Survey Says: High Cost-of-Living and Lots of Tourists in Beijing

Nobody loves the international rankings of cities more than expats – probably because these surveys can feel like a referendum on our decision to live in Beijing. When Beijing's ranking is favorable, it feels like validation; when Beijing comes up short compared to other cities, it reflects the doubts and frustrations that are always hiding just beneath the surface. Are you ready for the latest round of rankings? This time around, you may be questioning your residence choice a bit more.

Mercer’s annual expatriate cost-of-living survey has come out. Judging from the results, either Beijing is getting pricier or lots of other places are getting cheaper. Beijing now ranks #17 on the international list, up three spots from its perch last year, but still down one from its high at 9 in 2009.

Beijing wasn’t the only Asian city to rise in the rankings. This year, Tokyo took the crown as the most expensive city for expats. The survey takes into account “the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including transport, food, clothing, household goods … entertainment” as well as “the cost of housing”.

We can at least take some solace in the fact that Shanghai also moved up; they're one slot higher than us. Other mainland cities that made the "most expensive for expats" list include Shenzhen and Guangzhou at 30 and 31, respectively.

Another survey released last week was the MasterCard "Worldwide Index of Global Destination Cities," which ranks Beijing at 19 for international visitors. London tops the list with an expected 16.9 million tourists arriving into the city this year via air. The ranking seems to only gauge international visitors, which hardly take into account the millions that pour into Beijing during the holidays. (During last year’s October holiday week, Beijing’s museums and parks saw 12 million tourists.)

Photo: Forbes.com