Great Seal The State Department web site below is a permanent electronic archive of information released prior to January 20, 2001.  Please see www.state.gov for material released since President George W. Bush took office on that date.  This site is not updated so external links may no longer function.  Contact us with any questions about finding information.

NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.

 
Great Seal logo
U.S. Department of State
Indexes of Living Costs Abroad
Quarters Allowances, and Hardship Differentials
January 1999


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 January 1999

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, January 1999 (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

Algeria:  Algiers          Jul-94 Dinar      37.77      84      89      81       91 
                                                    
Angola:  Luanda            Aug-98 Kwanza     369,235   171     179     129      132 

Argentina:  Buenos Aires   Dec-97 Peso       1.00      130     142     114      127 

Armenia:  Yerevan          May-97 Dram       480        97      103      90       97 

Australia:  Canberra       Oct-97 Dollar     1.37      127     128     112      113 

Austria:  Vienna           Mar-98 Schilling  12.6      156     147     130      126 

Azerbaijan:  Baku          Jul-98 Manat      3,760     120     126     106     111 

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         Mar-98 Taka       46.3       95     101      88       92 

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       Jun-98 Dollar     1.99      108     119      96      106 

Benin:  Cotonou            Apr-98 CFA Franc  612        87     91       85       90 

Bermuda                    Feb-98 Dollar     1.00      159     160     137      137 

Bolivia:  La Paz           May-97 Boliviano  5.23       84      90      78       84 

Botswana:  Gaborone        Jan-98 Pula       3.82       86      91      83       88 

Brazil:  Brasilia          Nov-97 Real       1.09      134     139     108      113 
      
Brunei:  Bandar Seri 
             Begawan       May-96 Dollar     1.40      113     130     107      123                      

Bulgaria:  Sofia           Jun-98 Leva       1753       93     101      87       95 

Burkina:  Ouagadougou      Jun-97 CFA Franc  575        99     106      86       92 

Burma:  Rangoon            Feb-98 Kyat       240        90     100      83       94 

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 

Cent. African Rep.:Bangui  May-98 CFA Franc  602       115     119     107      107 

Chad:  N'Djamena           Jul-97 CFA Franc  582       128     138     109      117 

Chile:  Santiago           Apr-98 Peso       446       120     131     107      117                                                                                                             5       5                             

China:  Beijing            Feb-98 Renminbi   8.27      121     127     103      109 

        Guangzhou          Feb-96 Renminbi   8.29      115     107     108      100 

        Shanghai           May-96 Renminbi   8.31      110     113     100      104 

Colombia:  Bogota          Mar-98 Peso       1348       99     102      93       96 

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      Jun-98 Colon      251        92      99      87       94 

Cote d'Ivoire:  Abidjan    Nov-97 CFA Franc  595       112     118      100      106 

Croatia:  Zagreb           Feb-98 Kuna       6.27      120     119     111       109 

                                                        5      5                             
Cuba:  Havana              Jan-98 Dollar     1.00      124     131     116      122 

Cyprus:  Nicosia           Apr-98 Pound      0.532     112     113      96       96 

Czech Republic:  Prague    Sep-96 Koruna     26.6      110     106      99       96 

Denmark:  Copenhagen       Feb-98 Kroner     6.96      148     142     127      122 

Djibouti:  Djibouti City   Jul-96 Franc      177       151     164     128      138 

Dominican Republic:                                                                              
       Santo Domingo       Apr-98 Peso       14.9      113     121     103      110 

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-98 Kroon      13.6       97      96       93       93 

Ethiopia:  Addis Ababa     Mar-97 Birr       6.24      102     111      86       95 

Fiji:  Suva                Mar-98 Dollar     1.91      102     107      99       104 

Finland:  Helsinki         Apr-97 Markka     5.14      150     149     123      123 

France:  Paris             Apr-98 Franc      5.97      157     144     134      125 

Gabon:  Libreville         Mar-98 CFA Franc  610       145     160     119      131 

Gambia:  Banjul            Apr-96 Dalasi     9.8       103     110      92       99 

Georgia:  Tbilisi          Jan-97 Lari       1.2       114     119     100      105 

Germany:  Berlin           Jul-98 Mark       1.77      135     130     120      118
          Bonn             Jul-97 Mark       1.71      134     133     113      112 

          Frankfurt        Feb-98 Mark       1.79      133     131     112      111
          
          Munich           Jun-96 Mark       1.49      158     149     133      130 

Ghana:  Accra              Apr-98 Cedi       2317      104     111      96      103 

Greece:  Athens            Nov-96 Drachma    239       136     136     113      113 

         Kavala Relay Sta. Apr-98 Drachma    299       109     110      94       95 

         Thessaloniki      Dec-95 Drachma    237       124     126     106      107 

Grenada                    Oct-95 Dollar     2.70      111     120      97      107 

Guatemala:  Guatemala City Dec-97 Quetzal    6.21       96     105      93       101 

Guinea:  Conakry           Feb-98 Franc      1158       121    135      101      113 
                                                        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     Feb-98 Gourde     17.4      107     114      95      101 

Honduras:  Tegucigalpa     Jan-97 Lempira    13.05      74      79      71       76 

Hong Kong                  Oct-98 Dollar     7.74      159     138     132      121 

Hungary:  Budapest         Apr-97 Forint     176       102      98      92       89 

Iceland:  Reykjavik        May-98 Kronur     71.8      162     164     120      121 

India:  New Delhi          Dec-97 Rupee      39.3       84      87      87       89 

Indonesia:  Jakarta        Jan-98 Rupiah     5366       93     106      86       99 

            Surabaya       Aug-97 Rupiah     2,594      87      97       82      92

Ireland:  Dublin           Apr-98 Pound      0.7308    134     129     113      112 

Israel:  Tel Aviv          Apr-97 New Shekel 3.4        161     163     120      121 

Italy:  Milan              May-98 Lira       1,769     153     146     131      128 

        Naples             Oct-95 Lira       1,602     138     140     109      109 

        Rome               May-98 Lira       1792      153     147     133      128 

Jamaica:  Kingston         Apr-98 Dollar     36.7      120     126     107      113 

Japan:  Fukuoka            Jan-97 Yen        111       177     172     151      149 
        
        Osaka-Kobe         Aug-98 Yen        137       159     152     140      136 

        Okinawa            Jan-98 Yen        127       159     159     123      123 

        Sapporo            Apr-97 Yen        119       179     176     160      158 

        Tokyo              Jun-98 Yen        132       158     152     133      130 

        Yokohama           Sep-97 Yen        116       175     168     133      132 

        Yokosuka           Jan-98 Yen        127       172     148     145      121 

        Yokota             Feb-98 Yen        128       158     141     138      117 

Jerusalem                  Apr-96 New Shekel 3.09      139     142     119      121 

Jordan:  Amman             May-98 Dinar      0.7101    105     113      92      100 

Kazakhstan:  Almaty        Mar-98 Tenge      76.3      134     141     106      114 

Kenya:  Nairobi            Aug-98 Shilling   59        116     125     103      111 

Korea:  Seoul              Jun-98 Won        1357      119     118     102      103 

Kuwait:  Kuwait City       Apr-98 Dinar      0.2993    103     116      92      106 

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        Mar-98 Litas      3.98      105     112     93        99 

Luxembourg:  Luxembourg    Feb-98 Franc      37.5      122     123     113      113 

Macedonia, Former Yugoslav 
      Republic of:  Skopje Feb-98 Denar      56.1       97      97      87       88 

Madagascar:  Antananarivo  Jan-97 Franc      4,353      94     101      80       86 

Malawi:  Lilongwe          Feb-98 Kwacha     22.1       89      94      83       86 

Malaysia:  Kuala Lumpur    Apr-98 Ringgit    3.55       98     109      87       98 

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.      May-98 Peso       8.6        96     100      92       95 
         
Micronesia:  Pohnpei       Sep-98 Dollar     1.00       96      99      91       94 

Moldova:  Chisinau         May-98 Leu        4.69       99     103      93       96 

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          Feb-98 Rupee      62.2       99     107      89       97 

Netherlands: The Hague     Feb-98 Guilder    2.05      134     130     113      112 

             Brunssum      Jan-96 Guilder    1.61      137     139     105      105
             Rotterdam     Feb-98 Guilder    2.05      120      118    113      112     

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            Oct-98 Naira      94.1      107     115      96      103 

Norway:  Oslo              Oct-97 Kroner     7.1       165     161     134      133 

Oman:  Muscat              Nov-97 Rial       0.3849    108     118     102      111 

Pakistan:  Islamabad       Apr-98 Rupee      44.2       85      98      76       89 

Palau, Republic of: Koror  Jul-97 Dollar     1.00      101     105      101     104 

Panama:  Panama City       Dec-97 Balboa     1.00       97     102      90       93 

Papua New Guinea: 
       Port Moresby        May-98 Kina       2.05      105     115      95      104                                                                            

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            Jul-98 New Zloty  3.43      108     107      95       94 

Portugal:  Lisbon          Mar-98 Escudo     185       118     117     104      103 

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       Jun-98 Ruble      6.16     115     116      103      103 

         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)  Aug-98 Riyal      3.75      120     138     108      124 

      Jeddah               Sep-97 Riyal      3.75      104     121      93      111 

      Riyadh               Jun-97 Riyal      3.75      125     143     105      125 

Senegal:  Dakar            Feb-98 CFA Franc  610       119     127     102      107 

Serbia-Montenegro:Belgrade May-98 New Dinar  10.94      99      96      91       89 

Sierra Leone:  Freetown    Jan-97 Leone      960       115     124     101      110 

Singapore                  Apr-98 Dollar     1.68      114     122      97      107 

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-98 Peseta     153       135     129     120      116 

        Madrid             Feb-98 Peseta     154       125     121     114      111 

Sri Lanka:  Colombo        Mar-98 Rupee      61.7      102     106      89       94 

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       Nov-97 Franc      1.44      174     173     159      158 

Syria:  Damascus           Dec-97 Pound      45.0      112     122      98      107 
                                                             
                                                        8       8        8        8               
Taiwan:  Taipei            Mar-98 Dollar     32.7      140     140     115      116 
                                                        6       6                             
Tajikistan:  Dushanbe      Oct-97 Ruble      850        93      98      86       90 

Tanzania:  Dar es Salaam   Feb-98 Shilling   633       119     130      94      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            Feb-98 Dinar      1.16      111     114      101     105 

Turkey:  Istanbul          Jan-98 Lira       200,000   120     126     102      108 

Turkmenistan:  Ashgabat    Mar-97 Manat      5,250     102     109     102      108 

Uganda:  Kampala           Aug-97 Shilling   923       148     161     106      117 

Ukraine:  Kiev             Jan-98 Hryvnia    1.83      123     129     106      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 
             
                Gatwick    Feb-95 Pound      0.6186    144     145     133      134 

                London     May-98 Pound      0.5814    162     151     137      132 

                Loudwater  Apr-97 Pound      0.6012    153     155     127      129
                Oxfordshire May-98 Pound     0.5848    139     140     122      122 

                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        Jul-98 Bolivar    542       115     125     100      110 

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          Mar-98 Dollar     16.29      73      74      72       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 October 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 Taiwan.


Table 2.  Quarters Allowances, January 1999 

                                                       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-98 Dec-98   Dollar  1.58   Family  $15,500  $16,800    $17,600
                                                      Single   14,100   15,500     16,800


Azores:  Lajes Field   May-98 Jul-98   Escudo  187    Family    9,800   10,900      12,000
                                                      Single    8,700   9,800       11,400


Bahrain:  Manama       Apr-97 May-97   Dinar   0.3769 Family   21,700  24,100      24,100
                                                      Single   19,300  21,700      24,100


Barbados:              Nov-98 Dec-98   Dollar  2.02   Family   23,600  26,200      28,400
                                                      Single   21,000  23,600      26,200


Belgium:  Brussels     Dec-97 Dec-98   Franc   34.5   Family   25,100  26,200      29,800
                                                      Single   21,700  25,100      26,200

Shape/Chievres         Oct-97 Dec-98   Franc   34.5   Family   15,800  17,700      18,500
                                                      Single   14,400  15,800      17,700

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 Dec-98   Dollar  1.52   Family   15,700  17,400      19,100
                                                      Single   14,000  15,700      18,100

         Montreal      Apr-98 Dec-98   Dollar  1.52   Family   17,200  19,000      20,800
                                                      Single   15,400  17,200      19,800

         Ottawa        Apr-98 May-98   Dollar  1.43   Family   18,700  20,800      22,900
                                                      Single   16,600  18,700      21,800

         Toronto       Apr-98 Dec-98   Dollar  1.52   Family   20,300  22,400      24,900
                                                      Single   18,100  20,300      23,800

         Vancouver     Jul-98 Dec-98   Dollar  1.52   Family   16,400  18,100      21,200
                                                      Single   14,600  16,400      19,000

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 Dec-98   Franc   5.42   Family   40,200  44,800      49,300
                                                      Single   36,000  40,200      47,000

Germany:Augsburg       Jul-97 Dec-98   Mark    5.42   Family   17,200  18,500      19,100
                                                      Single   15,100  17,200      18,500

        Berlin         Jun-97 Dec-98   Mark    5.42   Family   21,800  26,300      27,000
                                                      Single   20,300  21,800      27,000

        Bonn           Jun-97 Dec-98   Mark    5.42   Family   17,500  19,800      20,600
                                                      Single   16,000  17,500      19,800

        Frankfurt      Apr-97 Dec-98   Mark    5.42   Family   21,700  24,600      25,200
                                                      Single   19,600  21,700      24,600

        Hanau          Apr-97 Dec-98   Mark    5.42   Family   18,000  20,000      20,800
                                                      Single   16,000  18,000      20,000

        Heidelberg- 
             Mannheim  Apr-97 Dec-98   Mark    1.63   Family   21,400  24,000      26,500
                                                      Single   19,400  21,400      25,300

        Kaiserslautern Mar-97 Dec-98   Mark    1.63   Family   22,900  25,300      26,600
                                                      Single   20,400  22,900      25,300

        Karlsruhe      Jul-97 Dec-98   Mark    1.63   Family   17,300  18,900      19,900
                                                      Single   15,300  16,300      18,900

        Leipzig        May-95 Dec-98   Mark    1.63   Family   13,000  14,300      15,100
                                                      Single   11,300  13,000      14,200

        Nuernberg      Apr-97 Dec-98   Mark    1.63   Family   16,000  17,700      18,400
                                                      Single   14,100  16,000      17,700

        Stuttgart      Apr-97 Dec-98   Mark    1.63   Family   19,400  21,100      22,600
                                                      Single   17,500  19,400      21,100

        Wiesbaden      Mar-97 Dec-98   Mark    1.63   Family   23,800  26,400      29,100
                                                      Single   21,100  23,800      27,700

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-98 Dec-98   Lira    1,648  Family    8,300   9,400      10,400
                                                      Single    7,500   8,300       9,800

        Catania        Feb-98 May-98   Lira    1,745  Family   13,700  15,200     16,700
                                                      Single   12,200  13,700     16,000

        Leghorn        Mar-98 Aug-98   Lira    1,736  Family   14,200  15,800      16,600
                                                      Single   12,600  14,200      15,800

        Naples         Feb-98 Dec-98   Lira    1,648  Family   17,500  19,200      21,100
                                                      Single   15,400  17,500      20,200

        Pordenone
            -Aviano    Mar-98 Dec-98   Lira    1,648  Family   13,600  14,700      16,300
                                                      Single   11,900  13,600      15,400

        Rome           Mar-98 Dec-98   Lira    1,648  Family   29,500  32,600      35,800
                                                      Single   26,100  29,500      34,300

        Vicenza        Feb-98 Dec-98   Lira    1,648  Family   14,200  15,600      17,300
                                                      Single   12,700  14,200      16,500

Japan:  Misawa         Mar-98 Dec-98   Yen     117    Family   22,800  24,700      27,500
                                                      Single   22,100  22,800      26,300

        Okinawa        Mar-98 Dec-98   Yen     117    Family   20,400  22,900      24,600
                                                      Single   17,900  20,400      23,600

        Tokyo City     Apr-98 Dec-98   Yen     117    Family   64,400  71,300      78,600
                                                      Single   57,100  65,200      74,900

        Tokyo-To       Mar-98 Dec-98   Yen     117    Family   31,400  35,100      38,300
                                                      Single   28,000  31,400      36,600

        Yokohama       Mar-98 Dec-98   Yen     117    Family   25,900  28,600      31,500
                                                      Single   23,100  25,900      30,200

        Yokosuka       Feb-98 Dec-98   Yen     117    Family   23,900  26,800      29,200
                                                      Single   23,100  23,900      28,000

Korea:  Osan           Jun-98 Dec-98   Won    1359    Family   18,200  20,200      21,200
                                                      Single   16,200  18,200      20,200

        Pusan          Apr-98 Aug-98   Won     1357   Family   19,300  21,400      21,400
                                                      Single   17,100  19,300      21,400

        Seoul          May-98 Dec-98   Won     1335   Family   32,500  36,100      39,700
                                                      Single   28,900  32,500      37,900

        Taegu          Jun-98 Dec-98  Won     1359    Family   20,200  22,400      23,500
                                                      Single   17,900  20,200      22,400

        Uijongbu       Jun-98 Aug-98   Won     1357   Family   20,200  22,400      23,500
                                                      Single   17,900  20,200      22,400

Luxembourg             Mar-98 Dec-98   Franc   34.5   Family   28,200  30,900      34,300
                                                      Single   25,000  28,200      32,700

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 Dec-98   Guilder 1.89   Family   16,100  17,100      17,100
                                                      Single   14,900  16,100      16,600

             The Hague Jun-97 Dec-98   Guilder 1.89   Family   27,400  30,100      33,600
                                                      Single   24,200  27,400      28,600

Norway:  Oslo          Jun-97 Dec-98   Kroner  7.44   Family   17,200  20,400      21,600
                                                      Single   16,600  17,200      20,400

Panama:  Panama City   May-98 Jun-98   Balboa  1.00   Family   25,600  28,400      31,200
                                                      Single   22,700  25,600      29,800

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      Aug-98 Dec-98   Escudo  172    Family   28,800  32,100      35,400
                                                      Single   25,700  28,800      34,400

Singapore              Mar-98 Dec-98   Dollar  1.64   Family   29,900  33,800      35,800
                                                      Single   26,900  29,900      34,500

Spain:  Madrid         Oct-98 Dec-98   Peseta  144    Family   23,700  26,300      29,700
                                                      Single   21,000  23,700      27,600

        Rota           Oct-98 Dec-98   Peseta  144    Family   15,100  16,900      18,600
                                                      Single   13,500  15,100      17,700
      
Switzerland:  Bern     May-98 Dec-98   Franc   1.34   Family   29,500  32,900      36,300
                                                      Single   26,300  29,500      34,800

              Geneva   Aug-98 Dec-98   Franc   1.34   Family   38,200  45,400      47,900
                                                      Single   33,900  38,200      44,400

Thailand:  Bangkok     May-97 Dec-98   Baht    36.0   Family   12,700  14,700      14,900
                                                      Single   11,600  12,700      14,700

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 Nov-98   Pound   0.5859 Family   14,800  16,600      18,100
                                                      Single   13,400  14,800      17,400

     Chicksands        Mar-95 Nov-98   Pound   0.5859 Family   14,100  16,600      16,600
                                                      Single   13,100  14,100      15,700

     Harrogate         Jan-97 Nov-98   Pound   0.5859 Family   18,600  20,700      22,400
                                                      Single   16,600  18,600      21,600

     Lakenheath        Jan-97 Nov-98   Pound   0.5859 Family   16,800  18,600      20,500
                                                      Single   14,800  16,800      19,500

     London            May-98 Dec-98   Pound   0.5848 Family   43,100  47,800      51,200
                                                      Single   38,200  45,900      47,800

     Oxfordshire       May-98 Nov-98   Pound   0.5859 Family   17,400  19,400      21,300
                                                      Single   15,500  17,400      20,400

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, January  1999


              1                  2                         1                   2
 Country and City       Differential         Country and City        Differential
                        Rate Percent                                 Rate Percent

 Afghanistan:  Kabul              25            Fiji:  Suva                    10

 Albania:  Tirana                 20            Gabon:  Libreville             15

 Algeria:  Algiers                25            Gambia:  Banjul                 20

 Angola:  Luanda                  25            Georgia:  Tbilisi               25

 Armenia:  Yerevan                25            Ghana:  Accra                   25

 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                  20            Guyana:  Georgetown             20

 Bolivia:  La Paz                 15            Haiti:  Port-au-Prince          25

 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Sarajevo     25            Honduras:  Tegucigalpa          15

 Brazil:  Recife                   5            India: Calcutta                 20

 Brunei:  Bandar Seri Begawan     15                   Chennai (Madras)         15

 Bulgaria:  Sofia                 15                   Mumbai (Bombay)          15

 Burkina:  Ouagadougou            20                   New Delhi                15

 Burma:  Rangoon                  20            Indonesia:  Jakarta             10

 Burundi:  Bujumbura              25                        Medan               15

 Cambodia:  Phnom Penh            25                        Surabaya            15

 Cameroon:  Dschang               15            Iraq:  Baghdad                  20

            Yaounde               20            Jamaica:  Kingston              10


 Cape Verde:  Praia               20            Jerusalem                        5


 Central African Rep.: Bangui     25          &nb