Country Full Name: Portuguese Republic.

Country Location: Portugal is in South Western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain.

Country Climate: Maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south.

Country Terrain: Mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south.

Country Major Languages: Portuguese.

Country Major Religions: Christianity.

Location Population: 10.6 Mil (2012 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of Portugal is a high income mixed economy. Fisheries and agriculture account for about 4% of the GDP, employing 13% of the labour force. The tertiary sector has grown, producing 66% of the GDP and providing jobs for 52% of the working population. Unemployment is relatively high.

Country Currency: Euro (EUR).

Country Inflation: 2.9% (2012 est.).




Cost Of LivingThe cost of living in Portugal is average compared to other places. The cost of living comparison to other places, uses local prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services at or near each location, converted to a single currency. The prices are grouped together into basket groups and the cost of living index calculated for each basket. The cost of living index for Portugal can be compared to any other selected location using the calculators.

Portugal is currently ranked 412 out of 780 places (rank 1 is most expensive: rank 780 is least expensive). The current cost of living rank for each basket, together with selected local benchmark prices converted to US Dollars are as follows: 

Alcohol & Tobacco costs are very low compared to other places for items such as beer, spirits, wine and cigarettes. There are 742 places that are more expensive, and 37 places that are less expensive for alcohol and or tobacco.
Benchmark price in a store for a midrange bottle of wine is $4.63, domestic/local beer (500ml) $1.18, imported/international beer (330ml) $1.41 and a pack of 20 cigarettes is $5.06.

Clothing costs are high compared to other places for items such as business, casual and children's clothing and footwear. There are 291 places that are more expensive, and 488 places that are less expensive for clothing.
Benchmark price for an international brand of mens jeans is $105, a quality international brand of running shoes $95, mens leather shoes suitable for office wear $97 while a medium size international summer dress from a global chain store is $41.

Communication costs are high compared to other places for various communication costs such as home telephone rental, internet subscription, mobile tariff and data costs. There are 192 places that are more expensive, and 587 places that are less expensive for communication.
Benchmark price for a monthly standard plan internet subscription is $27, while the benchmark mobile tariff is $0.27 per minute.

Education costs are low compared to other places for items such as creche / pre-school fees, primary school fees, high school fees and tertiary study fees. There are 586 places that are more expensive, and 193 places that are less expensive for education.
Benchmark annual private international school fees (excluding extras) $13,272 for Primary School, and $16,061 for High School.

Furniture & Appliance costs are low compared to other places for items such as dining table and chairs, home entertainment, kitchen appliances, and sofa. There are 525 places that are more expensive, and 254 places that are less expensive for furniture and appliances.
Benchmark price for a Blu-ray player is $113, and $1,116 for a 46 inch LED HD TV.

Grocery costs are very low compared to other places for items such as consumables, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruit & vegetables, general food products, snacks, soft drinks. There are 707 places that are more expensive, and 72 places that are less expensive for groceries.
Benchmark price in a major international retail store for 1 kg apples is $1.66, 1 kg oranges $1.23, 1 head lettuce $1.07, 1 kg potatos $0.81, 1 kg boneless, skinless, chicken breast $6.56, 1 kg cheddar cheese $8.62, 1 dozen large eggs $2.13, 500g loaf white bread $1.41, 1 L full cream milk $0.79, and 1.5 L water $0.63.

Healthcare costs are very low compared to other places for doctor visit, hospital stay, non-prescription medicine, and medical insurance. There are 701 places that are more expensive, and 78 places that are less expensive for healthcare.
Benchmark price for a private practice Doctor visit for an uninsured patient is $55, and a private hospital stay per day including nursing care, medications, diagnostic tests, food, and related costs is $1,630.

Household Accommodation costs are low compared to other places for items such as apartment purchase, mortgage rate, rental, and utilities. There are 590 places that are more expensive, and 189 places that are less expensive for household accommodation.
Benchmark rental for a secure upmarket unfurnished apartment (3 bedrooms) is $1,680 in a central location, and $954 in a suburban location, per month, excluding utilities.

Miscellaneous costs are very high compared to other places for items such as dry cleaning, linen, magazines, newspapers, office supplies, and postage stamps. There are 113 places that are more expensive, and 666 places that are less expensive for miscellaneous items.
Benchmark price for dry cleaning (1 mens 2 pc suit) is $11.47, while an international newspaper is $3.53.

Personal Care costs are low compared to other places for items such as cosmetics, hair care, and toiletries. There are 585 places that are more expensive, and 194 places that are less expensive for personal care.
Benchmark cost for a mens haircut and blow dry is $21, while a womens hair colour, cut and blow dry - medium length is $107.

Recreation and Culture costs are high compared to other places for items such as books, cinema, sport and theatre tickets. There are 289 places that are more expensive, and 490 places that are less expensive for recreation and culture.
Benchmark price for a latest release international cinema ticket (average of on and off peak where applicable) for one adult is $7.06, and an international fitness club membership for one adult is $63 per month.

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs are average compared to other places for items such as hotel daily room rates, meals and beverages in restaurants, and take away food and beverages. There are 315 places that are more expensive, and 464 places that are less expensive for restaurants, meals out and hotels.
Benchmark price for a cappuccino (regular, medium) is $1.34, coke/pepsi (330ml) $1.40, burger meal (international franchise or similar) $6.71, and a meal out (for 2 mid-range restaurant) $36.12.

Transport costs are very high compared to other places for items such as fuel (petrol/gasoline), public transport, vehicle purchase and maintenance. There are 91 places that are more expensive, and 688 places that are less expensive for transport.
Benchmark average price over the last year for highest available octane petrol / gasoline (1L) is $1.96, while the benchmark purchase price including taxes/duties for a compact / small / economy sedan (1.4 L) is $29,422. 

In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Portugal is ranked as minimal hardship with a hardship index of 10%. 

Country Full Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Country Location: The United Kingdom is in Western Europe, and consists of islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France.

Country Climate: Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast.

Country Terrain: Mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast.

Country Major Languages: English.

Country Major Religions: Christianity.

Location Population: 62.3 Mil (2012 est.).

Country Economy: The economy of the United Kingdom is that of a major developed capitalist economy. The United Kingdom is one of the world's most globalised countries. The British economy is made up of the economies of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 1973, the UK acceded to the European Economic Community which is now known as the European Union after the ratification of the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993. The UK economy had been one of the strongest EU economies in terms of inflation, interest rates and unemployment, all of which remained relatively low until the 2008-09 recession, when unemployment rose dramatically, and interest rates fell to 0.5%.

Country Currency: British Pound (GBP).

Country Inflation: 3.2% (2012 est.).




Cost Of LivingThe cost of living in United Kingdom is high compared to other places. The cost of living comparison to other places, uses local prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services at or near each location, converted to a single currency. The prices are grouped together into basket groups and the cost of living index calculated for each basket. The cost of living index for United Kingdom can be compared to any other selected location using the calculators.

United Kingdom is currently ranked 156 out of 780 places (rank 1 is most expensive: rank 780 is least expensive). The current cost of living rank for each basket, together with selected local benchmark prices converted to US Dollars are as follows: 

Alcohol & Tobacco costs are high compared to other places for items such as beer, spirits, wine and cigarettes. There are 285 places that are more expensive, and 494 places that are less expensive for alcohol and or tobacco.
Benchmark price in a store for a midrange bottle of wine is $8.74, domestic/local beer (500ml) $2.58, imported/international beer (330ml) $2.66 and a pack of 20 cigarettes is $9.64.

Clothing costs are high compared to other places for items such as business, casual and children's clothing and footwear. There are 275 places that are more expensive, and 504 places that are less expensive for clothing.
Benchmark price for an international brand of mens jeans is $80, a quality international brand of running shoes $87, mens leather shoes suitable for office wear $83 while a medium size international summer dress from a global chain store is $47.

Communication costs are average compared to other places for various communication costs such as home telephone rental, internet subscription, mobile tariff and data costs. There are 313 places that are more expensive, and 466 places that are less expensive for communication.
Benchmark price for a monthly standard plan internet subscription is $27, while the benchmark mobile tariff is $0.25 per minute.

Education costs are high compared to other places for items such as creche / pre-school fees, primary school fees, high school fees and tertiary study fees. There are 213 places that are more expensive, and 566 places that are less expensive for education.
Benchmark annual private international school fees (excluding extras) $24,727 for Primary School, and $29,924 for High School.

Furniture & Appliance costs are low compared to other places for items such as dining table and chairs, home entertainment, kitchen appliances, and sofa. There are 515 places that are more expensive, and 264 places that are less expensive for furniture and appliances.
Benchmark price for a Blu-ray player is $114, and $1,122 for a 46 inch LED HD TV.

Grocery costs are high compared to other places for items such as consumables, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruit & vegetables, general food products, snacks, soft drinks. There are 268 places that are more expensive, and 511 places that are less expensive for groceries.
Benchmark price in a major international retail store for 1 kg apples is $2.43, 1 kg oranges $2.40, 1 head lettuce $1.34, 1 kg potatos $1.88, 1 kg boneless, skinless, chicken breast $10.12, 1 kg cheddar cheese $8.83, 1 dozen large eggs $3.15, 500g loaf white bread $1.56, 1 L full cream milk $1.39, and 1.5 L water $1.67.

Healthcare costs are high compared to other places for doctor visit, hospital stay, non-prescription medicine, and medical insurance. There are 291 places that are more expensive, and 488 places that are less expensive for healthcare.
Benchmark price for a private practice Doctor visit for an uninsured patient is $85, and a private hospital stay per day including nursing care, medications, diagnostic tests, food, and related costs is $2,491.

Household Accommodation costs are high compared to other places for items such as apartment purchase, mortgage rate, rental, and utilities. There are 172 places that are more expensive, and 607 places that are less expensive for household accommodation.
Benchmark rental for a secure upmarket unfurnished apartment (3 bedrooms) is $2,703 in a central location, and $1,584 in a suburban location, per month, excluding utilities.

Miscellaneous costs are high compared to other places for items such as dry cleaning, linen, magazines, newspapers, office supplies, and postage stamps. There are 178 places that are more expensive, and 601 places that are less expensive for miscellaneous items.
Benchmark price for dry cleaning (1 mens 2 pc suit) is $10.35, while an international newspaper is $3.19.

Personal Care costs are high compared to other places for items such as cosmetics, hair care, and toiletries. There are 163 places that are more expensive, and 616 places that are less expensive for personal care.
Benchmark cost for a mens haircut and blow dry is $34, while a womens hair colour, cut and blow dry - medium length is $171.

Recreation and Culture costs are average compared to other places for items such as books, cinema, sport and theatre tickets. There are 336 places that are more expensive, and 443 places that are less expensive for recreation and culture.
Benchmark price for a latest release international cinema ticket (average of on and off peak where applicable) for one adult is $11.50, and an international fitness club membership for one adult is $58 per month.

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs are high compared to other places for items such as hotel daily room rates, meals and beverages in restaurants, and take away food and beverages. There are 176 places that are more expensive, and 603 places that are less expensive for restaurants, meals out and hotels.
Benchmark price for a cappuccino (regular, medium) is $3.32, coke/pepsi (330ml) $1.77, burger meal (international franchise or similar) $7.26, and a meal out (for 2 mid-range restaurant) $60.09.

Transport costs are very high compared to other places for items such as fuel (petrol/gasoline), public transport, vehicle purchase and maintenance. There are 82 places that are more expensive, and 697 places that are less expensive for transport.
Benchmark average price over the last year for highest available octane petrol / gasoline (1L) is $1.97, while the benchmark purchase price including taxes/duties for a compact / small / economy sedan (1.4 L) is $22,552. 

In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, United Kingdom is ranked as minimal hardship with a hardship index of 10%. 

If the prospect of 22 big tall men looking at you  with a very scary look, doesn't scare you, why not try an experience in New Zealand? 

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