Living In Canada

I couldn't resists! This one arrived in my mailbox this morning and as a fine 'Red Neck' Canadian I could resist passing it along. Enjoy!

Forget Rednecks... 

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy (not sure if that is true! This was probably just written by some cleaver Canadian!) has to say about Canadians:

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May,
You may live in Canada .


If someone in a Home Depot storeOffers you assistance and they don't work there,
You may live in Canada .


If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
You may live in Canada .


If you've had a lengthy  telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number,
You may live in Canada .


If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Detroit for the weekend,
You may live in Canada .


If you measure distance in hours,
You may live in Canada .


If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once,
You may live in Canada .


If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again,
You may live in Canada .


If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching,
You may live in Canada .

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked,
You may live in  Canada .

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them,
You may live in Canada .

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
You may live in Canada .

If the speed limit on the highway is 80 km --you're going 95 and everybody is passing you,
You may live in Canada .

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
You may live in Canada .

If you know all 4  seasons: Almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction,
You may live in Canada .  
(True unless you live in Vancouver or Victoria, BC!)

If you have more  miles on your snow blower than your car,
You may live in Canada .

If you  find -2 degrees 'a little chilly',
You may live in Canada .

If you  actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your friends (or post them on your blog!)
You definitely are Canadian and proud to be.

Once again I digress from the main topic of this blog, Cheapest Places to Live, however a little humour is always good and besides living anywhere, including Canada one needs some fun because just living in the Cheapest Place  doesn't mean you're going to like it!

One of the Cheapest Places on Earth (Where You Can Live Like an Emperor)

Own a brand new beach front condo for $75,000. Or a luxury furnished apartment for $28,000. Employ full-time household help to cook and clean for $30 a week. Enjoy a gourmet meal for two, with wine and dessert, for $25.

Every cliché you've heard about living large on little - about settling into the lap of luxury on even a pensioner's budget - is true in this country.

This is one of the world's cheapest places to live. Take $150 out of the ATM Monday morning…and your expenses are covered for the week.

You heard right. In a moment I’ll show you the actual monthly budget of a couple living the good life in one of the most beautiful, healthy and relaxed places on earth on less than $600 per month…much less than an average Social Security check.

And this couple has one of many luxury apartment rentals. If you own your own home in this remarkable place you could pay even less each month for one of the best lifestyles on the planet.

World's great Real Estate Bargains and Property Investment Opportunities

Happily, owning in this place is easy, because it also boasts some of the world's great real estate bargains and property investment opportunities. How about 2,100 square feet of beach front land… with two-bedroom house… for $115,000? Or 1,200 square foot beach view condos with hotel and beach club privileges for $79,000? Or a three-bedroom, lock-and-leave condo in a charming village  with mountain views for $54,500?

Some countries offer a low cost of living. Others have good real estate buys…or attractive business opportunities. But, this country offers all these things in abundance…plus perfect year-round weather.


Click Here to discover this mystery country and learn how you can Live Like an Emperor in one of the Cheapest Places on Earth!

Norweigen Places

Norweigen Pop Quiz -

If you're from Norway you are:

a) Norweigen

b) Norwegian
c) Norweigan
d) Norweigian

Correct answer: b) Norwegian!

Yes, even though one of the most common and popular ways to spell it is "Norweigen" the fact is your ethnicity is Norwegian if you're from Norway.

Norweigen Cruise

Tried to trick you again! It's not Norweigian Cruise or Norweigan Cruise but the infamous Norwegian Cruise Line. These folks are probably the biggest Norway ambassadors out in the world today even if it's just their name the world class cruise line has managed to put Norway and the Norweigan people top of our minds when it comes to quality and service. It's certainly one way to learn a little more about Norway and its wonderful people but of course the best way to discover any country is to start by visiting as a tourist.

Norway Vacations

Norway is the northernmost country in Europe giving Norway vacations a lot to compete with, given the attractiveness of its neighbours to the south. That said the northern chill and dramatic landscape of Norway is an opportunity to engage in Arctic activities like spotting walruses, whales, and polar bears meandering the Norweigen fjords. Awesome cross country and alpine skiing are also a big reason for a Norway Vacation. For the less adventurous one can stroll the streets of Bergen, see the Northern Lights, tour Borgund, Heddal, and Urnes, or experience the Oslo Opera House for an unforgetable night of entertainment. A Norway vacation might not be tropical, but it is certainly splendid in its own right.

It's one thing to travel strictly as a tourist and putting together your own vacation can be a lot of fun. But, when you are investigating a country for the potential to live there you need to have a totally different mindset. If your looking for the cheapest or best places to live than the best way to explore Norway or any country for that matter including Norway is to find a good selection of vacation packages to chose from.

Norway Packages

Why invest in a Norway Vacation Package? They are typically more expensive and may seem more rigid at first glance. But if you chose from a variety of Norway Packages you can usually find one that meets your needs. Many companies offer custom vacation packages so you can get off the beaten 'tourist path' and discover the country more from an insiders perspective. Some even give you the opportunity to live, dine and socialize with local families - the very best way to learn about living in a new land like Norway is by taking advantage of extensive Norway Packages.

Top 10 Most Popular Places in Norway

1. Oslo
2. Bergen
3. Trondheim
4. Stavanger
5. Tromsø
6. Ålesund
7. Lillehammer
8. Hammerfest
9. Bodø
10. Kristiansand

World’s most desirable place to live

In 2009 the UN list of the Best Places to Live had Norway retaining its status as the world’s most desirable place to live. This annual report by the United Nations found that Norway has the highest standard of living for its citizens. The BBC noted: Norway's consistently high rating for desirable living standards is, in large part, the result of the discovery of offshore oil and gas deposits in the late 1960s.

The UN Top Ten List

1. Norway
2. Australia
3. Iceland
4. Canada
5. Ireland
6. Netherlands
7. Sweden
8. France
9. Switzerland
10. Japan

While the the United States placed 13th. Note this list is a bit different than the one recently published by International Living which placed France in the Top Spot for Quality of Life.

The Best & Cheapest Places to live in the Netherlands

In our final list of the Top 25 Countries for Quality of Life the Netherlands, often referred to as 'Holland' came in 11th. That's of course according to International Living's 2010 Quality of Life Index.

The Cheapest Place to Live in Holland (the Netherlands)

First let's compare the Netherlands to some of it's European neighbours. March 2008 cost of living data shows Amsterdam as one of the more expensive cities to live in.

Finding a nice place to live is always difficult. Holland is no exception - getting the right accommodation can be hard, especially in large cities.

If you are planning to move to the Netherlands or are there already, and you need to find a place to live, Pararius is the perfect place to find a cheap place to live. The rental listings from Pararius include unfurnished properties, semi-furnished houses and apartments as well as fully-furnished residences.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a relatively mild climate for a place so far north, so even winter visits can be quite comfortable. Amsterdam's three quarters of a million inhabitants represent a staggering 177 different nationalities. Tolerant. Chill. Liberal. Amsterdam could be called all these things. The city has been known for its open-mindedness and flexibility since it was a haven for religious refugees in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Living in Amsterdam

Renting in Amsterdam is expensive, and it's best to get an agent to find something suitable for you. Generally, you can expect to pay a deposit of two months, the first two months up front, and agent's fees of usually one month's rent.Some examples of the

Cost of Living in Amsterdam

Beer (six pack) €3.59  Bread €1.20 Litre of Milk €0.65 Litre of Gas €1.49
Kilo of Potatoes €1.80  Kilo of Fresh fish €18

Other Cities in the Netherlands

Amsterdam is the largest city and most well known however there are numerous other cities in the Netherlands which are certainly worth a look. The next five largest cities are: Rotterdam, sGravenhage, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Tilburg.

If you're from the Netherlands why not leave a comment about what you think are th Cheapest and Best Places to Live in the Netherlands?

The Top 10 Places You Can't Go

1. Mezhgorye is a closed town in Russia which is believed to house people working on the highly secret Mount Yamantaw. It is suspected by the United States of being a large secret nuclear facility or bunker. Repeated U.S. questions have yielded several different responses from the Russian government regarding Mount Yamantaw. They have said it is a mining site, a repository for Russian treasures, a food storage area, and a bunker for leaders in case of nuclear war.
   
2. The Vatican Secret Archives are not secret despite their names. You can view any document you wish as long as it is more than 75 years old (in order to protect diplomatic and governmental information). But you cannot enter the archive. You must submit your request for a document and it will be supplied to you. The Vatican Secret Archives have been estimated to contain 52 miles of shelving.
   
3. Contrary to popular belief, Disneyland has a full liquor license which is used when the place closes down to the general public to accommodate private parties. But there is one place in Disneyland that is always open to sell booze: Club 33. Club 33 is a private club located in the heart of the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland. Fees for joining go up to $30,000 thousand and you have to go to the end of the fourteen year waiting list
   
4. Metro-2 in Moscow, Russia is a purported secret underground metro system which parallels the public Moscow Metro. The system was built supposedly during the time of Stalin and codenamed D-6 by the KGB. It is said to have 4 lines and lie 50 to 200 meters deep. Needless to say, the fact that no one confirms its existence makes it pretty difficult to visit.
   
5. White’s Gentlemen’s Club is the most exclusive English club. The club is famous for its betting book, in which members make bizarre gambles -- the most famous of which is a 3,000 pound bet on which of two raindrops would slide down the window first. Women are excluded completely from membership, and men who want to join this exclusive club can only do so if invited by a sitting member who has the support of two other members. Unless you are a member of royalty, or are extremely powerful in politics or the arts, you are unlikely to ever see a White’s invitation.
   
6. Area 51 is a nickname for a military base that is located in the southern portion of Nevada in the western United States, 83 miles north-northwest of downtown Las Vegas. Situated at its center is a large secretive military airfield. The intense secrecy surrounding the base, the very existence of which the U.S. government barely acknowledges, has made it the frequent subject of conspiracy theories.
   
7. Room 39 (or Bureau 39) is arguably one of the most secretive organizations in North Korea. Very little is known about Room 39 due to the secretive nature surrounding the organization, but it is widely speculated that the organization uses 10 to 20 bank accounts in China and Switzerland for the purposes of counterfeiting, money laundering, and other illicit transactions. It is also alleged that Room 39 is involved in drug smuggling and illicit weapon sales. Room 39 is believed to be located inside a ruling Workers’ Party building in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea
   
8. The Ise Grand Shrine in Japan (which is actually a series of over 100 shrines) is the most sacred shrine in Japan. It is dedicated to Amaterasu (the Sun goddess) and has been in existence since 4 BC. The shrine is demolished and rebuilt every 20 years. The only person who can enter is the priest or priestess and he or she must be a member of the Japanese imperial family.
   
9. Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center is a place that is not only closed to the public, but it is a place that the public hope to never have to enter! In most end of the world films these days, there is always a highly classified area where U.S. government officials and a chosen few get to go in the hopes that they can escape the impending doom. The Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center is the real thing. The center is already functioning and even during small local disasters in the U.S., much of the telecommunications traffic is routed through it.
10. RAF Menwith Hill is a British military base with connections to the global ECHELON spy network. The site contains an extensive satellite ground station and is a communications intercept and missile warning site and has been described as the largest electronic monitoring station in the world.
    

Source: Mercola.com

Pictures of Italy

i canali di bologna. emilia romagna, italia, italy
Originally uploaded by Paolo Màrgari

Bologna, Italy by Paolo Màrgari

When you go to Italy this summer be sure to check out the amazing Italian art and be sure to take plenty of pictures of Italy yourself - you may just end up selling some beautiful shots like this one!

#9 Canada Facts

Canada Facts

These days the first thing that comes to mind when someone says Canada is, 'Vancouver - Whistler and the 2010 Winter Olympics.' But in a few months that will be all but forgot. Still, migration to Canada will remain consistently strong as over 500,000 people are moving to Canada from all over the world each year. Following the Whistler Olympics immigration is likely to rise as is demand for people wanting to move to Canada. International Living has honoured Canada as the 9th Best Place to Live according to their 2010 Quality of Life Index.

More Canada Facts

Canada's Population was last counted in 2009 at 33.7 million people living in 12.4 million households. Canada is 9.984 million sq. km. in size and is second only to Russia. Life expectancy for the average Canadian is 80.4 years.

Living in Canada

Canada has some of the cheapest housing in the developed world. The country has huge forests and timber is readily available as a building material. Houses in Canada are typically timber-framed and, because of climate extremes, the housing stock is usually high quality and well insulated.

Although the economy is healthy, you would be advised not to come to Canada to get rich. Canadians enjoy a very high quality of life but, compared with some of the salaries available in the USA, UK and Northern Europe, Canadians are not highly paid.

A major advantage of living in Canada is that, in most locations, it's possible to buy a comfortable, large, detached house on a normal income.

Jobs tend to be most plentiful in Toronto / Southern Ontario, Vancouver and Calgary.

Where should I live in Canada?

Finding the right place to live and work may take time. Housing costs vary greatly across Canada and depend on location (city, town or rural area) and type of home (e.g., apartment or house). Where you choose to live will impact your occupational prospects, job opportunities and salary. Where do newcomers settle? Most newcomers settle in larger cities. According to Statistics Canada, the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver census metropolitan areas(CMAs) were home to 68.9% of recent immigrants.

Top Ten Cities in Canada

MoneySense magazine has released its fourth annual list of the top 10 cities in Canada in which to live, ranking them by 24 factors, including income potential, real estate prices, taxes, access to health care and several others that take in quality of life.

The winning city, according to its mayor, gets 2,100 hours of sunshine a year, has an amazing downtown, is blessed with three top universities and a college, and has gorgeous scenery. Sound familiar? Yes, it's Victoria. (Ahh, yes, that bastion of the well-heeled, you say. Can only the wealthy afford to buy a home there? Not necessarily; it turns out Victoria is only the 10th most expensive real estate market in Canada, according to MoneySense.) It bumped previous favourite Ottawa down to second spot. Neither Toronto nor Montreal made the grade.
The other cities on the Top 10 list: 2. Ottawa-Gatineau 3. Kingston, Ont. 4. Burlington, Ont. 5. Vancouver 6. Moncton, N.B. 7. Fredericton, N.B. 8. Winnipeg 9. Peterborough, Ont. 10. Brandon, Man.

Attractions in Canada

Destination Canada has taken a look at Canada’s many unique attractions and picked these 10 to recommend to visitors to Canada – or to Canadians who wish to experience more of their own vast and beautiful country.

The Canadian Rockies

Within the Canadian Rockies is some of the most beautiful, serene and, at the same time, breathtaking scenery on the earth’s surface.

Niagara Falls, Ontario

The Falls are one of the truly natural wonders of the world. The sight and thunderous sound of the cascading waters are mesmerizing and the mystic power of the falls will always stay with you.

Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island

The park provides access to nature at its rawest: Wet, wild and dramatic scenery that can be observed from the comfort of warm, luxurious hotels that dot the coastline. It’s also a surfers paradise!

Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

Cape Breton has been rated one of the best Island destinations in the world and this is in no small part to the Cabot Trail that offers breathtaking vistas of Cape Breton’s are a common sight.

Baffin Island (Oikiqtaaluk)

In our ever-shrinking world, Baffin Island still offers pristine, raw nature at its most beautiful: Vast vistas of untouched scenery, interrupted only occasionally by small Inuit villages – a people that still live with respect for, and in pact with, their environment. There is an abundance of wildlife including walrus, several whale species, caribou, polar bear, arctic fox, arctic hare, lemming, arctic wolf, seals, migrating fowl, shore birds, sea birds etc.

Vancouver/Victoria

These 2 cities are among the prettiest and cleanest cities in the world. Vancouver (currently hosting the Winter Olympics) is set beautifully where the mountains meet the sea and for large parts of the year you can both golf, sail, swim and go skiing – all in the same day! Victoria is set beautifully in a protected harbour at the south end of Vancouver Island. British Columbia’s capital, it is just a very pleasant small city with an old-world British charm.

The Prairies

It’s a state of mind and sense of being that’s hard to describe. On the prairies the sky surrounds 180 degrees of your sight line in all directions.

The Rocky Mountaineer

This is truly a trip of a lifetime. Guided train travel, at a relaxed tempo, through some of the world's most beautiful and varied scenery. Quite possibly the best way to see Canadian wildlife - such as bears, mountain goats, wolves, elk, big-horned sheep, moose, coyotes etc.

Old Québec City

Québec's Old Town (Vieux-Québec) has an old-world charm unique in North America and is the only North American fortified north of Mexico whose walls still exist. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site 1985, as the "Historic District of Old Québec".

Bay of Fundy

The Bay has the highest tides in the world and it's estimated that 100 billion tons of seawater flow in and out each tide cycle. That's a foot every 10 minutes. You can literally stand there and watch the tide rise or fall. The waters of the bay are populated with approximately 8 species of whales, an abundance of dolphins, porpoises, fish, seals, seabirds and more. All this is framed by breathtaking rock cliffs, eroded sandstone statues, dramatic mud flats and bountiful marsh plateaus.

Top Cities to Live in Belgium

We've counted down through International Livings Quality of Life Index and named the Top 25 Places to Live in the World now we're counting back up to explore each country and look at the Top Cities to Live in within each country. Today we're at #8 on our list with Belgium.

If you're looking at Belgium and asking 'Where should I live?' or 'what are the top cities to live?' check out these top spots:

If you have an unlimited budget try : Genval, Waterloo, Tervuren, Overijssche. If you are looking for city life Park Cinquantire is quite lovely and not as expensive as the suburbs. Of course Brussels, Belgium is always on the top of anyones list looking at Belgium. Belgium was a strong performer in many categories, ranking 2nd for infrastructure, 10th for health and 12th for leisure and culture.
According to the International Living report, Belgium's capital Brussels is the greenest in Europe. It is also the headquarters of the European Union and NATO.

Major Cities in Belgium are Brussels, Brugge, Antwerp.

Brussels is the biggest city in Belgium. It is also an important city, being the administrative center of the European Union. Because of this, it is called the Capital of Europe. It was also the headquarters for NATO. Historically, it has been home to a mix of Flemish and French culture. Today, it is known for being an international center with a mix of nationalities. Children often know how to speak Flemish, French, English and/or German by the time they are in high school! It is a cosmopolitan city that has a mix of business and commerical buildings, but also castle remanents in the middle of the streets. It is a pretty expensive city. Its metropolitan area has around 1.8 million people. You can eat some of the best French fries and waffles in the world in Brussels. So one would not consider Brussels if looking for the Cheapest Place in Belgium.

Cheapest Place to Live in the United States

Sometimes cheap can also mean best! If you're wondering 'Where should I live?' ... in the U.S. here are some of the Cheapest Places to Live in the United States. and many of these spots would also be consider some of the nicest places to live:

Cheap Places to Live on the Pacific Coast

Spokane, WA
Modesto, CA

Cheap Places to Live in the Western Mountains

Ogden-Clearfield, UT
Fort Collins - Loveland, CO
Greeley, CO

Cheap Places to Live in the Central Northwest

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
Omaha Council Bluffs, NB/Iowa
St Louis, MO

Cheap Places to Live in the Central Southwest

Fort Worth Arlington, TX
Oklahoma City, OK
Tulsa, OK

Cheap Places to Live in the Central Northeast

Ann Arbor, MI
Warren Troy / Farmington Hills, MI
Clevland, OH

Cheap Places to Live in the Central Southeast

Knoxville, TN
Chattanooga, TN
Louisville, KY

Cheap Places to Live in the Middle Atlantic

Albany Schenectady Troy, NY
Pittsburgh, PA
Harrisburg Carlisle, PA

Cheap Places to Live in the South Atlantic

Durham Chapel Hill, NC
Charlotte, NC
Atlanta, GA

Cheap Places to Live in New England

Manchester, NH
Worcester, MA
Springfield, MA

The Cheapest State to Live in the U.S. is Arkansas.

Youngstown, Ohio has the most affordable housing in the U.S. according to the International Housing Affordability Survey but under the current economic crisis few would disagree that

Detroit is the Cheapest Place in the U.S.

Cheapest Place to Live in Luxembourg

Luxembourg has been a great economic success story in the past 10 years. Recently voted one of the Best Countries in the world to live in by International Living Magazine in their annual Quality of Life Index.

The city of Luxembourg is the capital of the country of Luxembourg. Its spectacular valleys and plateaus led it to be nicknamed "the Gibraltar of the North"

Luxembourg has been enjoying the effects of economic growth and low employment rates. The combinations of these factors bring about a confidence and optimism which bodes well for future investment and market confidence.

Luxembourg hosts a large percentage of European Headquarters for Global clients in Industry, with about 158 licensed banks from 26 different countries; it is the European leader in Private banking and the global leader in Investments funds.

The main activities carried out in the Financial Sector are: Private Banking, Corporate Finance, Covered Bonds, Securities, Pension Funds and Investment Funds.

Cost of Living In Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a small country in Western Europe, landlocked by Belgium, Germany and France. But size is not a big deal when it comes to this place. Though it may be a tiny country, it is such a wonderful place to be in. Lying in between a cross of cultures, you can expect that this country will be a great destination.

There is so much that is offered by Luxembourg. From the great scenery and the wonderful climate, living here would not be such a bad idea for anyone. The economy is very stable, thanks to the successful steel and agriculture industry that they have. Considering the size that Luxembourg has, it remains among the richest country in the world. It is known for having a high-income economy, low inflation and a low unemployment rate. It seems like living here is very beneficial financially.

Luxembourg is using the currency Euro (€) which is the same for its neighboring countries. Luxembourg may have a little higher cost of living compared to the United States. The current conversion of €1 Euro is at $1.45 USD. It may be quite pricier here if you plan to live here but life here is definitely better.

Housing Costs

Luxembourg has a couple of houses and apartments which are available here. Since there are a lot of people who travel and move in here, you can trust that there will be quite a selection of accommodations for you. Like most residents here, they just tend to rent an apartment because it seems more practical and cheaper. True enough, renting an apartment may only cost anywhere from € 600 t o €2500 per month. It depends on the locations as well as the size o the apartment that you are getting. For larger apartments, tenants just share for a cheaper rent.

Cheapest Place to Live in New Zealand

New Zealand picked up spot#5 as the Best Place to Live according to International Livings 2010 Quality of Life Index. Besides beautiful weather, the country’s wide ranging topography — snow capped mountains, rain forests, crystal clear lakes and rivers offering some of the best trout fishing in the world, bays filled with forested islands, vineyards, fruit plantations, and other amazing scenery are attractive to just about anybody!Ask an Avocado!Gardeners know that avocados like it warm and sunny in order to grow. So if that's your idea of a perfect climate than know this - Avocados grow very well in northern New Zealand!

Auckland New Zealand

The majority of immigrants who move to New Zealand end up living and working in and around Auckland. But if you're looking for the Cheapest Place to Live in New Zealand you may want to check in with the local. A New Zealander will tell you that Auckland is actually one of their least favourite places to live. This is due to  high real estate prices, a higher cost of living, higher crime rates and also due to the influx of international migrants moving to Auckland!

The four best places to live in New Zealand

According to New Zealanders it’s clear that the most attractive places for lifestyle reasons are:

1. Christchurch in Canterbury

2. The Bay of Plenty and in particular Tauranga

3. Waikato and,

4. Otago. 

When it comes to New Zealand in general most people like the fact it is small, has a very literate population, friendly people, and the fact that the country is, for the most part, quite clean and uncluttered. Ranked one of the cleanest countries in the world. New Zealanders love the outdoors  and enjoy camping, sailing, barbecuing, swimming, and gardening.

New Zealanders on the Move

New Zealanders have been on the move during the last few years. Most of the movement has been focussed on better weather, better prospects or lower house prices. In other words they've been searching for the Cheapest Places to Live in their own country.

The 3 areas New Zealanders have been keenest to leave are: Auckland, North Island Manawatu-Wanganui and North Island Southland. South Island Auckland's house prices have jumped extraordinarily heigh in recent years. Although falling prices and falling interest rates from he 2008 crash have improved affordability. Most people do find they benefit from leaving Auckland, provided they don't experience too much of a wage cut. Retired people can often release a large capital sum by leaving Auckland and moving to a cheaper location. Many retirees move to the Waikato, a region to the south of Auckland, or Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty. Otaki, Levin - this is near Palmerston.

For those retirees with extra cash looking for one of the best places to retire New Zealand waterfront is very cheap by U.S. standards. Although not necessarily the Cheapest Place to Live in New Zealand.

The Cheapest Place to Live in Germany

This is a continuation of the discussion which started with the Best Places to Live as ranked by International Living in their annual Quality of Life Index. Today we're moving down the list and looking at The Cheapest Place to Live in Germany.

From what my research has discovered it looks like Hamburg Germany is currently one of the Cheapest Places to Live in Germany. So, if Germany is on your list and you're wondering, "Where should I live - in Germany?" Then Hamburg would be a good place to start.

Hamburg is great for good fun. Berlin and Frankfurt will also keep one busy.

The population of Frankfurt is composed of 27% foreigners so if you are immigrating here you may feel a bit more at home and find some people with things in common.

Getting away from the larger English speaking cities seems to be a good way to save money and find a cheaper place to live. I've read that the best places to live in are the capitals of the small 'duchies'. The best towns to live in are Dresden, Leipsic, Stuttgart and Munich - all offer world class education and are cheaper when compared to English cities. But are still a little more expensive than say Brunswick, Cassel, Darmstadt, Weimar and Coburg. In these towns you can enjoy more of an old-fashioned family type atmosphere with beautiful architecture. The houses tend to be larger with big rooms, lovely courtyards and grand stair cases.

Eastern Germany has some good places to live cheap. This appears to be a result of many people moving west with the Fall of the Berlin wall. Eastern Germany offers beautiful landscapes and the typical German standard of living including excellent health care.

Technorati Tags: cheap places to live, best cities, best towns, international living, quality if life

Cheapest Place to Live in Switzerland

Switzerland is typically not known for a low cost of living but a recent study revealed the Cheapest place to live in Switzerland

People who live in Appenzell Inner Rhodes which can be found in the eastern part of Switzerland, have the highest level of disposable income after tax and major expenses like housing. On the other hand Geneva residents have been found to have less than people in any other people in Switzerland making it the most expensive place to live.

Bank Credit Suisse conducted the survey and measured a wide range of costs including taxes, social security, health insurance, utility bills, housing prices and rent.

The survey revealed the cost of living varied tremendously depending on where people choose to live in Switzerland. Individual cantons and local municipalities have the power to set their own tax rates and this can have a big impact on the cost of living in Switzerland.

The rural canton of Appenzell Inner Rhodes again topped the list as the most inexpensive place to live, as it did in 2006 when the survey was last conducted.

The report said the canton was "the most appealing place to live for the broad middle classes". This is due to relatively low real estate prices, moderate tax rates and the country's lowest health insurance premiums.

Geneva remained at the bottom of the list of 26 cantons with high property prices and hefty taxes. Obwalden climbed five places to 2nd place after it slashed taxes in 2007. Zug fell 13 places to 18 as the cost of real estate sky rocketed over the past two years.

Technorati Tags: Switzerland, Places to Live

Cheapest Place to Live in Australia

Adelaide is one of the cheapest places to live in Australia. The cost of living for average daily consumption is cheap however, from a lifestyle stand point some people consider Adelaide a bit too quiet, maybe even boring.

Adelaide has had slower growth than the rest of Australia in the past few decades keeping prices down. This gives it the biggest advantage of a low cost of living. Adelaide has the cheapest real-estate of any major Australian city. Employment is another story though and finding a job can be more difficult than other larger, more popular Australian cities. Professions  like nursing or teaching continue to be in demand here though so if either of those are your speciality than Adelaide might be quite a good choice. In fact nurses and teachers are in demand throughout Australia. The lower cost of living here results in people in these professions enjoying a higher standard of living in Adelaide than they would have in Sydney or Melbourne.

Adelaide is on roughly the same latitude as Sydney but has a very different climate. The winters are colder and have more precipitation than Sydney. The summers however are normally hotter and drier. Brisbane is another place one might consider as a cheap place to live but maybe not for long. Brisbane still has a very wide variety of prices but it is currently going through a big boom, so prices will inevitably rise.

Melbourne is much cooler than all other Australian cities.  It is quite similar to London, the people are very friendly and like all other cities depending on where you choose to live within the city will dictate how much you pay. Melbourne can certainly be expensive but it is still cheaper than Sydney. Queensland is also cheaper than Sydney. Its a beautiful spot but can often be quite hot.

Sydney is quite expensive in most places and may even be considered the most expensive place in Australia. Technorati Tags: best places to live, cheapest places to live

Cheapest Place to Live in France

Regret the delay getting this going! As you know we just finished up our review of the Best Places to Live in the World now let's see if we can find the Cheapest Places to Live in each of those countries.

France topped our list of the Best Place to Live according to International Livings Quality of Life Index. When it comes to France many people immediately think of Paris and also think of all the stories they have heard about how expensive Paris is. But just like the U.S. or any other country for that matter there are uber expensive places to live and if one looks they can find a Cheap Place to Live even in the most expensive countries.

Get out of Town to find a cheap place to live!

In France like most places you've just got to 'get out of town' to find a cheap place to live!

Just a few hours from Paris you will find the city of Metz. The cost of living including housing and food is cheaper in Metz. Versailles is another community which offers inexpensive shopping while food and rent costs are some of the lowest in all of France. Groceries, childcare, rent & housing and transportation too are all quite affordable in Versailles and it could very well be the Cheapest Place to Live in France if you still want to comfort and luxuries which come form city living.

Follow students for a Cheap Place to Live!

University towns like Montpellier are often quite affordable and cheap places to live as the disproportionate student population helps bring the price of many things down including groceries, clothing and rent.

The Cheapest most Expensive Place to Live

Nice on the French Riviera is beautiful and expensive but it is the Cheapest Place to Live on the French Riviera. The small Monarchy of Monaco is also located on the French Riviera and is one of the best places to live in the world - especially if you're rich and famous!