Thinking of moving to another world capital? A new report compiled by the human resources consultancy Mercer suggests you need to think carefully about how costly it is in other parts of the world. Surprisingly, Mercer ranks Moscow as the world's costliest city, with London a close second. This is bad news for students wanting to study in the Russian and English capitals. Mercer gathers information on 143 cities around the globe. Its annual survey measures and compares the costs of more than 200 items, including rent, transportation, food, clothes, household goods and entertainment. This data is invaluable for companies wishing to open offices in far-off lands. A Mercer spokeswoman said: "As companies continue to send employees on expatriate assignments, they must closely monitor changes in the cost of living."
A major theme of the latest survey is how currency movements have changed the rankings of different cities. Mercer stated: "There have been some significant changes in the rankings since last year….These are primarily due to exchange rate fluctuations - in particular the weakening of the U.S. dollar and the strengthening of the euro." Last year, London was ranked fifth, but due to a weak dollar, it has risen three places. Seoul was the third-placed city, followed by Tokyo and Hong Kong, both down a place from last year. Asuncion was the cheapest city for expats for the fifth year in a row. The world’s most expensive apartments are in Tokyo and the most affordable are in Johannesburg. The dearest fast food is in Copenhagen. Zimbabwe’s Harare dropped off the list this year due to its rates of hyperinflation.
moving / world capitals / human resources / Moscow / bad news / rent / data / currency / exchange rates / US dollar / expatriates / fast food / hyperinflation
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a. | moving | reasonably priced |
b. | ranks | keep an eye on |
c. | invaluable | considerable |
d. | expatriate | precious |
e. | monitor | changes |
f. | significant | relocating |
g. | primarily | running |
h. | fluctuations | emigrant |
i. | in a row | is placed |
j. | affordable | for the most part |
a. | A new report compiled | off lands |
b. | London a close | assignments |
c. | This data is invaluable | due to its rates of hyperinflation |
d. | open offices in far- | fluctuations |
e. | send employees on expatriate | for companies |
f. | currency movements have changed | in a row |
g. | exchange rate | by the human resources consultancy |
h. | down a | the rankings of different cities |
i. | for the fifth year | second |
j. | Harare dropped off the list this year | place from last year |
GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
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second |
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A theme of the latest survey is how currency movements have changed the of different cities. Mercer stated: "There have been some significant changes in the rankings since last year….These are due to exchange rate - in particular the weakening of the U.S. dollar and the strengthening of the euro." Last year, London was ranked fifth, but due to a weak dollar, it has risen three places. Seoul was the third-placed city, followed by Tokyo and Hong Kong, both down a place from last year. Asuncion was the cheapest city for for the fifth year in a row. The world’s most expensive apartments are in Tokyo and the most are in Johannesburg. The fast food is in Copenhagen. Zimbabwe’s Harare off the list this year due to its rates of hyperinflation. |
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fluctuations |