Steven Coleman

What is a per diem? How does it work and are you getting one when you go away on business trips, short term assignments, conferences, or training for the company?

What type of skills do you have and are they essential to the organization's mission and objectives?

How effective are you at prioritizing and completing your tasks? Do you struggle with procrastinating, work on the small unimportant tasks? Your effectiveness on these tasks is dependent on how well you organize and follow through.....

The January 2010 International Cost of Living Ranking for 276 global locations across the world. Includes the 10 most expensive countries to live in, the 10 biggest movers up and down in ranking and the 10 most expensive countries per basket item. Tokyo is the most expensive place for an expatriate to live while Tianjin in China takes over from Zimbabwe as the cheapest place for an expatriate to live.

A competitive salary that takes into account the relative cost of living, exchange rate and compensation for the hardship of living in an unfamiliar/foreign location together with global expatriate benefits will attract and to some degree retain expatriates. However if you really want your expatriates to stay motivated when times get tough you need to ensure you have engaged expatriates. Engaged expatriates are committed to the organization.

The October 2009 International Cost of Living Ranking, one of the most comprehensive in the world, covers 276 cities in 209 countries across 13 basket groups. Below we have listed the Top 10 most expensive countries to live in, the biggest movers up and down in country ranking and the...

This report provides you with the cost of living indexes as at October 2009 for each of our 276 global locations. The indexes are calculated using the prices for specific quantities of the same goods and services in each location, based on expatriate spending patterns across the 13 basket groups. Our calculators make use of a cost of living index customised to the Basket Groups selected, the Exchange Rate and a relative Hardship Comparison for 276 locations around the globe.

The most expensive global location to live in, as at July 2009, is still Tokyo Japan, however there have been some significant changes in the last year mainly due to large differences in exchange rates, and more recently, a real drop in prices along with the majority of global locations...

The most expensive global location to live in, as at July 2009, is Tokyo Japan, however there have been some significant changes in the last year mainly due to large differences in exchange rates, and more recently, a real drop in prices along with the majority of global locations enjoying their lowest inflation rates in recent times. If you were to relocate anywhere in the world, where would you experience the lowest cost of living with the least amount of hardship? Answer=Adelaide Australia

Is being an expat all about attitude, and if so, does this have an immense influence on expat children and how they perceive their situation in this new environment? If as adults we have doubts about settling in a new country, how do you think our children are feeling? The inevitable question is “Do we leave our comfort zone?” Do we disrupt our lives, move away from everything we know and love, our home comforts, family and friends. And finally do we tear our children away from all the above?

Dubai is the 32nd most expensive city in the world for expatriates to live in, and is the most expensive place in the world for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels according to the March 2008, Xpatulator international cost of living comparison of 228 international locations.

The objective of expatriate pay programs is to ensure that employee spending power and standard of living is maintained irrespective of global location. How to achieve this has been an issue many organizations spend considerable time on. Exchange rates are volatile as they are based on short-term factors and are subject...

In December 2008 London was ranked the 6th most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, having been ranked 1st a year before. As at April 2009 London is the 23rd most expensive place in the world for expatriates. This does not mean that the cost of living for expatriates living in London has decreased significantly, what it does mean is that relative to other places in the world, London is no longer as expensive as it was in recent years.

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...

At the end of 2008 we have an ongoing credit crisis, slowing global economies, falling house prices, global stock market and exchange rate volatility, and a US dollar that is strengthening against most currencies. All these factors have and continue to contribute to a major change in the global cost of living rankings.

Asia and Africa have become relatively more expense in global terms over the past year. Three of the top Five most expensive cities are in Asia, with Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 5th respectively. Only the items the expatriate will spend their salary on should be included in a cost of living calculation. London is ranked as the most expensive global location in terms of overall cost of living, but is only ranked 26th most expensive location for groceries.

When an expatriate moves from one geographic location to another, the change in cost of living they experience is relative to the change in the purchasing power of their salary. The basic principle is that a move to a higher cost of living city should be accompanied by a proportionately...

The most expensive global location to live in, as at July 2009, is still Tokyo Japan, however there have been some significant changes in the last year mainly due to large differences in exchange rates, and more recently, a real drop in prices along with the majority of global locations...

India offers the opportunity for expatriates moving to India to experience an increase in their purchasing power. The major cities of India offer a relatively low cost of living for expatriates. In assessing how much to pay an Expatriate in India, it is important to take into account the relative difference in the cost of living as well as the relative hardship.

Cost of living is the relative differential in the local cost of the basket groups and the ruling exchange rate between the 2 selected locations.

Are you thinking of moving countries, do you have a plan, have you thought of everything? Becoming an expat is as easy as you want to make it, but don't start without a plan.

Cost of living is the relative differential in the local cost of the basket groups and the ruling exchange rate between the 2 selected locations.

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...

The secret to moving from one country to another, may be your emotional stability and happiness in the new location, however this is often determined by how much money is sitting in your bank account.

At the end of 2008 we have an ongoing credit crisis, slowing global economies, falling house prices, global stock market and exchange rate volatility, and a US dollar that is strengthening against most currencies. All these factors have and continue to contribute to a major change in the global cost of living rankings.

While the rest of the world battles the ongoing impact of the global credit crisis, slowing economies, falling house prices, falling stock markets, exchange rate instability, a stronger US dollar and a drop in the oil price, Qatar stands out as being well positioned to ride out the global storm better than most.

Dubai is the 32nd most expensive city in the world for expatriates to live in, and is the most expensive place in the world for Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels according to the March 2008, Xpatulator international cost of living comparison of 228 international locations.

Many Expatriates accept an overseas position with high expectations of a better quality of life, luxury accommodation, and the excitement of new experiences. The reality is that many Expatriates are disappointed with the reality versus the expectation of their living and working experience. Once they settle in to their new environment, hardships, over which they have very little control often appear.

Is being an expat all about attitude, and if so, does this have an immense influence on expat children and how they perceive their situation in this new environment? If as adults we have doubts about settling in a new country, how do you think our children are feeling? The inevitable question is “Do we leave our comfort zone?” Do we disrupt our lives, move away from everything we know and love, our home comforts, family and friends. And finally do we tear our children away from all the above?

Bad news makes the front page. I have found plenty of good news about South Africa, which I would like to share with you.