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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
An expat couple poses at Hong Kong Disneyland.

When employees are posted out of the country their salary package takes into consideration the cost of essential items, such as food and clothing. In some cities, such as Delhi and Mumbai, the cost of living is cheaper than in others.

Let's take a look at some of the most expensive cities for foreign workforce.

Note: The ranking does not include cost of house rent, utilities, school fees or car prices

Source: eca-international.com

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
Ornamental 'hina' dolls on display at a shop in Tokyo, Japan.

Tokyo

Country: Japan

Regional rank in 2013: 1

Global rank in 2013: 10

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is the most expensive city in Asia for expatriates.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
A woman holding shopping bags walks past a luxury watch poster outside a mall in Beijing, China.

Beijing

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 2

Global rank in 2013: 15

Beijing, the capital of China, is the second most expensive city in Asia for expatriates.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
A man rides Toyota Motor's one-seater 'i-unit' vehicle in Nagoya, Japan.

Nagoya

Country: Japan

Regional rank in 2013: 3

Global rank in 2013: 16

Nagoya, which has a population of about 3 million, is the largest city in the Chubu region of Japan.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
Girls selling lighters walk along a street in downtown Shanghai, China.

Shanghai

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 4

Global rank in 2013: 18

Shanghai, which has a population of about 23.71 million, is a global financial centre.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
A woman tries to put a Santa hat on her pet rabbit at a photo event to celebrate Christmas and the Year of the Rabbit in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan.

Yokohama

Country: Japan

Regional rank in 2013: 5

Global rank in 2013: 20

Yokohama, which has a population of about 3.69 million, is one of major ports in the country.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
People walk past flowerpots made of old jeans during a recycling campaign at the Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul, South Korea.

Seoul

Country: South Korea

Regional rank in 2013: 6

Global rank in 2013: 21

Seoul, which has a population of about 10.44 million, is the capital of South Korea.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
Shoppers browse at a clothing store in the Dotonbori shopping and amusement district in Osaka, Japan.

Osaka

Country: Japan

Regional rank in 2013: 7

Global rank in 2013: 23

Osaka, which has a population of about 2.66 million, is home to such companies as Panasonic, Sharp and Sanyo.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
A man dressed as a bowl of noodles greets office workers as he promotes a food fair at a shopping mall in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong

Country: Hong Kong

Regional rank in 2013: 8

Global rank in 2013: 28

Hong Kong, which has a population of about 7.07 million, is one of the biggest financial centres in the world.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
A model presents a creation by Indian designer Devki Karer for label DEVKI's at a fashion show in Singapore.

Singapore

Country: Singapore

Regional rank in 2013: 9

Global rank in 2013: 30

Singapore, which has a population of about 5.39 million, is one of the biggest financial centres in the world.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
A child touches tiger decorations at a shopping mall in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.

Guangzhou

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 10

Global rank in 2013: 38

Guangzhou, which has a population of about 14 million, is a key national transportation hub and trading port in China.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
Painters work on oil paintings in a studio at Dafen Oil Painting Village, in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province.

Shenzhen

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 11

Global rank in 2013: 40

Shenzhen, which has a population of about 10.35 million, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
College students attend a class at a cram school in Busan, about 420km southeast of Seoul, South Korea. About 70 college students study for an exam they hope will guarantee them a job for life with Samsung Group.

Busan

Country: South Korea

Regional rank in 2013: 12

Global rank in 2013: 41

Busan, which has a population of about 3.59 million, is the largest port city in South Korea.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
Workers from the Ulsan Construction and Plant Union bow every three steps during a march in Seoul, South Korea. About 600 members of the union and their supporters rallied to demand better working conditions.

Ulsan

Country: South Korea

Regional rank in 2013: 13

Global rank in 2013: 51

Ulsan, which has a population of about 1.14 million, has one of the highest GDP per capita in South Korea.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
A curator points at dolls inside a display at the Doll Industry Museum in Taishan, Taipei County, Taiwan.

Taipei

Country: Taiwan

Regional rank in 2013: 14

Global rank in 2013: 69

Taipei, which has a population of about 2.65 million, is the capital of Taiwan.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
Zookeepers feed polar bear twin cubs at a photo opportunity at Laohutan Ocean Park in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.

Dalian

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 15

Global rank in 2013: 79

Dalian, which has a population of about 6.17 million, has been posting double-digit growth in GDP since 1992.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
People walk outside the 'China House' in Tianjin, China. The house is decorated with hundreds of millions of ancient porcelain flakes, ancient bowls, dishes and vases, inlaid everywhere in the architecture.

Tianjin

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 16

Global rank in 2013: 90

Tianjin, which has a population of about 12.93 million, has attracted around 300 of Fortune 500 companies to set up their base there.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
Men wait for help by a stranded car on a flooded seaside road as they are surrounded by waves whipped up by typhoon Bolaven in Qingdao, Shandong province, China.

Qingdao

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 17

Global rank in 2013: 91

Qingdao, which has a population of about 9 million, has the world's longest sea bridge, the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
Taxis line up to get their tanks filled on a ramp in Chongqing municipality, China.

Chongqing

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 18

Global rank in 2013: 104

Chongqing, which has a population of about 28.84 million, is one of the 13 emerging megacities in the country.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
A performer flips in the air during the Song Jiang Battle Array competition in Neimen, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan.

Kaohsiung

Country: Taiwan

Regional rank in 2013: 19

Global rank in 2013: 110

Kaohsiung, which has a population of about 3 million, is a major economic hub in Taiwan.

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20 most expensive cities in Asia for expats

December 11, 2013 15:00 IST
Students play the board game 'Go', known as 'Weiqi' in Chinese, at a primary school in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

Suzhou

Country: China

Regional rank in 2013: 20

Global rank in 2013: 112

Suzhou, which has a population of about 10.54 million, is one of the richest major cities in China.