But with pre-planning and research, you should have fewer surprises. Quantitative information like the US State Department's per diem rates and cost of living indexes can help you anticipate the fiscal logistics of relocation, but not without some reading between the lines. Make the Figures Work for You Cost of living figures provide a base idea of the salary you would need to maintain the lifestyle you are accustomed to. The figures indicate the price of a fixed basket of goods and services in locations throughout the world. The other big ones are goods and services, which include food, furniture, clothing, alcohol, tobacco and entertainment.
Transportation is another one.
These figures can be a precise indication of the differences in costs in places where the goods and services would be the same. But, complex research is often required when you are evaluating the cost of relocating to a country with an entirely different culture, and therefore a very different basket of goods. While having a housekeeper is generally considered an unnecessary luxury in the United States, it is a staple of bourgeois life in Singapore. Know the Culture, Know Yourself You may already be noticing that the figures, while helpful, may require some personal tailoring. Not everyone is going to consider alcohol and tobacco or even a maid as necessities.