Beijing has earned a number two ranking... for being the second most expensive city for expats in Asia. That's according to a recent survey by consulting firm ECA International.
Beijing came in just behind Tokyo in the ranking of Asian locations and took 15th place in the global listings. There are two factors. One is rising costs in the Chinese capital. But Beijing's jump in the rankings is also due in large part to a weaker yen, which makes Japanese locations much cheaper.
For a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant in Beijing, the median price is about $25. For the same meal in Tokyo, it's almost double. A liter of milk would cost $1.77 and in Beijing, almost twenty percent less than Tokyo.
Monthly rent on a one bedroom apartment would cost $820 in central Beijing. The average price for a centrally located one bedroom apartment in Tokyo asks for about $500 more... Other Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, have all entered this year's ranking of the priciest Asian locations for expats.
(CNTV.cn December 8, 2013) |