for Groceries. Dubai is currently ranked 4th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), however evidence is emerging that this will decrease significantly in the next quarter as it has been hit relatively hard in the property sector with falling property prices and rentals.

Doha has moved up in the global rankings faster than any other city. In December 2008, Doha was ranked the 45th most expensive city for expatriates, it is now 8th. The overall cost of living index has moved up from 101 to 109, equal to that of Dubai.  It is ranked 2nd for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel expenses, 3rd for Clothing, 7th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), 8th for Groceries as well as for Recreation and Culture, and 10th for Healthcare.

Denmark has dropped slightly to being the 9th most expensive place in the world for expatriates, having been ranked 3rd in December 2008. It is ranked 3rd most expensive for Groceries, 5th for Transport, and 15th for Furniture and Appliances.   

Hamilton in Bermuda completes the top 10 moving from 26th in December despite the overall cost of index remaining 108. Hamilton is ranked 4th most expensive for both Education and Healthcare, 10th for Personal Care, 11th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), and 15th for Groceries.  

The full overall cost of living ranking list, sourced from xpatulator.com as at 1 April 2009 is as follows: 

Rank and Location

1 Japan, Tokyo

2 China, Hong Kong

3 Nigeria, Lagos

4 Venezuela, Caracas

5 Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby

6 Switzerland, Geneva

7 United Arab Emirates, Dubai

8 Qatar, Doha

9 Denmark, Copenhagen

10 Bermuda, Hamilton

11 Angola, Luanda

12 Switzerland, Zurich

13 Russia, Moscow

14 Solomon Islands, Honiara

15 Cameroon, Douala

16 Chad, N’Djamena

17 Taiwan, Taipei

18 Liechtenstein, Vaduz

19 USA, New York NY

20 New Caledonia, Noumea

21 Greenland, Nuuk

22 Ireland, Dublin

23 United Kingdom, London

24 France, Paris

25 Norway, Oslo

26 Italy, Milan

27 San Marino, San Marino

28 USA, San Francisco Calif

29 Monaco, Monaco

30 Austria, Vienna

31 Bahamas, Nassau

32 Central African Republic, Bangui

33 Nauru, Yaren

34 USA, Boston Mass

35 Finland, Helsinki

36 Italy, Rome

37 Kazakhstan, Almaty

38 Cote D’Ivoire, Abidjan

39 Bahrain, Manama

40 Micronesia, Palikir

41 Isle of Man, Douglas

42 Haiti, Port-au-Prince

43 USA, San Jose Calif

44 Cameroon, Yaounde

45 Djibouti, Djibouti

46 Palau, Melekeok

47 Guinea-Bissau, Bissau

48 Azerbaijan, Baku

49 Benin, Cotonou

50 Slovakia, Bratislava

51 Belgium, Brussels

52 Netherlands, Amsterdam

53 Sao Tome and Principe, Sao Tome

54 Jersey, Saint Helier

55 Mali, Bamako

56 Gabon, Libreville

57 United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi

58 Croatia, Zagreb

59 Singapore, Singapore

60 Ghana, Accra

61 Spain, Madrid

62 Ukraine, Kiev

63 USA, Philadelphia Pa

64 Cayman Islands, George Town

65 Sierra Leone, Freetown

66 Germany, Berlin

67 Czech Republic, Prague

68 USA, San Diego Calif

69 Jordan, Amman

70 Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain

71 USA, Los Angeles Calif

72 USA, Washington DC

73 Estonia, Tallinn

74 USA, Baltimore Md

75 Falkland Islands, Stanley

76 Saudi Arabia, Riyadh

77 Guernsey, St Peter Port

78 Comores, Moroni

79 Sudan, Khartoum

80 Germany, Bonn

81 Vatican City, Vatican City

82 Canada, Toronto

83 Timor-Leste, Dili

84 Hungary, Budapest

85 USA, Seattle Wash

86 Brazil, Brasilia

87 Lebanon, Beirut

88 USA, Miami Fla

89 Vanuatu, Port Vila

90 Luxembourg, Luxembourg

91 Jamaica, Kingston

92 Australia, Sydney

93 Kuwait, Kuwait City

94 Moldova, Chisinau

95 Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa

96 Germany, Frankfurt

97 Tuvalu, Funafuti

98 Iceland, Reykjavík

99 Barbados, Bridgetown

100 Portugal, Lisbon

101 Mozambique, Maputo

102 Senegal, Dakar

103 Canada, Vancouver

104 Niger, Niamey

105 China, Beijing

106 Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

107 Turkey, Ankara

108 Togo, Lome

109 Equatorial Guinea, Malabo

110 Martinique, Fort-de-France

111 Armenia, Yerevan

112 USA, Chicago Ill

113 Liberia, Monrovia

114 Gibraltar, Gibraltar

115 Sweden, Stockholm

116 Somalia, Mogadishu

117 USA, Portland Ore

118 Israel, Jerusalem

119 Malta, Velletta

120 Puerto Rico, San Juan

121 Canada, Calgary

122 Rwanda, Kigali

123 Guam, Hagatna

124 Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou

125 Zambia, Lusaka

126 Andorra, Andorra la Vella

127 Cyprus, Nicosia

128 USA, Las Vegas Nev

129 Samoa, Apia

130 Saint Helena, Jamestown

131 Tanzania, Dar es Salaam

132 Greece, Athens

133 Poland, Warsaw

134 Maldives, Male

135 Malawi, Lilongwe

136 Thailand, Bangkok

137 Indonesia, Jakarta

138 USA, Jacksonville Fla

139 Antigua and Barbuda, Saint John’s

140 Gambia, Banjul

141 United Kingdom, Glasgow

142 Lithuania, Vilnius

143 Belarus, Minsk

144 USA, Dallas Tex

145 Australia, Canberra

146 India, Mumbai

147 Australia, Melbourne

148 USA, Denver Colo

149 Algeria, Algiers

150 Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi

151 Honduras, Tegucigalpa

152 USA, Atlanta GA

153 USA, Cleveland Ohio

154 Canada, Montreal

155 USA, Milwaukee Wis

156 Congo, Brazzaville

157 Guinea, Conakry

158 Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre

159 USA, Detroit Mich

160 Panama, Panama City

161 Latvia, Riga

162 Uganda, Kampala

163 Korea Republic of, Seoul

164 USA, Charlotte NC

165 Marshall Islands, Majuro

166 Australia, Perth

167 USA, Phoenix Ariz

168 USA, Columbus Ohio

169 USA, Austin Tex

170 Madagascar, Antananarivo

171 USA, Tampa Fla

172 United Kingdom, Birmingham

173 Afghanistan, Kabul

174 Grenada, Saint George’s

175 Vietnam, Hanoi

176 USA, Indianapolis Ind

177 USA, St Louis MO

178 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kingstown

179 Peru, Lima

180 Syria, Damascus

181 USA, Fort Worth Tex

182 Slovenia, Ljubljana

183 Mauritania, Nouakchott

184 USA, El Paso Tex

185 Philippines, Manila

186 China, Shanghai

187 USA, Memphis Tenn

188 USA, Pittsburgh Penn

189 Belize, Belmopan

190 India, New Delhi

191 Romania, Bucharest

192 Guatemala, Guatemala City

193 Iran, Tehran

194 Cape Verde, Praia

195 India, Chennai

196 USA, Houston Tex

197 Canada, Ottawa

198 Costa Rica, San Jose

199 Dominica, Roseau

200 Nicaragua, Managua

201 Guyana, Georgetown

202 Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo

203 Bulgaria, Sofia

204 237 Suriname, Paramaribo

205 Cuba, Havana

206 Oman, Muscat

207 India, Calcutta

208 Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar

209 Tajikistan, Dushanbe

210 India, Hyderabad

211 Burundi, Bujumbura

212 USA, San Antonio Tex

213 Myanmar, Yangon

214 Uruguay, Montevideo

215 Paraguay, Asuncion

216 Albania, Tirana

217 Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan

218 Mauritius, Port Louis

219 Fiji, Suva

220 Egypt, Cairo

221 Australia, Brisbane

222 El Salvador, San Salvador

223 Korea Democratic Republic of, Pyongyang

224 Laos, Vientiane

225 Mexico, Mexico City

226 Morocco, Rabat

227 India, Bangalore

228 Saint Lucia, Castries

229 New Zealand, Auckland

230 Kiribati, South Tarawa

231 Kosovo, Pristina

232 Kenya, Nairobi

233 Serbia, Belgrade

234 Bangladesh, Dhaka

235 Pakistan, Lahore

236 Bolivia, La Paz

237 Colombia, Bogota

238 Botswana, Gaberone

239 Sri Lanka, Colombo

240 Pakistan, Islamabad

241 Turkmenistan, Ashgabat

242 Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

243 Macedonia, Skopje

244 Pakistan, Karachi

245 Australia, Adelaide

246 Montenegro, Podgorica

247 Chile, Santiago

248 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

249 China, Macao

250 Eritrea, Asmara

251 Iraq, Baghdad

252 Argentina, Buenos Aires

253 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo

254 Uzbekistan, Tashkent

255 Ecuador, Quito

256 Nepal, Kathmandu

257 Tunisia, Tunis

258 Yemen, Sanaa

259 Bhutan, Thimphu

260 South Africa, Johannesburg

261 China, Shenzhen

262 Tonga, Nuku’Alofa

263 China, Dalian

264 South Africa, Pretoria

265 Lesotho, Maseru

266 China, Wuhan

267 Namibia, Windhoek

268 Libya, Tripoli

269 South Africa, Cape Town

270 China, Guangzhou

271 Seychelles, Victoria

272 South Africa, Durban

273 Cambodia, Phnom Penh

274 Swaziland, Mbabane

275 China, Tianjin

276 Zimbabwe, Harare

Cost Of Living International Rankings For 1 April 2009

International cost of living rankings are the result of comparing the cost of an expatriate’s personal budget, using the local prices for the same defined quantities of the same goods and services in each country throughout the world.

Our findings show that the compound impact of the multifaceted global economic trends that impact each country in one way or another, are contributing to rapid substantial changes in the relative cost of living of countries around the world. The changes in relative cost of living are large and have occurred in a relatively short period of time. The reason for this is due to the fact that so many economic crises are occurring simultaneously. 2008 saw the housing bubble burst followed by the failure of a number of global fund / asset management, insurance and banking giants. Some have been liquidated or taken over; others have been bailed out with government funds. In 2009 we have seen the continued fall in house prices which many believe have yet to bottom out. Stock prices and market indexes are down to levels last seen a decade or more ago. The trend towards decreased inflation and lower interest rates continues in developed and developing markets. We are also experiencing exchange rate volatility with a number of large economies seeing their currency weaken considerably in the past year. The economic impact is continuing to spread around the globe. We are currently seeing a truly global recession with reduced demand for manufacturing inputs and outputs as well as reduced energy demand and large scale job losses.

This study of 276 global locations covered every country in the world. The study comprised the cost of several hundred items that expatriates typically spend their pay on, grouped into 13 Basket Groups. The findings as at 1 April 2009 have been compared to the previous findings of 1 December 2008. The Index uses New York as the base (New York = 100). An index greater than 100, means that the cost of living is higher than New York, an index less than 100, means that the cost of living is lower than New York.

Geneva has a cost of living index of 110 for example. That means that on average, goods and services that cost $100 in New York, cost $110 in Geneva. Each city is ranked according to their overall cost of living index which includes the cost of all basket groups.

A cost of living index increases or decreases based on the local price of the goods and services used in the study and the ruling exchange rate. As a general principle, a country with a currency that has increased against other currencies (stronger currency) and which has relatively high local inflation (rapid/large price increases), will generally experience an increase in cost of living compared to other countries. On the other hand, a country with a currency that has decreased against other currencies (weaker currency) and which has relatively low local inflation will generally experience a decrease in cost of living compared to other countries. It is important to note that we are talking about relative changes. Take London as another example. As recently as December 2008, London was still ranked the 6th most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live. As at April 2009 it is the 23rd most expensive place in the world for expatriates. That does not mean that the local cost of living for expatriates living in London has decreased. What it does mean is that relative to other places in the world, London is no longer as expensive as it was last year. What makes London’s cost of living relatively lower than it was is mainly due to the increase in the cost of living elsewhere together with the weaker British Pound.

These relative changes have a substantial impact on expatriate employees. An expatriate working in a high cost of living – strong currency country such as Hong Kong where the Hong Kong Dollar is pegged to the US Dollar illustrates this point. The high cost of living makes it difficult to save due to high local prices; Household (Accommodation including utilities) in particular is very expensive. However, an expatriate working in Hong Kong will now likely find that remitting money back home provides greatly increased spending power at home. In the past year the Hong Kong Dollar has increased 15% against the Malaysian Ringgit, and 30% against the Indonesian Rupiah and the Australian Dollar.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Places for Expatriates to Live

Tokyo has retained its status as the most expensive city in the world for expatriates to live. The cost of living index for Tokyo has increased from 126 in December 2008 to 143 as at 1 April 2009, and the Yen has strengthened against the US Dollar. At the other end of the scale, Harare has retained its status as the least expensive city in the world and is ranked 276 with an index of just 17 and a currency which is still in free-fall. Tokyo is ranked 1st for Healthcare expenses, 2nd for Groceries and 2nd for Household (Accommodation including utilities).

Hong Kong is now ranked 2nd overall having climbed from 33rd place in December 2008. Its cost of living index has increased from 103 to 121 and is ranked 1st for Household expenses and 2nd for Healthcare. It is interesting however to note that Hong Kong is not expensive in all categories. It is ranked 202nd for Alcohol & Tobacco, 226th for Recreation & Culture, 227th for Education, and 247th for Furniture & Appliances.

Lagos is the 3rd most expensive city in the world for expatriates, having previously been ranked 11th. It is ranked 1st for Groceries and for Furniture & Appliance expenses, 6th for Healthcare, and 18th for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels.

Caracas has moved substantially up the rankings to 4th, having been ranked just 32nd in December 2008. It is ranked 1st for Education expenses, 5th for Healthcare, and 6th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities).

Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea is the 5th ranked overall most expensive city for expatriates due to most goods and services being imported from Australia. Port Moresby is ranked 6th for Recreation & Culture, 7th for Communication and for Healthcare, and 8th most expensive for Clothing.

Geneva has dropped slightly to 6th, having been ranked 4th in December 2008. It is ranked 3rd most expensive for Transport expenses, 11th for Recreation & Culture, 15th for Healthcare, and 20th for Clothing.

Dubai has moved into the top 10 most expensive places in the world for expatriates to live for the first time. Dubai is now ranked 7th, substantially up from 34th in December 2008. Its cost of living index has increased from 103 to 109 since December 2008. It is ranked 1st for Restaurants Meals Out and Hotel expenses, 6th for Clothing, 11th for Healthcare, and 16th for Groceries. Dubai is currently ranked 4th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), however evidence is emerging that this will decrease significantly in the next quarter as it has been hit relatively hard in the property sector with falling property prices and rentals.

Doha has moved up in the global rankings faster than any other city. In December 2008, Doha was ranked the 45th most expensive city for expatriates, it is now 8th. The overall cost of living index has moved up from 101 to 109, equal to that of Dubai. It is ranked 2nd for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel expenses, 3rd for Clothing, 7th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), 8th for Groceries as well as for Recreation and Culture, and 10th for Healthcare.

Denmark has dropped slightly to being the 9th most expensive place in the world for expatriates, having been ranked 3rd in December 2008. It is ranked 3rd most expensive for Groceries, 5th for Transport, and 15th for Furniture and Appliances.

Hamilton in Bermuda completes the top 10 moving from 26th in December despite the overall cost of index remaining 108. Hamilton is ranked 4th most expensive for both Education and Healthcare, 10th for Personal Care, 11th for Household expenses (Accommodation including utilities), and 15th for Groceries.

The full overall cost of living ranking list from Xpatulator as at 1 April 2009 is as follows:

RankLocation

1 Japan, Tokyo
2 China, Hong Kong
3 Nigeria, Lagos
4 Venezuela, Caracas
5 Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
6 Switzerland, Geneva
7 United Arab Emirates, Dubai
8 Qatar, Doha
9 Denmark, Copenhagen
10 Bermuda, Hamilton
11 Angola, Luanda
12 Switzerland, Zurich
13 Russia, Moscow
14 Solomon Islands, Honiara
15 Cameroon, Douala
16 Chad, N’Djamena
17 Taiwan, Taipei
18 Liechtenstein, Vaduz
19 USA, New York NY
20 New Caledonia, Noumea
21 Greenland, Nuuk
22 Ireland, Dublin
23 United Kingdom, London
24 France, Paris
25 Norway, Oslo
26 Italy, Milan
27 San Marino, San Marino
28 USA, San Francisco Calif
29 Monaco, Monaco
30 Austria, Vienna
31 Bahamas, Nassau
32 Central African Republic, Bangui
33 Nauru, Yaren
34 USA, Boston Mass
35 Finland, Helsinki
36 Italy, Rome
37 Kazakhstan, Almaty
38 Cote D’Ivoire, Abidjan
39 Bahrain, Manama
40 Micronesia, Palikir
41 Isle of Man, Douglas
42 Haiti, Port-au-Prince
43 USA, San Jose Calif
44 Cameroon, Yaounde
45 Djibouti, Djibouti
46 Palau, Melekeok
47 Guinea-Bissau, Bissau
48 Azerbaijan, Baku
49 Benin, Cotonou
50 Slovakia, Bratislava
51 Belgium, Brussels
52 Netherlands, Amsterdam
53 Sao Tome and Principe, Sao Tome
54 Jersey, Saint Helier
55 Mali, Bamako
56 Gabon, Libreville
57 United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
58 Croatia, Zagreb
59 Singapore, Singapore
60 Ghana, Accra
61 Spain, Madrid
62 Ukraine, Kiev
63 USA, Philadelphia Pa
64 Cayman Islands, George Town
65 Sierra Leone, Freetown
66 Germany, Berlin
67 Czech Republic, Prague
68 USA, San Diego Calif
69 Jordan, Amman
70 Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain
71 USA, Los Angeles Calif
72 USA, Washington DC
73 Estonia, Tallinn
74 USA, Baltimore Md
75 Falkland Islands, Stanley
76 Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
77 Guernsey, St Peter Port
78 Comores, Moroni
79 Sudan, Khartoum
80 Germany, Bonn
81 Vatican City, Vatican City
82 Canada, Toronto
83 Timor-Leste, Dili
84 Hungary, Budapest
85 USA, Seattle Wash
86 Brazil, Brasilia
87 Lebanon, Beirut
88 USA, Miami Fla
89 Vanuatu, Port Vila
90 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
91 Jamaica, Kingston
92 Australia, Sydney
93 Kuwait, Kuwait City
94 Moldova, Chisinau
95 Congo Democratic Rep, Kinshasa
96 Germany, Frankfurt
97 Tuvalu, Funafuti
98 Iceland, Reykjavík
99 Barbados, Bridgetown
100 Portugal, Lisbon
101 Mozambique, Maputo
102 Senegal, Dakar
103 Canada, Vancouver
104 Niger, Niamey
105 China, Beijing
106 Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
107 Turkey, Ankara
108 Togo, Lome
109 Equatorial Guinea, Malabo
110 Martinique, Fort-de-France
111 Armenia, Yerevan
112 USA, Chicago Ill
113 Liberia, Monrovia
114 Gibraltar, Gibraltar
115 Sweden, Stockholm
116 Somalia, Mogadishu
117 Portland Ore
118 Israel, Jerusalem
119 Malta, Velletta
120 Puerto Rico, San Juan
121 Canada, Calgary
122 Rwanda, Kigali
123 Guam, Hagatna
124 Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou
125 Zambia, Lusaka
126 Andorra, Andorra la Vella
127 Cyprus, Nicosia
128 USA, Las Vegas Nev
129 Samoa, Apia
130 Saint Helena, Jamestown
131 Tanzania, Dar es Salaam
132 Greece, Athens
133 Poland, Warsaw
134 Maldives, Male
135 Malawi, Lilongwe
136 Thailand, Bangkok
137 Indonesia, Jakarta
138 USA, Jacksonville Fla
139 Antigua and Barbuda, Saint John’s
140 Gambia, Banjul
141 United Kingdom, Glasgow
142 Lithuania, Vilnius
143 Belarus, Minsk
144 USA, Dallas Tex
145 Australia, Canberra
146 India, Mumbai
147 Australia, Melbourne
148 USA, Denver Colo
149 Algeria, Algiers
150 Georgia Republic of, Tbilisi
151 Honduras, Tegucigalpa
152 USA, Atlanta GA
153 USA, Cleveland Ohio
154 Canada, Montreal
155 USA, Milwaukee Wis
156 Congo, Brazzaville
157 Guinea, Conakry
158 Saint Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre
159 USA, Detroit Mich
160 Panama, Panama City
161 Latvia, Riga
162 Uganda, Kampala
163 Korea Republic of, Seoul
164 USA, Charlotte NC
165 Marshall Islands, Majuro
166 Australia, Perth
167 USA, Phoenix Ariz
168 USA, Columbus Ohio
169 USA, Austin Tex
170 Madagascar, Antananarivo
171 USA, Tampa Fla
172 United Kingdom, Birmingham
173 Afghanistan, Kabul
174 Grenada, Saint George’s
175 Vietnam, Hanoi
176 USA, Indianapolis Ind
177 USA, St Louis MO
178 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kingstown
179 Peru, Lima
180 Syria, Damascus
181 USA, Fort Worth Tex
182 Slovenia, Ljubljana
183 Mauritania, Nouakchott
184 USA, El Paso Tex
185 Philippines, Manila
186 China, Shanghai
187 USA, Memphis Tenn
188 USA, Pittsburgh Penn
189 Belize, Belmopan
190 India, New Delhi
191 Romania, Bucharest
192 Guatemala, Guatemala City
193 Iran, Tehran
194 Cape Verde, Praia
195 India, Chennai
196 USA, Houston Tex
197 Canada, Ottawa
198 Costa Rica, San Jose
199 Dominica, Roseau
200 Nicaragua, Managua
201 Guyana, Georgetown
202 Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
203 Bulgaria, Sofia
204 Suriname, Paramaribo
205 Cuba, Havana
206 Oman, Muscat
207 India, Calcutta
208 Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar
209 Tajikistan, Dushanbe
210 India, Hyderabad
211 Burundi, Bujumbura
212 USA, San Antonio Tex
213 Myanmar, Yangon
214 Uruguay, Montevideo
215 Paraguay, Asuncion
216 Albania, Tirana
217 Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan
218 Mauritius, Port Louis
219 Fiji, Suva
220 Egypt, Cairo
221 Australia, Brisbane
222 El Salvador, San Salvador
223 Korea Democratic Republic of, Pyongyang
224 Laos, Vientiane
225 Mexico, Mexico City
226 Morocco, Rabat
227 India, Bangalore
228 Saint Lucia, Castries
229 New Zealand, Auckland
230 Kiribati, South Tarawa
231 Kosovo, Pristina
232 Kenya, Nairobi
233 Serbia, Belgrade
234 Bangladesh, Dhaka
235 Pakistan, Lahore
236 Bolivia, La Paz
237 Colombia, Bogota
238 Botswana, Gaberone
239 Sri Lanka, Colombo
240 Pakistan, Islamabad
241 Turkmenistan, Ashgabat
242 Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek
243 Macedonia, Skopje
244 Pakistan, Karachi
245 Australia, Adelaide
246 Montenegro, Podgorica
247 Chile, Santiago
248 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
249 China, Macao
250 Eritrea, Asmara
251 Iraq, Baghdad
252 Argentina, Buenos Aires
253 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo
254 Uzbekistan, Tashkent
255 Ecuador, Quito
256 Nepal, Kathmandu
257 Tunisia, Tunis
258 Yemen, Sanaa
259 Bhutan, Thimphu
260 South Africa, Johannesburg
261 China, Shenzhen
262 Tonga, Nuku’Alofa
263 China, Dalian
264 South Africa, Pretoria
265 Lesotho, Maseru
266 China, Wuhan
267 Namibia, Windhoek
268 Libya, Tripoli
269 South Africa, Cape Town
270 China, Guangzhou
271 Seychelles, Victoria
272 South Africa, Durban
273 Cambodia, Phnom Penh
274 Swaziland, Mbabane
275 China, Tianjin
276 Zimbabwe, Harare

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