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Indexes of Living Costs Abroad Quarters Allowances, and Hardship Differentials April 1998 |
This report contains the U.S. Department of State indexes of living costs abroad, quarters allowances, hardship differentials, and danger pay allowances. The statistics are computed by the Office of Allowances of the Department of State for use in establishing allowances to compensate U.S. Government civilian employees for costs and hardships related to assignments abroad. This information is also used by many business firms and other private organizations to assist in establishing private compensation systems. The data are published quarterly in January, April, July, and October.
Detailed explanations of the methods of compiling the local and U.S. Government indexes, quarters allowances, hardship differentials, and danger pay allowances are included in the Technical Notes sections of the January, April, and July publications. It is important that allowance data users be thoroughly familiar with the methods used in compiling these statistics and their limitations. The data are compiled primarily to establish allowances for Federal civilian employees abroad, and the government allowance program includes additional relocation benefits which will be described in the Technical Notes section of the October publication.
Indexes of Living Costs Abroad
The indexes of living costs (Table 1) are used to compute cost-of-living allowances for employees at posts where living costs, based on an American pattern of living, are significantly higher than in the Washington, D.C. area. To compute a cost-of-living allowance, the appropriate index of living costs is applied to spendable income the estimated portion of employee salary used to purchase goods and services. The cost-of-living allowance is a goods and services allowance. It does not cover U.S. or foreign income taxes, retirement contributions, life insurance premiums, personal savings, investments or charitable contributions. In addition, it does not cover housing and children's education, which are covered by separate allowances.
The indexes of living costs abroad compare the costs in dollars of representative goods and services (excluding housing and education) purchased at the foreign location and the cost of comparable goods and services in the Washington, D.C. area. The indexes are calculated on the basis of price data reported by foreign posts using a standard Retail Price Schedule and data similarly reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor for the Washington, D.C. area.
In addition to the indexes used to establish post (cost-of-living) allowances for U.S. Government employees, separate indexes are computed solely for private Americans living abroad. The indexes computed for private American employees the local relative and local index exclude special advantages that may be available only to U.S. Government employees. The U.S. Government relative and the U.S. Government index must include prices of goods imported to posts, sales tax rebates, military- or employee-operated post commissaries, and other advantages that may be available only to U.S. Government employees. The indexes are published for all locations for which reliable indexes are computed regularly.
The indexes are place-to-place comparisons at specific times and currency exchange rates. They cannot be used for measuring cost changes over time at a foreign location. Also, the indexes should not be used to compare living costs of Americans in the United States with the living costs of foreign nationals living in their own country, since the indexes reflect only the expenditure pattern and living costs of American families.
Quarters Allowances
The quarters allowances (Table 2) are the maximum allowances payable to U.S. Government employees to cover housing costs at the foreign location. Employees recruited in the United States to work abroad for the U.S. Government may receive either free government housing or an allowance to substantially cover the cost of privately rented housing. The allowance payable to a Federal civilian employee is either the amount of actual housing costs or the maximum allowance, whichever is less.
Department of State Publication 10197
Bureau of Administration
Office of Allowances
Revised April 1998
The quarters allowance reimburses Federal employees for rent; electricity, gas, fuel, and water; taxes and insurance premiums required by local law or custom to be paid by the tenant; and the agent's fee incurred by the landlord and required by law or custom to be paid by the tenant as a condition of obtaining a lease. The allowance may also be used to cover some of the costs for garage rent and necessary furniture rental.
Quarters allowances are established on the basis of annual expenditure reports submitted by all U.S. Government civilian employees in private housing abroad. Maximum allowances are established for employees of various Federal grade levels and family sizes. For publication purposes, approximate salary levels for each Federal grade level are indicated in Table 2. The family rate shown in the table is for an employee with one family member. The additional amounts for larger families are described in footnote 4 to Table 2. The quarters data are published for selected locations. The allowance rates established at the time of the annual survey are designed to fully reimburse approximately 80 percent of the employees in the sample for all allowable rent and household utility expenditures.
Post (Hardship) Differentials
Post differentials (Table 3) are provided to Federal employees, recruited in the United States, as foreign area recruitment and retention incentives. A differential is established where living conditions for U.S.G. employees are extraordinarily difficult, physical hardships are excessive, or living conditions are notably unhealthful.
The differential rate for each location is based primarily on a standard evaluation of environmental conditions as reported in the Post Differential Questionnaire. The overall rating results from an examination of 150 specific environmental factors, weighted for their relative importance. Depending on the total hardship rating, employees are paid post differentials of 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 percent of base salary. The maximum amount that Federal employees can currently receive as combined annual base salary and hardship differential is $136,700. Any post differential paid Federal employees is subject to Federal income tax.
Danger Pay Allowances
A danger pay allowance may be paid Federal civilian employees where civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism, or wartime conditions threaten physical harm or pose imminent danger to the health or well-being of the employee. Locations authorized danger pay allowances are identified by footnotes in Table 3. Conditions that may warrant a danger pay determination are reported in the Danger Pay Factors Form. Depending upon the level of danger, levels of 15, 20, and 25 percent of base salary are authorized.
Danger pay allowances may be paid to employees on temporary detail at a danger pay location for at least 4 consecutive hours. The danger pay allowance paid Federal employees is subject to Federal income tax.
Technical Information
Technical notes of this publication describe the compensation of American Government employees in foreign areas. The notes also explain how the indexes of living costs abroad may be used to adjust a U.S. salary level for higher living costs abroad. Technical questions may be directed to the Office of Allowances, SA29, Room 262, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20522-2902 Telephone: (703) 875-7900.
Table 1. Indexes of Living Costs Abroad, April 1998 (Washington, D.C. = 100) Exchange Rate 1 Local 2 U.S.Government 3
Country and City Survey Foreign Number
Date Unit per US$ Relative Index Relative Index Angola: Luanda Apr-97 Kwanza 200,000 167 178 123 126 Argentina: Buenos Aires Nov-96 Peso 1.00 124 134 112 123 Armenia: Yerevan May-97 Dram 480 97 103 90 97 Australia: Canberra Oct-97 Dollar 1.37 127 128 112 113 Sydney Oct-95 Dollar 1.31 125 123 116 115 Austria: Vienna May-97 Schilling 11.9 161 150 134 128 Azerbaijan: Baku Oct-95 Manat 4,560 100 102 86 88 Azores: Ponta Delgada Mar-97 Escudo 171 105 106 95 95 Bahamas: Freeport Jun-97 Dollar 1.00 123 132 116 125 Nassau Dec-96 Dollar 1.00 132 134 121 122 Bahrain: Manama Apr-97 Dinar 0.3769 103 112 94 103 Bangladesh: Dhaka Feb-97 Taka 42.5 77 81 74 82 Barbados: Bridgetown Mar-97 Dollar 2.00 141 143 126 127 Belarus: Minsk Feb-96 Ruble 11,500 103 106 98 100 Belgium: Brussels Dec-96 Franc 31.9 155 151 128 128 Shape/ Chievres Jun-97 Franc 35 130 132 106 107 Belize: Belize City Jul-97 Dollar 1.99 108 118 94 103 Benin: Cotonou Aug-95 CFA Franc 480 92 100 86 93 Bermuda Mar-97 Dollar 1.00 154 155 135 135 Bolivia: La Paz May-97 Boliviano 5.23 84 90 78 84 Botswana: Gaborone Jan-97 Pula 3.66 82 87 80 86 Brazil: Brasilia Nov-97 Real 1.09 134 139 108 113 Rio de Janeiro Nov-96 Real 1.0150 132 138 119 125 Sao Paulo Nov-96 Real 1.0150 154 146 134 125 Brunei: Bandar Seri Begawan May-96 Dollar 1.40 113 130 107 123 Bulgaria: Sofia Jul-94 Leva 53.9 79 84 85 91 Burkina: Ouagadougou Jun-97 CFA Franc 575 99 106 86 92 Burma: Rangoon Mar-97 Kyat 164 83 94 75 86 Burundi: Bujumbura Oct-96 Franc 317 149 148 125 122 Cambodia: Phnom Penh Feb-94 Riel 2,500 86 87 82 83 Cameroon: Yaounde Oct-97 CFA Franc 598 112 127 98 113 Canada: Halifax Mar-96 Dollar 1.35 108 108 101 101 Ottawa Oct-97 Dollar 1.37 104 104 101 101 Toronto Jul-97 Dollar 1.38 110 110 104 104 Cape Verde: Praia Jul-93 Escudo 81.1 94 101 85 91 Cent. African Rep.:Bangui Nov-95 CFA Franc 490 127 136 110 118 Chad: N'Djamena Jul-97 CFA Franc 582 128 138 109 117 Chile: Santiago May-97 Peso 413 121 128 112 120 5 5 China: Beijing Oct-96 Renminbi 8.30 126 131 101 107 Guangzhou Feb-96 Renminbi 8.29 115 107 108 100 Shanghai May-96 Renminbi 8.31 110 113 100 104 Colombia: Bogota Jun-97 Peso 1079 109 113 98 102 Congo: Brazzaville Oct-96 CFA Franc 514 165 176 126 135 Congo, Dem. Republic of: Kinshasa Jul-95 New Zaire 6,013 189 204 134 148 Costa Rica: San Jose Jul-95 Colon 178 84 88 78 82 Cote d'Ivoire: Abidjan Nov-97 CFA Franc 595 112 118 100 106 Croatia: Zagreb Feb-97 Kuna 5.80 116 116 109 108 5 5 Cuba: Havana Jun-96 Dollar 1.00 114 123 104 112 Cyprus: Nicosia Apr-97 Pound 0.5074 115 116 101 101 Czech Republic: Prague Sep-96 Koruna 26.6 110 106 99 96 Denmark: Copenhagen Aug-95 Kroner 5.38 181 177 146 142 Djibouti: Djibouti City Jul-96 Franc 177 151 164 128 138 Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo Mar-97 Peso 14.4 108 117 98 105 Ecuador: Quito Dec-96 Sucre 3,335 83 88 83 88 Egypt: Cairo Jun-96 Pound 3.40 82 99 73 91 El Salvador: San Salvador Jun-97 Colon 8.75 90 96 83 89 Eritrea: Asmara Oct-97 Birr 7.2 98 104 88 94 Estonia: Tallinn Sep-97 Kroon 14.5 86 87 82 84 Ethiopia: Addis Ababa Mar-97 Birr 6.24 102 111 86 95 Fiji: Suva Dec-96 Dollar 1.40 108 116 103 111 Finland: Helsinki Apr-97 Markka 5.14 150 149 123 123 France: Paris Mar-97 Franc 5.57 165 152 139 128 Gabon: Libreville Feb-97 CFA Franc 539 154 172 119 134 Gambia: Banjul Apr-96 Dalasi 9.8 103 110 92 99 Georgia: Tbilisi Jan-97 Lari 1.2 114 119 100 105 Germany: Berlin Aug-97 Mark 1.75 129 125 117 114
Bonn Jul-97 Mark 1.71 134 133 113 112 Frankfurt Apr-97 Mark 1.64 150 148 122 121 Hamburg May-95 Mark 1.37 164 157 140 136 Munich Jun-96 Mark 1.49 158 149 133 130 Ghana: Accra May-97 Cedi 1925 99 108 91 99 Greece: Athens Nov-96 Drachma 239 136 136 113 113 Kavala Relay Sta. Mar-97 Drachma 265 108 108 94 94 Thessaloniki Dec-95 Drachma 237 124 126 106 107 Grenada Oct-95 Dollar 2.70 111 120 97 107 Guatemala: Guatemala City Aug-95 Quetzal 5.76 100 107 91 99 Guinea: Conakry Jul-97 Franc 1095 116 128 96 106 5 5 Guinea-Bissau: Bissau Jan-97 Peso 34,391 107 113 94 100 Guyana: Georgetown May-97 Dollar 144 74 78 75 80 Haiti: Port-au-Prince Oct-96 Gourde 15.1 102 108 89 94 Honduras: Tegucigalpa Jan-97 Lempira 13.05 74 79 71 76 Hong Kong Sep-97 Dollar 7.75 152 137 126 117 Hungary: Budapest Apr-97 Forint 176 102 98 92 89 Iceland: Reykjavik Dec-96 Kronur 66.2 154 156 114 114 India: New Delhi Dec-95 Rupee 34.7 78 83 82 87 Indonesia: Jakarta Jul-96 Rupiah 2,316 106 114 97 104 Surabaya Aug-97 Rupiah 2,594 87 97 82 92 Ireland: Dublin Feb-97 Pound 0.6086 147 141 124 122 Israel: Tel Aviv Apr-97 New Shekel 3.4 161 163 120 121 Italy: Milan May-97 Lira 1,683 154 145 126 122 Naples Oct-95 Lira 1,602 138 140 109 109 Rome Apr-97 Lira 1,676 145 140 130 126 Jamaica: Kingston Sep-97 Dollar 35.7 116 123 107 113 Japan: Fukuoka Jan-97 Yen 111 177 172 151 149 Gotemba (Camp Fuji)Feb-96 Yen 104 170 172 129 131 Kobe-Osaka Mar-97 Yen 119 186 176 161 155 Misawa Feb-96 Yen 102 182 183 112 113 Okinawa Jan-97 Yen 112 169 169 122 121 Sapporo Apr-97 Yen 119 179 176 160 158 Tokyo Mar-97 Yen 119 180 172 142 139 Yokohama Sep-97 Yen 116 175 168 133 132 Yokosuka Jan-97 Yen 111 172 168 132 130 Yokota Jan-97 Yen 111 158 155 124 123 Jerusalem Apr-96 New Shekel 3.09 139 142 119 121 Jordan: Amman Apr-97 Dinar 0.7102 112 118 92 97 Kazakhstan: Almaty Jul-96 Tenge 67.2 148 156 107 108 Kenya: Nairobi Oct-97 Shilling 54.9 104 112 94 103 Korea: Seoul Jun-97 Won 873 139 143 101 106 Kuwait: Kuwait City Oct-95 Dinar 0.2983 113 123 99 111 Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek Nov-96 Som 14.6 113 121 101 108 Laos: Vientiane Mar-96 Kip 925 94 119 89 115 Latvia: Riga Nov-96 Lats 0.5457 109 126 93 110 Lebanon: Beirut Oct-92 Pound 2,335 85 94 80 90 Lesotho: Maseru May-96 Maloti 4.35 78 78 77 78 Liberia: Monrovia Aug-97 Dollar 1.00 132 140 102 108 Lithuania: Vilnius Jul-97 Litas 3.99 107 115 90 96 Luxembourg: Luxembourg Mar-97 Franc 34.8 126 128 118 118 Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of: Skopje Apr-95 Denar 36.8 120 117 108 103 Madagascar: Antananarivo Jan-97 Franc 4,353 94 101 80 86 Malawi: Lilongwe Jun-96 Kwacha 15.21 95 100 79 84 Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur Apr-97 Ringgit 2.48 110 120 94 105 Mali: Bamako Nov-95 CFA Franc 496 109 118 94 101 Malta May-97 Lira 0.3586 107 109 99 101 Marshall Islands: Majuro Mar-96 Dollar 1.00 117 120 112 115 Mauritania: Nouakchott Oct-97 Ouguiya 156 128 139 109 118 Mauritius: Port Louis Jan-97 Rupee 19.8 98 105 85 92 Mexico: Mexico, D.F. Sep-97 Peso 7.81 100 101 91 93 Monterrey Jan-94 Peso 3.10 106 112 99 105 Micronesia: Pohnpei Jul-95 Dollar 1.00 96 99 95 98 Moldova: Chisinau Oct-95 Leu 4.47 83 85 80 82 Morocco: Casablanca Sep-94 Dirham 8.92 108 109 94 96 Rabat Jul-96 Dirham 8.76 108 109 89 89 Mozambique: Maputo Oct-96 Metical 11,230 117 126 97 106 Namibia: Windhoek Oct-96 Rand 4.52 94 95 90 90 Nepal: Kathmandu Dec-93 Rupee 49 82 88 81 87 Netherlands: The Hague Feb-97 Guilder 1.84 144 141 123 123 Brunssum Jan-96 Guilder 1.61 137 139 105 105 Netherlands Antilles:Aruba Mar-94 Florin 1.78 109 113 105 108 Curacao Jul-97 Florin 1.78 115 117 103 104 New Zealand: Wellington Nov-96 Dollar 1.43 124 125 110 111 Nicaragua: Managua Mar-97 Cordoba 9.11 100 110 93 103 Niger: Niamey Jul-96 CFA Franc 516 122 135 100 113 Nigeria: Abuja Dec-96 Naira 80.1 109 113 97 101 Lagos Jan-97 Naira 78.8 106 112 90 98 Norway: Oslo Sep-96 Kroner 6.41 185 184 148 149 Oman: Muscat Nov-97 Rial 0.3849 108 118 102 111 Pakistan: Islamabad Apr-97 Rupee 40.1 83 96 76 89 Palau, Republic of: Koror Jul-97 Dollar 1.00 101 105 101 104 Panama: Panama City Aug-96 Balboa 1.00 88 94 87 92 Papua New Guinea: Port Moresby Jan-97 Kina 1.34 136 146 118 125 Paraguay: Asuncion Nov-97 Guarani 2,194 106 110 95 99 Peru: Lima Nov-97 New Sol 2.71 123 130 109 116 Philippines: Manila May-96 Peso 26.2 97 106 90 99 Poland: Warsaw Mar-97 New Zloty 3.04 102 109 89 96 Portugal: Lisbon Mar-97 Escudo 170 123 122 105 105 Qatar: Doha Oct-96 Riyal 3.62 98 107 93 103 6 6 Romania: Bucharest Jun-97 Leu 7000 106 109 98 101 7 Russia: Moscow Jul-97 Ruble 5732 152 153 117 118 7 St. Petersburg Jan-97 Ruble 5,505 153 154 123 124 Vladivostok Aug-95 Ruble 4,400 112 116 102 106 Yekaterinburg Sep-96 Ruble 5,300 112 118 98 103 Rwanda: Kigali May-97 Franc 306 117 126 94 103 Saudi Arabia: Al Khobar (Dhahran) Sep-97 Riyal 3.75 125 140 107 120 Jeddah Sep-97 Riyal 3.75 104 121 93 111 Riyadh Jun-97 Riyal 3.75 125 143 105 125 Senegal: Dakar Dec-96 CFA Franc 510 127 134 109 115 Serbia-Montenegro:Belgrade Apr-95 New Dinar 2.39 126 128 93 93 Seychelles: Victoria Oct-95 Rupee 4.91 140 159 107 122 Sierra Leone: Freetown Jan-97 Leone 960 115 124 101 110 Singapore Jun-96 Dollar 1.41 127 137 111 122 Slovakia: Bratislava Jun-94 Korun 32.5 90 89 83 82 Slovenia: Ljubljana Jan-97 Tolar 141 118 118 104 103 South Africa: Cape Town Oct-95 Rand 3.65 93 95 85 86 Johannesburg Oct-97 Rand 4.67 94 95 90 91 Pretoria Nov-95 Rand 3.66 97 97 95 94 Spain: Barcelona May-97 Peseta 144 140 135 127 122 Madrid Jan-97 Peseta 131 142 133 126 118 Sri Lanka: Colombo Feb-97 Rupee 56.8 104 109 91 96 Sudan: Khartoum Feb-95 Pound 430 107 118 92 104 Suriname: Paramaribo Aug-97 Guilder 396 99 107 94 101 Swaziland: Mbabane Sep-97 Rand 4.69 79 85 76 83 Sweden: Stockholm Apr-97 Kroner 7.63 169 161 141 133 Switzerland: Geneva Jun-96 Franc 1.19 186 185 169 167 Syria: Damascus Nov-96 Pound 42.0 103 112 92 101 8 8 8 8 Taiwan: Kaohsiung Mar-93 Dollar 26.0 130 135 118 124 8 8 8 8 Taipei Feb-97 Dollar 27.4 140 143 117 120 6 6 Tajikistan: Dushanbe Aug-94 Ruble 1,500 N/A N/A 100 91 Tanzania: Dar es Salaam Jan-97 Shilling 596 119 130 93 103 Thailand: Bangkok Mar-97 Baht 25.9 103 115 91 103 Togo: Lome Jun-96 CFA Franc 515 106 119 93 106 Trinidad/Tobago: Port-of-Spain Aug-93 Dollar 5.58 94 100 85 92 Tunisia: Tunis Apr-97 Dinar 1.06 111 115 98 103 Turkey: Istanbul Nov-96 Lira 92,567 130 135 112 117 Turkmenistan: Ashgabat Mar-97 Manat 5,250 102 109 102 108 Uganda: Kampala Aug-97 Shilling 923 148 161 106 117 Ukraine: Kiev Jan-97 Hryvnia 1.7 128 132 107 111 United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi Mar-97 Dirham 3.65 99 112 94 108 Dubai Jun-96 Dirham 3.65 109 118 102 111 United Kingdom: Belfast May-96 Pound 0.6438 141 142 126 125 Bristol Aug-95 Pound 0.6317 132 132 112 113 Croughton Sep-95 Pound 0.6317 141 143 116 117 Gatwick Feb-95 Pound 0.6186 144 145 133 134 London Apr-97 Pound 0.5988 154 146 132 128 Loudwater Apr-97 Pound 0.6012 153 155 127 129 Rochester Mar-97 Pound 0.5976 154 155 140 141 Uruguay: Montevideo Sep-97 Peso 9.6 138 147 119 126 Uzbekistan: Tashkent Mar-97 Som 55.8 120 123 101 104 Venezuela: Caracas Dec-97 Bolivar 500 117 125 99 107 Vietnam: Hanoi Oct-97 N Dong 11,640 103 103 96 96 Yemen: Sanaa Mar-96 Riyal 129.0 90 97 80 88 Zambia: Lusaka Aug-95 Kwacha 941 99 120 95 116 Zimbabwe: Harare Jul-93 Dollar 6.62 73 78 68 74
1. The exchange rates shown are those used to calculate the indexes. They are usually the rates available to American citizens during the survey month. Current exchange rates may differ from the rates shown. Interim indexes adjusted for new exchange rates are not published. See Technical Notes for an explanation of how the local indexes may be adjusted for changes in exchange rates.
2. The local relative and local index measure living costs for private American citizens. The local relative is a comparison of the prices of goods and services at the foreign post and in Washington, D.C., with the price ratios weighted by the pattern of expenditure in Washington, D.C. Consequently, the local relative is a comparison of price levels at the post and in Washington, D.C., but not necessarily a comparison of the cost of living abroad. The local index is a comparison of prices at the foreign post and in Washington, D.C., with the price ratios weighted by the expenditure pattern of American employees living at the foreign post. It is, thereby, a measure of the cost of living for Americans at the foreign post compared with the cost of living in Washington, D.C. This is the index most appropriate for use by business firms and other private organizations to establish costofliving allowances for their American employees stationed abroad.
3. The U.S. Government relative and index include prices of goods imported to the post and price advantages available only to U.S. Government employees. The U.S. Government relative is a comparison of price levels but not necessarily of living costs abroad because the expenditure weights reflect only the Washington, D.C. expenditure pattern. The U.S. Government index reflects Federal employee foreign expenditure patterns and is used to compute foreign post allowances for Federal employees.
4. New surveys since the January 1998 publication are in boldface.
5. Local relative and local index comparisons include prices in hard currency or diplomatic stores.
6. Insufficient local retail price data to develop meaningful local relative and local index living cost comparisons.
7. Most prices were reported in U.S. dollars.
8. There are no U.S. Government employees in Taiwan. The figures listed in this column represent a living cost comparison for American employees of the American Institute in Taiwan, who have some duty-free and other special benefits that may not be available to other Americans in Taipei.
Table 2. Quarters Allowances, April 1998 Annual Allowance by family Exchange Rate (3) status and salary range Country and City Survey Effective Foreign Number Family Less Than$34,000 $62,000 Date (2) Date Unit per US$ Status4 $34,000 $61,999 & above Australia: Melbourne Oct-97 Apr-98 Dollar 1.52 Family $15,700 $17,400 $18,200 Single 14,200 15,700 17,400 Azores: Lajes Field Sep-96 Dec-96 Escudo 152 Family 7,100 7,500 7,500 Single 6,100 7,100 7,500 Bahrain: Manama Apr-97 May-97 Dinar 0.3769 Family 21,700 24,100 24,100 Single 19,300 21,700 24,100 Barbados: Oct-97 Oct-97 Dollar 2.00 Family 20,200 22,400 25,900 Single 17,900 20,200 23,500 Belgium: Brussels Dec-97 Mar-98 Franc 37.8 Family 22,900 23,900 27,200 Single 19,900 22,900 23,900 Shape/Chievres Oct-97 Apr-98 Franc 37.8 Family 14,400 16,200 17,000 Single 12,900 14,400 16,200 Bermuda Dec-95 Oct-96 Dollar 1.00 Family 23,600 26,200 26,200 Single 21,900 21,900 24,800 Canada: Calgary Dec-97 Apr-98 Dollar 1.40 Family 16,800 18,500 20,500 Single 14,900 16,800 19,400 Montreal Jan-98 Feb-98 Dollar 1.40 Family 17,000 18,900 21,000 Single 16,400 17,100 20,100 Ottawa Dec-97 Jan-98 Dollar 1.41 Family 17,300 19,200 22,000 Single 15,400 17,300 20,200 Toronto Jan-98 Apr-98 Dollar 1.40 Family 22,000 24,400 26,900 Single 19,400 22,000 25,600 Vancouver Jan-98 Apr-98 Dollar 1.40 Family 17,300 19,100 21,200 Single 15,300 17,300 20,100 Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo Mar-94 Apr-94 Peso 12.8 Family 11,000 13,700 14,400 Single 9,700 11,000 14,400 Ecuador: Quito Mar-98 Mar-98 Sucre 4,466 Family 16,300 18,100 21,800 Single 14,500 16,300 21,000 France: Paris Jan-98 Apr-98 Franc 5.94 Family 36,600 40,700 44,900 Single 32,700 36,600 42,700 Germany:Augsburg Jul-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 15,500 17,000 17,980 Single 13,800 15,500 16,700 Berlin Jun-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 20,000 24,100 24,800 Single 18,500 20,000 24,800 Bonn Jun-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 15,900 18,000 18,900 Single 14,500 15,900 18,000 Frankfurt Apr-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 19,900 22,600 23,600 Single 17,900 19,900 22,600 Hanau Apr-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 16,400 18,200 19,100 Single 14,500 16,400 18,200 Heidelberg- Mannheim Apr-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 19,700 22,000 24,300 Single 17,700 19,700 23,200 Kaiserslautern Mar-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 19,700 23,200 24,400 Single 17,700 19,200 23,200 Karlsruhe Jul-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 15,600 17,400 18,100 Single 14,000 15,600 17,400 Leipzig May-95 Feb-98 Mark 1.77 Family 11,900 13,100 13,900 Single 10,300 11,900 13,500 Nuernberg Apr-97 Feb-98 Mark 1.77 Family 14,700 16,000 16,800 Single 12,800 14,400 16,000 Stuttgart Apr-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 17,700 19,400 20,500 Single 15,900 17,700 19,400 Wiesbaden Mar-97 Mar-98 Mark 1.78 Family 20,100 22,600 23,600 Single 18,000 20,100 22,600 Greece: Athens Jan-97 Mar-97 Drachma 246 Family 15,300 17,000 17,000 Single 14,000 15,900 17,000 Guatemala: Guatemala City Dec-97 Dec-97 Quetzal 6.15 Family 21,500 23,900 26,400 Single 19,100 21,500 23,900 Honduras: Tegucigalpa Apr-96 Mar-97 Lempira 11.14 Family 12,400 17,200 17,200 Single 12,000 14,200 16,600 Iceland: Keflavik Jun-96 Dec-96 Kronur 67.2 Family 12,300 13,500 13,500 Single 10,800 12,300 13,500 Italy: Brindisi Feb-97 Apr-98 Lira 1,784 Family 6,500 7,800 7,800 Single 6,500 7,800 7,800 Catania Mar-97 Jun-97 Lira 1,603 Family 13,700 15,200 15,900 Single 12,200 13,700 15,900 Leghorn Jun-97 Jul-97 Lira 1,682 Family 14,200 15,800 16,600 Single 12,600 14,200 15,800 Naples Aug-97 Apr-98 Lira 1,762 Family 16,000 17,900 18,700 Single 14,300 16,200 17,900 Pordenone -Aviano Aug-97 Apr-98 Lira 1,792 Family 12,500 13,700 14,300 Single 11,100 12,500 13,700 Rome Mar-98 Apr-98 Lira 1,792 Family 32,900 29,900 32,800 Single 31,500 26,900 31,500 Vicenza Aug-97 Apr-98 Lira 1,792 Family 12,600 13,700 14,400 Single 11,100 12,600 13,700 Japan: Misawa May-98 Apr-98 Yen 129 Family 20,500 22,600 25,000 Single 19,900 20,500 23,800 Okinawa Jan-97 Apr-98 Yen 128 Family 18,500 20,600 22,500 Single 13,300 18,500 21,600 Tokyo City Feb-97 Apr-98 Yen 128 Family 49,700 61,100 61,100 Single 45,400 58,100 59,000 Tokyo-To Feb-98 Apr-98 Yen 129 Family 28,100 31,200 34,200 Single 24,900 28,100 32,800 Yokohama Mar-98 Apr-98 Yen 129 Family 23,500 26,100 28,700 Single 20,900 23,500 27,400 Yokosuka Feb-98 Apr-98 Yen 129 Family 21,800 24,200 26,600 Single 19,400 21,800 25,400 Korea: Osan May-97 Nov-97 Won 875 Family 18,200 20,200 21,200 Single 16,200 18,200 20,200 Pusan May-97 Jul-97 Won 832 Family 19,300 21,400 21,400 Single 17,100 19,300 21,400 Seoul May-97 Nov-97 Won 919 Family 32,500 36,100 37,900 Single 28,900 32,500 36,100 Taegu May-97 Sept-97 Won 881 Family 19,200 21,300 22,400 Single 17,000 19,200 21,300 Uijongbu Aug-97 Sept-97 Won 876 Family 20,200 22,400 23,500 Single 17,900 20,200 22,400 Luxembourg Mar-98 Apr-98 Franc 37.7 Family 25,700 28,500 31,400 Single 22,800 25,700 29,900 Mexico: Mexico, D.F. May-95 Jul-95 Peso 6.36 Family 30,800 34,100 37,500 Single 27,300 30,800 35,800 Netherlands: Brunssum Jan-97 Mar-98 Guilder 2.06 Family 14,600 15,800 15,800 Single 13,400 14,600 15,400 The Hague Jun-97 Mar-98 Guilder 2.06 Family 25,000 27,700 30,600 Single 22,200 25,000 27,300 Norway: Oslo Jun-97 Apr-98 Kroner 7.54 Family 17,100 20,300 21,300 Single 16,400 17,100 20,300 Panama: Panama City Apr-97 Jul-97 Balboa 1.00 Family 24,400 26,000 27,300 Single 20,800 24,400 26,000 Paraguay: Asuncion Oct-95 Nov-95 Guarani 1,968 Family 19,200 21,300 21,900 Single 17,000 19,200 21,900 Peru: Lima Feb-97 Mar-97 New Sol 2.63 Family 24,600 27,300 27,300 Single 21,800 24,600 25,400 Portugal: Lisbon Jun-97 Mar-98 Escudo 187 Family 25,600 28,500 31,400 Single 22,600 25,600 29,900 Singapore Mar-98 Apr-98 Dollar 1.62 Family 30,400 34,300 36,300 Single 27,300 30,400 34,900 Spain: Madrid Nov-97 Apr-98 Peseta 156 Family 21,800 24,300 28,400 Single 19,500 21,800 24,300 Rota Oct-97 Apr-98 Peseta 156 Family 14,000 15,400 16,200 Single 12,500 14,100 15,400 Torrejon Apr-97 Apr-98 Peseta 156 Family 13,600 15,100 17,500 Single 12,300 13,700 15,700 Switzerland: Bern Jul-97 Apr-98 Franc 1.48 Family 26,300 29,300 31,700 Single 23,400 26,300 29,300 Geneva May-97 Apr-98 Franc 1.48 Family 33,300 37,000 44,100 Single 29,800 33,300 37,000 Thailand: Bangkok May-97 Apr-98 Baht 53.1 Family 11,400 13,100 13,300 Single 10,400 11,400 13,100 Turkey: Adana-Incirlik Oct-97 Dec-97 Lira 175,633 Family 8,100 9,800 10,100 Single 7,800 8,100 9,800 Ankara Aug-97 Aug-97 Lira 153,500 Family 12,000 13,300 14,600 Single 11,100 12,000 14,000 Izmir-Cigli Sep-96 Dec-96 Lira 86,123 Family 11,100 12,300 13,500 Single 9,800 11,100 12,300 United Kingdom: Cheltenham Jan-97 Apr-98 Pound 0.5791 Family 14,800 16,800 18,400 Single 13,300 14,400 17,600 Chicksands Mar-95 Apr-98 Pound 0.5791 Family 14,200 16,400 16,900 Single 13,100 13,900 15,900 Harrogate Jan-97 Apr-98 Pound 0.5791 Family 18,800 20,300 22,800 Single 16,800 18,300 21,700 Lakenheath Jan-97 Apr-98 Pound 0.5791 Family 17,000 18,300 20,700 Single 14,800 16,500 19,700 London Feb-98 Apr-98 Pound 0.5814 Family 41,000 37,000 33,200 Single 40,700 33,200 32,500 Oxfordshire Dec-96 Apr-98 Pound 0.5814 Family 15,000 16,700 17,200 Single 13,600 14,600 17,200
1. The allowance figures shown in the table are the maximum allowances payable. The quarters allowance paid to each eligible government employee is either the amount of actual expenditures for rent and utilities or the allowance maximum, whichever is less.
2. The survey date is the month when the employee housing expenditure reports were received by the Office of Allowances. The effective date is the month when either (a) allowances were revised on the basis of employee housing expenditure reports, or (b) the allowances were revised solely for changes in currency exchange rates, or (c) existing allowances were reviewed and found to be appropriate.
3. The exchange rate is the rate used to compute the quarters allowances as of the effective date.
4. Quarters allowances are computed for single persons and 2-person families. Employees with larger families living with them at post receive supplements of 10, 20, or 30 percent of the 2person allowance (for families of 3 to 4 persons, 5 to 6 persons, or 7 or more persons, respectively).
5. The quarters allowances for Tokyo To refer to housing in the Tokyo suburbs.
Table 3. Hardship Differentials, April 1998 1 2 1 2 Country and City Differential Country and City Differential Rate Percent Rate Percent Afghanistan: Kabul 25 Fiji: Suva 5 Albania: Tirana 20 Gabon: Libreville 15 Algeria: Algiers 25 Gambia: Banjul 20 Angola: Luanda 25 Georgia: Tbilisi 25 Armenia: Yerevan 25 Ghana: Accra 20 Azerbaijan: Baku 25 Greece: Athens 5 Bahrain 5 Grenada 10 Bangladesh: Dhaka 20 Guatemala : Guatemala City 10 Belarus: Minsk 20 Guinea: Conakry 25 Belize: Belize City 15 Guinea-Bissau: Bissau 25 Benin: Cotonou 15 Guyana: Georgetown 20 Bolivia: La Paz 15 Haiti: Port-au-Prince &nbs