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U.S. Department of State
Indexes of Living Costs Abroad
Quarters Allowances, and Hardship Differentials
July 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 July 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, July 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

Algeria:  Algiers          Jul-94 Dinar      37.7       84      89      81       91 
                                                  7  
Angola:  Luanda            Apr-97 Kwanza     200,000   167     178     123      126 

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 

            Sydney         Oct-95 Dollar     1.31      125     123     116      115 

Austria:  Vienna           May-97 Schilling  11.9      161     150     134      128 

Azerbaijan:  Baku          Feb-98 Manat      3,950     121     126     102     106 

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       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-98 Pula       3.82       86      91      83       88 

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            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          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-98 Kuna       6.27      120     119     111       109 

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

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       Feb-98 Kroner     6.96      148     142     127      122 

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             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           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 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     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-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           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-98 Yen        127       159     159     123      123 

        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-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             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        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 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              Oct-97 Kroner     7.1       165     161     134      133 

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       Dec-97 Balboa     1.00       97     102      90        93 

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-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       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            Feb-98 CFA Franc  610       119     127     102      107 

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             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:  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          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 

                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 April 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, July 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 Jul-98   Dollar  1.64   Family  $14,600  $16,200    $16,900
                                                      Single   13,300   14,600     16,200


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:              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 Jul-98   Franc   37.4   Family   23,100  24,100      27,400
                                                      Single   20,100  23,100      24,100

Shape/Chievres         Oct-97 Jul-98   Franc   37.4   Family   14,500  16,400      17,200
                                                      Single   13,100  14,500      16,400

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 Jul-98   Dollar  1.46   Family   16,300  18,000      19,900
                                                      Single   14,400  16,300      18,800

         Montreal      Apr-98 Jul-98   Dollar  1.44   Family   17,800  19,700      21,700
                                                      Single   16,000  17,800      20,700

         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 Jul-98   Dollar  1.46   Family   21,200  23,500      25,900
                                                      Single   18,800  21,200      24,700

         Vancouver     Apr-98 Jul-98   Dollar  1.46   Family   16,900  18,700      20,700
                                                      Single   15,000  16,900      19,700

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 Jul-98   Franc   5.91   Family   36,800  41,000      45,100
                                                      Single   32,900  36,800      43,000

Germany:Augsburg       Jul-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   15,700  17,100      18,000
                                                      Single   13,800  15,700      17,100

        Berlin         Jun-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   20,200  24,200      24,900
                                                      Single   18,600  20,200      24,900

        Bonn           Jun-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   16,100  18,100      19,000
                                                      Single   14,600  16,100      18,100

        Frankfurt      Apr-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   20,100  22,700      23,700
                                                      Single   18,000  20,100      22,700


        Hanau          Apr-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   16,600  18,300      19,200
                                                      Single   14,600  16,600      18,300

        Heidelberg- 
             Mannheim  Apr-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   19,800  22,100      24,400
                                                      Single   17,800  19,800      23,300

        Kaiserslautern Mar-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   21,100  23,300      24,500
                                                      Single   18,700  21,100      23,300

        Karlsruhe      Jul-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   15,800  17,500      18,200
                                                      Single   14,000  15,800      17,500

        Leipzig        May-95 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   11,900  13,200      13,900
                                                      Single   10,300  11,900      13,500

        Nuernberg      Apr-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   14,700  16,300      17,000
                                                      Single   12,900  14,700      16,300

        Stuttgart      Apr-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   17,800  19,500      20,800
                                                      Single   16,100  17,800      19,500

        Wiesbaden      Mar-97 Jul-98   Mark    1.77   Family   21,900  24,300      26,800
                                                      Single   19,500  21,900      25,500

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 Jul-98   Lira    1,761  Family    7,800   8,700       9,700
                                                      Single    7,000   7,800       9,100

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

        Leghorn        Jun-97 Jul-97   Lira    1,682  Family   14,200  15,800      16,600
                                                      Single   12,600  14,200      15,800

        Naples         Feb-98 Jul-98   Lira    1,761  Family   16,400  18,000      19,700
                                                      Single   14,500  16,400      18,800

        Pordenone
            -Aviano    Mar-98 Jul-98   Lira    1,761  Family   12,600  13,800      15,200
                                                      Single   11,100  12,600      14,500

        Rome           Mar-98 Jul-98   Lira    1,761  Family   27,400  30,400      33,500
                                                      Single   24,400  27,400      31,900

        Vicenza        Feb-98 Jul-98   Lira    1,761  Family   13,200  14,700      16,200
                                                      Single   11,700  13,200      15,400

Japan:  Misawa         Mar-98 Jul-98   Yen     136    Family   19,500  21,400      23,700
                                                      Single   18,900  19,500      22,600

        Okinawa        Mar-98 Jul-98   Yen     136    Family   17,600  19,600      21,300
                                                      Single   15,400  17,600      20,400

        Tokyo City     Apr-98 Jul-98   Yen     136    Family   55,300  61,400      67,700
                                                      Single   49,100  56,000      64,500

        Tokyo-To       Mar-98 Jul-98   Yen     136    Family   27,100  30,100      33,100
                                                      Single   24,000  27,100      31,600

        Yokohama       Mar-98 Jul-98   Yen     136    Family   22,300  24,700      27,200
                                                      Single   19,800  22,300      26,000

        Yokosuka       Feb-98 Jul-98   Yen     136    Family   22,300  24,700      27,200
                                                      Single   19,800  22,300      26,000

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 Jul-98   Franc   37.4   Family   25,900  28,700      31,700
                                                      Single   23,000  25,900      30,200

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 Jul-98   Guilder 2.04   Family   14,800  15,900      15,900
                                                      Single   13,600  14,800      15,500

             The Hague Jun-97 Jul-98   Guilder 2.04   Family   25,300  27,900      30,900
                                                      Single   22,400  25,300      26,500

Norway:  Oslo          Jun-97 Jul-98   Kroner  7.69   Family   16,800  19,800      20,900
                                                      Single   16,100  16,800      19,800

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      Jun-97 Jul-98   Escudo  185    Family   25,800  28,900      31,700
                                                      Single   22,900  25,800      30,300

Singapore              Mar-98 Jul-98   Dollar  1.68   Family   29,200  33,100      34,900
                                                      Single   26,300  29,200      33,700

Spain:  Madrid         Nov-97 Jul-98   Peseta  151    Family   22,600  25,100      29,400
                                                      Single   20,200  22,600      25,100

        Rota           Oct-97 Jul-98   Peseta  151    Family   14,700  15,900      16,700
                                                      Single   13,000  14,700      15,900

        Torrejon       Apr-97 Jul-98   Peseta  151    Family   14,300  15,600      18,000
                                                      Single   12,800  14,300      16,200

Switzerland:  Bern     May-98 Jul-98   Franc   1.44   Family   27,300  30,400      33,500
                                                      Single   24,300  27,300      31,900

              Geneva   May-97 Jul-98   Franc   1.45   Family   34,000  37,800      45,000
                                                      Single   30,400  34,000      37,800

Thailand:  Bangkok     May-97 Jul-98   Baht    42.4   Family   10,900  12,400      12,600
                                                      Single    9,900  10,900      12,400

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 Jul-98   Pound   0.5895 Family   14,700  16,400      18,100
                                                      Single   13,200  14,700      17,200

     Chicksands        Mar-95 Jul-98   Pound   0.5895 Family   14,100  16,500      16,500
                                                      Single   13,000  14,100      15,600

     Harrogate         Jan-97 Jul-98   Pound   0.5895 Family   18,500  20,500      22,300
                                                      Single   16,400  18,500      21,300

     Lakenheath        Jan-97 Jul-98   Pound   0.5895 Family   16,600  18,500      20,300
                                                      Single   14,700  16,600      19,300

     London            May-98 Jul-98   Pound   0.5895 Family   42,700  47,400      50,800
                                                      Single   37,900  45,500      47,400

     Oxfordshire       May-98 Jul-98   Pound   0.5895 Family   17,300  19,200      21,100
                                                      Single   15,400  17,300      20,200
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, July  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                  20            Guyana:  Georgetown