• The reversible Mean-to-Mean Index is the best indicator of overall differences in prices between two locations, because it compares the mean prices(average price of each item) in the base city to the mean prices in the host city.
  
  

• The Efficient Index applies to a relatively experienced shopper and compares the average of the low and mid prices in the base city to the mean prices in the host city.
  
  

• The Convenience Index applies to a less-experienced shopper, or a newcomer in the location, and compares the average of the low and mid prices in the base city to the high prices in the host city (except for selected categories for which it compares mean base prices).

Home country spendable income tables

The Spendable Income Tables report the typical amount an employee spends on goods and services in his/her home country. Used in conjunction with our COL indices, they support you in determining appropriate cost-of-living allowances.

These reality-based Spendable Income Tables are based on national statistics for major countries. The tables are broken down by income level and family size, from single employees to couples with four children.

International Spendable Income Tables: compensating employees from low income countries

If the spendable income portion of a salary is too small, no index can adjust it to make it sufficiently competitive.

To address this problem, Mercer has developed International Spendable Income Tables, which allow companies to substitute non-competitive home country spendable income with benchmark spendable income levels. The International Spendable Income Tables provide you with the ability to develop competitive spendable incomes for your employees wherever they come from, while allowing you to keep a consistent "home country" compensation approach.

Home country housing norms tables

These tables provide the hypothetical amounts that employees normally spend on housing in their home country and are used to determine the employee’s contribution towards housing costs in the host country. Tables are broken down by income level and family size, from single employees to couples with four children.

Expatriate accommodation cost tables

Mercer’s host city accommodation tables are designed to help you in determine the housing allowance for your employees when transferred abroad. Monthly housing rental cost is provided in three tables for each host location.

International education cost tables

Mercer’s International Education Cost Tables provide accurate information on tuition and fees for different schools: American, English, French, German, International, Italian, Japanese and Scandinavian.

Business travel expenses tables

Mercer’s Travel Expenses Tables provide a daily allowance rate, representing typical daily costs for employees on business trips. The data cover hotels, meals, taxis and miscellaneous expenses.

Actual price list

The full price list and list of stores and sources supporting the COL index ensures that our process is completely transparent. For example, it lets you demonstrate why city A is 20% more expensive than city B.

Short-term assignment allowance tables

Mercer’s Short-Term Assignment Allowance Tables let you compensate your employees for daily living costs whilst on short-term assignments.

  Learn more information and order the reports online

Global HRMonitor® - a new dimension of online HR information

Mercer’s web-based application contains flexible and powerful calculators that enable you to customise our COL information to meet your specific requirements.

• Cost of Living Index Calculator provides flexibility, allowing you to adjust our COL indices for exchange rate, inflation and unavailable products in the host location. You can easily customise the COL index components and access the actual price list that supports the index.
  
  
• Cost of Living Allowance Calculator calculates the actual COLA (cost-of-living allowance) amount based on your employee's base salary, family size and spendable income portion of their salary.
  
  
• Spendable Income, Home Housing Norm and Savings Calculator uses actual national spending statistics to instantly estimate spending patterns, identify those components of spending that need to be compensated for, and to allow for differentiation based on family size and income level. The result is a more accurate spendable income estimate and home housing norm for you to use when developing expatriate compensation.
  
  
• Expatriate Accommodation Costs Calculator provides monthly rental costs by number of bedrooms and family size based on your employee's income level.
  
  
• Short-Term Assignment Allowance Calculator determines the daily living costs of your employees on short-term assignments. It allows you to adjust Mercer's standard basket to meet your specific needs - you can add, remove, or change the frequency and quantity of items in the daily allowance.
  
  
• Expatriate Compensation Calculator helps you build expatriate compensation packages applying the home country balance sheet approach. The calculator details each step of the process allowing you to make your own adjustments.

Pricing information

Cost of Living Reports

(The report includes: city-to-city index comparison, expatriate accommodation costs, education costs, business travel expenses, actual price list, and the list of stores and sources.)

* All prices are subject to additional shipping charges and applicable taxes.

Note: In Australia and Canada your purchase confirmation will show the estimated converted price in local currency, however you will be invoiced at the converted USD price at the time of purchase.