Need Inspiration?

Following products and services are included in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living service report and can be used as inspiration for entries at How Much At Your Place.

Food
STAPLES: white bread, butter, margarine, white rice, spaghetti, flour, sugar, cheese, cornflakes, yogurt, milk, olive oil, and peanut or corn oil.
FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: potatoes, onions, mushrooms,tomatoes, carrots, oranges, apples, lemons, bananas, lettuce and eggs.
CANNED FOOD: peas, tomatoes, peaches and sliced pineapples.
MEAT AND FISH: beef, veal, lamb, pork, ham, bacon, chicken, frozen fish and fresh fish.
BEVERAGES: instant coffee, ground coffee, tea bags, cocoa, drinking chocolate, Coca-Cola, tonic water, mineral water and orange juice.

Alcohol
Wine, beer, scotch whisky, gin, vermouth, cognac and liqueur.

Household supplies
Soap, laundry detergent, toilet tissue, dishwashing liquid, insect-killer spray, light bulbs, batteries, frying pan, electric toaster, laundry and dry cleaning. 

Personal care
Aspirins, razor blades, toothpaste, facial tissues, hand lotion,shampoo & conditioner, lipstick and haircuts.

Tobacco
Marlboro cigarettes, local cigarettes and pipe tobacco.

Clothing
MEN’S: business suit, shirt and shoes, raincoat and wool mixture socks.
WOMEN’S: daytime dress, town shoes, cardigan, raincoat, and tights or panty hose.
CHILDREN’S: jeans, dress shoes, sportswear shoes, girl’s dress, boy’s dress jacket, boy’s dress trousers.

Utilities
Telephone rental and call charges, average gas bill, average electricity bill, average water bill and average heating oil costs.

Domestic help
Domestic cleaning rates, maid’s monthly wages and babysitter’s hourly rate.

Recreation
Compact disc album, colour TV, personal computer, colour film, colour picture development, foreign and local newspapers, international weekly news magazine, paperbacks, three-course dinner, and cinema and theatre seats.

Transport
CAR PRICES: low-priced car, compact car, family car and deluxe car.
CAR MAINTENANCE: yearly road tax or registration, tune-up, car insurance, regular unleaded petrol.
TAXI PRICES: initial meter charge, additional kilometre and airport to city centre rates.

Housing rents
Rents for furnished residential apartments, unfurnished residential apartments, furnished residential houses and unfurnished residential houses.

Schools, health and sports
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS: tuition fees, extra costs and kindergarten at French, German and American/English schools.
HEALTH AND SPORTS: routine check-up, dentist visit, greens fees on public golf course, hourly rate for tennis court, six tennis balls,
entrance fee to public swimming pool.

Business trip costs
Typical daily cost of a business trip, hotel charge, hire car costs, meal price, fast-food snack, regular unleaded petrol, taxi rates, international and local newspapers, international weekly news magazine, seat at cinema.

Disposable income
Percentage of gross salary remaining after taxes and deductions for single person, married person and person with children.