INSTITUT PENDIDIKAN GURU

KAMPUS SULTAN ABDUL HALIM

08000 SUNGAI PETANI
KEDAH DARUL AMAN

PROGRAM IJAZAH SARJANA MUDA PERGURUAN

NUMERICAL LITERACY

NAME : FATIN NABILA BINTI MOHD. ALIZA

900323035886

LOO FOONG FERN

900703085244

SITI AISYAH ZAHIDAH BINTI KAMARUDDIN

900930-11-5028

GROUP : IP 2B (BAHASA MELAYU)

INTAKE : JANUARY 2010

LECTURER : MADAM WAH MONG WEH

SUBMIT : 22 AUGUST 2010

1
 CONTENTS
CONTENTS PAGES

List Of The Elements 1

The Criteria That Have Been Chooses 2

Question For Each Criteria 3

Comparation And Contrast Between Three Country

 Tokyo 4-5
 Singapore 6-7

 Bandung 8-9

Rate For Each Criteria Between Three Country 10

Total Of Living Cost

 Tokyo 11
 Singapore 12

 Bandung 13

Summary 14-17

Bibliography 18

Reflective 19

Appendix 20

2
LIST OF THE ELEMENTS

COST LIVING TRANSPORT CONNECTION

ESTABLISH
ENVIRONMENT /
OF SAFETY WEATHER
UNIVERSITY

HOSPITALITIES CULTURE LANGUAGE

ACOMODATION HOUSING LIFESTYLE

CURRENCY
FOOD CONVERSION
RATE

3
THE CRITERIS THAT HAVE BEEN CHOOSEN

FOOD

CURRENCY
CONVERSION SAFETY
RATE

THE
CRITERIA
THAT
BEEN
EDUCATION CHOOSEN LANGUAGE
POWER

TRANSPORT
HOSPITALITIES
NETWORK

4
THE QUESTIONS FOR EACH CRITERIA

Criteria Questions

 Is Halal food can be get easily?

Food
 What is the normal price for a meal?

 What is the crime rate of the city?

Safety  Is there any spreadable disease in the city?
 Is there any disaster that happens in the city?

 What is the fee for a treatment?

Healthcare facilities
 How is their facility?

 What is the official language use in the city?

Language
 Can we communicate easily with other?

 What are the easier transport networks at there?

Transport Network
 How we can get at there?

 What is the rank of the university?

Educational power  What course do they have offer?

 How much the fee?

Currency conversion
 What is the currency conversion rate for the city?
rate

5
COMPARATION AND CONTRAST BETWEEN THE THREE CITIES

TOKYO

CRITERIA EXPLANATION

 It is hard to get the Halal food.

 The food is quite expensive and not suitable for
FOOD
students.
 Example: the noodle at ¥200-1000, drinks (both hot
and cold) for ¥100-150 and sandwiches for ¥250-
350.

 Street crime is extremely rare, even late at night,

and continues to decrease.
 Small police stations, or Koban, can be found every
few blocks. If someone is get lost or need
assistance, by all means go to them and it is their
SAFETY job to help.
 Take the usual precautions against pickpockets in
crowded areas and trains.
 Disaster like earthquake, tsunami, and volcano
eruption often happen

 Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical

and medical insurance such as general practitioner
consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate,

HEALTHCARE non-prescription medicine, and private medical

FACILITIES insurance / medical aid contributions is relatively

more expensive compared to other cities with a rank
of 1 out of 282.

6
  They are using Japanese. Most of the notes are
written in katakana.
LANGUAGE
 There are only a few of people understand the
English language.

 Has an efficient public transportation network.

 Characterized by its punctuality, its superb service,
TRANSPORT NETWORK
and the large crowds of people using it.
 Example: train, bus, car rental, taxi and so on.
 The fare of bus is ¥1,500 for adults and ¥700 for
children between 4 and 11 years old.

 The most prestigious universities are the national

University of Tokyo and University of Kyoto,
followed by the best private universities.
 The examination can be written in Japanese or
English (except the section on Japanese language;
some testing sites don't offer tests in English).
 The Examination for Japanese University Admission
EDUCATION POWER
for International Students (EJU) is a standard
examination in existence since 2002, simplifying the
process of admission to Japanese universities for
international students.
 Only a handful of universities offer English courses
on the undergraduate (bachelor) level.
 Education fees for college and tertiary study is
equally expensive on average compared to other
cities with a rank of 139 out of 282.

CURRENCY  RM 1 = 27.334 yen

CONVERSIOEN RATE

7
8
 SINGAPORE

CRITERIA EXPLANATION

 All kind of food are easily available in Singapore

 Example: Chinese food, Malay food and Indian
food (almost same with Malaysia).

FOOD  There are fast food, hawker centers, food courts

and cafe.
 Food can be get with prices start at $1 can go up
to $7-8 in hawker centers.

SAFETY  The crime rate in Singapore is one of the lowers

in the world.

 The clinics can be spotted in most housing

estates and town centers. Consultation will cost
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
between S$10 and S$20 depending on the type
of ailment and treatment given.
 Student Medical Insurance can take up to $5 -
$8.

 Singapore is a multi-lingual nation and

Singaporeans speak different languages as their
first language.

LANGUAGE  The 'national' language of Singapore is Bahasa

Melayu.
 Most Singaporean speak  English
 Another language that are most commonly use
are Mandarin, Chinese, Malay or Tamil.

9
  There is an efficient public transportation
network, which offers taxis, buses, and the
modern Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rail system.

TRANSPORT NETWORK  Cost of travel varies with type of student

concession pass in between $20-$100.
 Cost of transportation in Singapore by bus will
range from 60 cents up to 1.20.
 The cost of transportation in Singapore for
1.5km by taxi is S$2.40

 Singapore has plenty of universities that are

affiliated to some of the well known and sought
after universities in the U.S and U.K.
 The state-sponsored colleges and universities in
EDUCATION POWER Singapore are also more economical than the
private ones. 
 The annual fee may range between S$3500 and
S$15000.

10
CURRENCY CONVERSIOEN  Rm 1 = 0.432
RATE

BANDUNG

CRITERIA EXPLANATION

 Some foods are similar with food in Malaysia.

 Malay food can be get easily.
 Example: ‘nasi goreng’, ‘baso tauhu’, ‘lontong
kari’, ‘sate’ and so on.
 Easily to get Halal food and Halal certification in
FOOD Indonesia is published by Majelis Ulama
Indonesia (MUI) after a comprehensive
inspection of the food ingredients and
processing.
 The prices are quite reasonable.

 There are disasters like earthquake, tsunami,

and risk volcano that always happen.
SAFETY
 Pick pocket are found scams at the trains’
station in Bandung.
 Badly pollution.

HEALTHCARE FACILITIES  Facilities in the hospital incomplete

 Patient will only get treatment if they able to pay.

 Their language Bahasa Indonesia is easily to

understand because it was official, modified form
of Malay.

LANGUAGE  The local dilate (the most widely spoken of

which) is Javanese.
 Sundanese language is commonly used as

11
 informal language for communication in streets,
school, campus, work and markets.
 They also use English for communication.

12
  Taxis are widely available. The primary means
of public transportation is by minibus,
called angkot (from angkutan=transportation
and kota = city).
 Bandung has 2 intercity bus terminals:
Leuwipanjang, serving buses from the west, and
Cicaheum, serving buses from the east.
TRANSPORT NETWORK
 Bandung Husein Sastranegara International
Airport serves direct flights and also international
services from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore
Changi Airport.
 The Pasupati Bridge recently opened to the
public, relieving traffic jams in the city for east-
west transport.

 At least sixteen universities (three of which are

state-owned universities.)
 Education from social sciences, technology until

EDUCATION POWER tourism education can be found in one of those

universities.
 Fees for each semester are 2.5 million rupiah.
Living cost is about 1 million rupiah per month.

CURRENCY CONVERSIOEN  RM 1 = 3I90.1 Indonesian Rupiah

RATE

13
RATE FOR EACH CRITERIA BETWEEN THE THREE CITIES

ASIAN CITIES / TOKYO SINGAPORE BANDUNG

ELEMENTS

FOOD

SAFETY

HEALTHCARE
FACILITIES

LANGUAGE

TRANSPORT
NETWORK

EDUCATION
POWER

CURRENCY
CONVERSIOEN
RATE

RATE: LOWEST

MIDDLE

HIGHEST

14
TOTAL OF LIVING COST IN TOKYO

TOTAL LIVING COST IN TOKYO PER MONTH

3%
32% 5% 4% 5%
BOOK
TELECOMUNICATION
11% HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
OTHER
FOOD
FEES
SAVING

40%

Aspect Amount (RM)

Book 650
Telecommunication 400
Healthcare facilities 500
Other 600
Food 1350
Fees 5000
Saving 4000
TOTAL: 12500

15
TOTAL OF LIVING COST IN SINGAPORE

TOTAL LIVING COST IN SINGAPORE PER MONTH

4%
4% 2%
3% 7%
BOOK
TELECOMUNICATION
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
OTHER
52% FOOD
FEES
SAVING

29%

Aspect Amount (RM)

Book 450
Telecommunication 250
Healthcare facilities 350
Other 450
Food 900
Fees 3600
Saving 6500
TOTAL: 12500

16
TOTAL OF LIVING COST IN BANDUNG

TOTAL LIVING COST IN BANDUNG PER MONTH

2% 3%
3% 7%
4%
BOOK
TELECOMUNICATION
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
50% OTHER
FOOD
FEES
SAVING

31%

Aspect Amount (RM)

Book 450
Telecommunication 250
Healthcare facilities 400
Other 500
Food 850
Fees 4000
Saving 6050
TOTAL: 12500

17
SUMMARY

My partner and I had chosen Singapore from the three cities Tokyo, Bandung
and Singapore that are given as our choice to do our sabbatical study. We had decided
this choice after comparing three cities with a few elements that we had chosen. The
elements such as:

Food

This element is very important for us especially when there is Muslim as our
team member. Food in Singapore has the better choice for us compare with Bandung
and Tokyo as we can easily get all kind of food that is similar to Malaysia. We can get
food that we prefer such as Chinese food, Malay food, Indian food and many more.
Most important Malays Halal food can be get easily. Most of the food can be get with
prices start at $1 can go up to $7-8 in hawker centers which can be consider as
reasonable.

At Bandung Malay food can be get easily too. Muslim friend can consume
without worry in Bandung as they can get Halal food with Halal certification published by
Majlis Ulama Indonesia (MUI). The prices are quite reasonable but other than Malay
food we do not have other choices and it taste also are different. While in Japan it is
hard to get the Halal food. Other than that the food is quite expensive and not suitable
for students.

Safety

We had chosen Singapore as we felt it was the safest city among the choices
given. Singapore is one of country with the lowest crime rate in the world. Disaster like
earthquake or volcano eruption does not occur. The weather at there is also same as
Malaysia.

In Tokyo, street crime is extremely rare even late at night. The rate also
continues to decrease by time. There are small police stations, or Koban, can be found

18
every few blocks. If someone is get lost or need assistance, by all means go to them
and it is their job to help but precautions against pickpockets when we are in crowded
area and train station has to be taken. Other than that the disaster like earthquake often
occurs in Japan. In Bandung, we need to take precaution as pick pocket are found
scams at the train station. Other than disaster, there are badly pollution happened in
Bandung area.

Healthcare facilities

In Singapore, clinics can be spotted in most housing estates and town centers.
Consultation will cost between S$10 and S$20 depending on the type of ailment and
treatment given. If someone has Student Medical Insurance can take up to $5 - $8.
Whereas the healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance
such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-
prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions in
Tokyo is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 1 out of 282.
As a student we cannot afford to pay that much if we really need consultation.

Language

 Singapore has a multi-lingual nation. Most of the Singaporean speaks English

although Malay is Singapore national language. There are also other commonly use
languages in this city which are English, Mandarin, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. We can
get new idea easily when we have good communication with other using the language
that we familiar.

Communication will be a problem if we chosen Tokyo because they are using

Japanese and only a few people that understand the English language. Other than that,
most of the sign are written in katakana which we do not understand. Although Bahasa
Indonesia that use in Bandung is official, modified form of Malay we hardly can
understand them. Other than that, most of the people are using Javanese and

19
Sundanese as informal language for communication in streets, school, campus, work
and markets. We might not communicate with other as easy as we think.

Transport network

This is an important criteria that we need to pay attention since we are at other
city without own transport to travel. In Singapore there is an efficient public
transportation network, which offers taxis, buses, and the modern Mass Rapid Transit
(MRT) rail system. The cost for the transportation is quite reasonable. Travel with bus,
the ticket will be in the range of 60 cents up to 1.20. Other than that, cost of travel varies
with type of student concession pass in between $20-$100.

Tokyo has an efficient public transportation network. It is characterized by its

punctuality, its superb service, and the large crowds of people using it. Some of the
examples are train, LRT, bus and taxi. The fare of bus is ¥1,500 for adults and ¥700 for
children between 4 and 11 years old.

Meanwhile, in Bandung taxis are widely available. The primary means of public
transportation is by minibus, called angkot. Bandung has 2 intercity bus terminals which
are Leuwipanjang, serving buses from the west, and Cicaheum, serving buses from the
east. There is also Bandung Husein Sastranegara International Airport that serves
direct flights and also international services from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Changi
Airport. We know that Bandung do have heavy traffic jams in the city for east-west
transport, so the Pasupati Bridge recently opened to the public to overcome the
problem.

Both Tokyo and Bandung city also equipped with variety of public transportation
network but we might need to spend most of our time on transportation since there are
large crowds of people using it.

20
Education power

Singapore has plenty of universities that are affiliated to some of the well known
and sought after universities in the U.S and U.K. The state-sponsored colleges and
universities in Singapore are also more economical than the private ones. The annual
fee may range between S$3500 and S$15000.

In Japan, the most prestigious universities are the national University of Tokyo
and University of Kyoto, followed by the best private universities. The Examination for
Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) is a standard
examination in existence since 2002, simplifying the process of admission to Japanese
universities for international students. Only a handful of universities offer English
courses on the undergraduate (bachelor) level. Education fees for college and tertiary
study is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 139 out of
282.

In Bandung, there are at least sixteen universities (three of which are state-
owned universities.) Education from social sciences, technology until tourism education
can be found in one of those universities. Fees for each semester are 2.5 million rupiah.
Living cost is about 1 million rupiah per month.

21
BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.tranungkite.net/v7/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=11399

www.focussingapore.com

http://www.expatforum.com/

http://www.marimari.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandung

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-485496-bandung_vacations-i

http://blog.malaysia-asia.my/search/label/Bandung

http://www.thenawab.com/english/hatchobori/takeout.htm

http://www.islamcenter.or.jp/eng/halalfood.html

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/47671.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2022.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo

22
23
24
REFLECTIVE

The Numerical Literacy assignment is about choosing the suitable city between
Tokyo, Bandung and Singapore for our sabbatical study. When I get this assignment, I
think this is a difficult assignment I ever get for this semester. This assignment so
challenging because it must search information from three country, but fortunately, this
is a team assignment, so it’s not very hard to do.

After Madam Wah give her explanation, I and my group member had some
discussion about this assignment. We discuss about state where we want to select for
our sabbatical study. After discuss we choose Singapore. After that, each of us start
looking for information about the three countries, base on this I had learn many new
things by doing this assignment. One of new things I have learnt is about currency
conversion rate, base on this I know about currency from Tokyo, Bandung and
Singapore.

Other than that, I found that teamwork is very important. We found that
information that we need had been complete faster when we work as a team. We do
not have to worry that we had wasted our time by searching for the same information.

I had used estimation that I had learned in previous lesson to complete this
assignment. We had used it for estimate the living cost that needed per month for the
three cities. This helps us a lot when we make our decision. My group had chosen
Singapore after comparing the criteria for these three cities.

In conclusion, I am very grateful for having a very good team and easy to carry
this, though sometimes there is a difference of opinion. We also had got some advice
from madam to make sure we had done our work correctly. I am glad that we had
completed our assignment on time. Thanks to my friends Siti Aisyah and Loo Foong
Fern because give a good cooperation by doing this assignment.

By,

………………………………………..
FATIN NABILA BINTI MOHD. ALIZA

25
REFLECTIVE

The mathematic assignment for this semester is about choosing the suitable city
between Tokyo, Bandung and Singapore for our sabbatical study. After explanation
from our lecturer, my friend and I had some discussion on what we have to prepare. We
also had got some advice from madam to make sure we had done our work correctly. I
am glad that we had completed our assignment on time.
I had learnt many things by doing this assignment. One of it is we need an open
minded when we had discussion. This can avoid us from fighting to get support for own
ideas. We had accepted each other thought and discover more idea that we had
thought before.
Other than that, I found that teamwork is very important. We found that
information that we need had been complete faster when we work as a team. We do
not have to worry that we had wasted our time by searching for the same information.
I had used estimation that I had learned in previous lesson to complete this
assignment. We had used it for estimate the living cost that needed per month for the
three cities. This helps us a lot when we make our decision. My group had chosen
Singapore after comparing the criteria for these three cities.
In conclusion, doing this assignment made me learned a lot. Now I know the
importance of teamwork and the usage of estimation as well. Thanks to my lecturer
madam Wah and my group member Fatin and Siti Aisyah.

………………………………………….

(LOO FOONG FERN)

26
REFLECTIVE

For the assignment at this semester, I have to do it in a group which has 2 or 3

students in each group. After my friends who name was Fatin and Foong and also I got
this assignment, we are search and collect the much information about the three cities.
The three cities were Tokyo, Bandung and also Singapore. We have to collect a few
criteria of each city. After that, we must compare and contrast about each cities.

Although many problem that my friends and I have do it but after we got advise
from Madam Wah. We can follow this step of the assignment with very well. But my
friends and I never fight, we always got the same ideas and open minded with everyone
ideas.

Thus, with search the information about a few criteria of three cities, many thing
about Tokyo, Bandung and also Singapore I have got. I can know their currency rate,
the food at there and their taste, education power and so on. For the education power, I
have know in Singapore was the best university than others cities. But in Tokyo was
very modern facilities and there living cost was so expensive.

So that, my friends and I have choose city in Singapore than Tokyo and
Bandung. It’s also because the Singapore city was very near with Malaysia. Their food
and language was similar with Malaysia. It will give us like living in Malaysia.

In conclusion, I’m very enjoying doing this assignment with my friends. Many
things I have got and it does also can close my relation with my friends.

By,

………………………………………….

(SITI AISYAH ZAHIDAH BINTI KAMARUDDIN)

(PISMP 1P2B)

27
Singapore holds the reputation of being one of the costliest destinations in Asia,

28
 preceded only by Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong. The quality of life is good as this chic
metropolis offers you the best convenience in entire South-east Asia. Singapore is the
preferred choice for the settlers owing to its high-quality infrastructure, health facilities
and first-world environs. Whether you intend to stay and study in Singapore or plan to
settle down in this cosmopolitan country, it is always prudent to do an intensive research
on the cost of living in Singapore.

Before you venture out on living in Singapore, getting to know the lifestyle trends and
living standard will certainly prove useful. Cost of living ranging from food and
accommodation to transportation and clothing is a common worry for the expatriates.
COST OF LIVING SINGAPORE

Instead of being perturbed by the thought of costly, frugal living, be better informed
about expenses in Singapore and do not leave much to chance. Following are some
useful information on various costs that may incur while you put up in Singapore.

Accommodation
The sky-rocketing real estate has been the cause of worry for both the natives and the
migrants in Singapore, nonetheless, post-recessive situation has become more buyer
friendly. Imbalance of supply and demand has reduced to a good extent giving much
relief to the people. If you wish to rent an apartment in the middle of the city, expect to
shell out anywhere between S$550 and S$700 depending on facilities and location you
choose. While a three-bedroom condo comes for S$2000 – S$4000, the monthly rent of
a four-bedroom house with swimming pool can be anywhere between S$10,000 and
S$25,000. If you do not wish to spend much on accommodation then rented rooms
close to the city center, which may cost you around S$600, is a fair idea.

Fooding
Singapore is very passionate about its cuisine and if you make it a habit to dine out at
any of the food courts or hawker centers, it will be a low-key affair. A sumptuous meal at
most food courts will cost you S$3 on an average. If you prefer home-cooked meal you
need to be calculative about the grocery items you buy. The supermarkets in Singapore
can be expensive. Vegetables like cabbage, carrots, horseradish and ginger are
available at a more economical rate as also tea, coffee, nuts and red beans are
available for a cheap bargain. In a nutshell, you can enjoy a moderate dining experience
in this modern city for less than S$300 a month.

Clothing
Costly apparels and high range of accessories may be the major contributors that
augment the cost of living in Singapore. Although you find night markets and hawkers
selling cheap items, you have to buy in bulk to avail discounts. Even locally made dress

29
items are quite expensive. This fashionable country houses host of apparel stores
selling imported and branded clothes with prices tagged in higher range. Since small
jewelries are pricey, it is recommended to get them directly from manufacturers in
nearby districts. Shopping for clothing and wares could cost you around S$300 a
month. 

Transportation
Owning a private vehicle is not advisable in Singapore unless you are complacent about
your financial status. The monthly cost of a new low-range and mid-range vehicle in
Singapore will make your wallet lighter by S$1000 - S$1300. If you do not nurture the
idea of owning a private vehicle, you are somewhat wiser than others as the public
transport network in Singapore is undoubtedly one of the best in Asia. Your bus fare
would range from S$0.71 to S$1.80 per trip depending on the distance you travel, while
the train tickets cost from S$1 to S$1.79. A transport rebate of 40 cents per trip (for
adults) can be availed if you are an ez-link card holder. 

Healthcare 
Singapore is not hard on people seeking medical treatment as there are polyclinics at
every nook and corner of the country. These state-run medical centers render quality
healthcare. The clinics can be spotted in most housing estates and town centers where
consultation will cost you anywhere between S$10 and S$20 depending on the type of
ailment and treatment given. On an average, your weekly medicine bill can come to
S$10, so there is not much to think about budget constraints. 

Education
Studying in Singapore is not exactly a costly affair as there are a number of state-run or
aided schools. These schools are cheaper than their international counterparts. The
annual fee may range between S$3500 and S$15000. When it comes to buying books
and stationery, be prepared to shed between S$30 and S$100, depending on the
course of studies. The state-sponsored colleges and universities in Singapore are also
more economical than the private ones. 

Recreation
You get the liberty of indulging in recreational activities in this upward country without
straining your budget. Dancing your time away in the nightclubs will cost you around
S$25, while a jug of larger beer will come for S$30 - S$40 in most pubs. Watching
movies in the mutiplexes is a pretty affordable bargain as tickets are priced at S$8 and
S$10 on weekdays and weekends, respectively. You get your favorite hot dogs, nachos
and other snacks in the theater for as low as S$6. 

Sundry expenses
Apart from the above mentioned expenses, there are still some sundries which you
need to take care of every month. Monthly gas, water and electricity bills can collectively
30
come to around S$200 while cell phone bill for an average local user may touch as high
as S$150. Charges for wireless Internet ADSL subscription are affordable and hardly
exceeding S$70 per month. Other essentials like toiletries, magazines, CDs and cable
TV may cost you around S$200 a month. 

Cost of living in Singapore: Comparison with other nations

The following table contains figures, which represent a weighted average of the prices
of more than 160 items found across the major cities in the world starting from
household goods to luxury items.
Rank City Name Cost of living Index
1 Tokyo 152
2 Osaka Kobe 145
3 Paris 132
4 Copenhagen 124
5 Oslo 123
6 Zurich 122
7 Frankfurt 118
8 Helsinki 118
9 Geneva 115
10 Singapore 112
11 Hong Kong 110
12 Vienna 109
13 Dublin 108
23 New York 100
27 London 99
*As per the latest survey (March, 2009) of

31
 Economist Intelligence Unit

The healthcare expenses, groceries and accommodation costs are lesser in Singapore
than its Asian counterpart Tokyo. If you shift to Singapore from Tokyo, you can assure
yourself of shedding lesser bucks for many other sectors apart from the above
mentioned segments. Americans will find it hard to cope with the Singaporean costs as
New York, the most expensive city of the US ranks lower than Singapore in standard of
living with a cost of living index being 100. This Asian city will prove pricier for them. 

The expatriates from the European cities like Paris, Copenhagen, Oslo, Zurich and
Frankfurt, will find Singapore a better bargain with the cost of living showing a
southward trend. The steady decline in pound’s value has made London a cheaper
place to live as compared to Singapore. London does not feature even in the list of top
25 expensive cities. Londoners, better prepare to experience a real surge of expenses
in Singapore. The Dubliners will also have to bear the higher living expenses in this
city. 

Having said all these, cost of living in Singapore really depends on how you really live
and how you employ your money in various things over a period of time.

COST OF LIVING IN TOKYO

Tokyo is widely known as being an expensive city. Indeed, this reputation is deserved,
although the 'most expensive city in the world' crown is periodically passed around
several world cities.
Actually, Tokyo is not really that expensive for local Japanese people. It is a much more
expensive place for foreigners for a variety of reasons, including the high cost of
western style housing, foreign goods, international schools etc. Those expatriates that
can make the jump to local style living will benefit from a noticeable reduction in the cost
of living.
Having said that, if you're an expat hired overseas with family i.e. wife and some

32
children of school age, you are going to be living a very costly existence and this should
be carefully noted when negotiating your salary and allowances. The days of the
full expat package are dwindling as employers seek ways to reduce costs, favouring
single people when recruiting. This means some expats leave their family behind in
order to secure the job they want, or just to significantly reduce their monthly living
costs. This is only practical if you can visit home regularly of course.
Other options include living far out of Tokyo in a satellite city/neighbourhood but you
should carefully consider the time spent in transit and whether or not the savings would
be lost on travel costs. There is also the option of sending your children to a Japanese
schools rather than spending big money on international schooling.

Advertisement: Coming to Japan? Take a look at our hotel rates: Japan Hotels

In truth, there are very few foreigners that could live like a Japanese salaryman slave.
Most foreigners are going to want the perks of a full expat lifestyle. With this in mind, the
prices quoted on this living in Tokyo page are for just such people.

 Centrally located apartment (Shibuya), 150 - 200 sq. m. - JPY1M per month
 Annual fees for international school 2 - 2.5 M Yen per child
 Western food for family of four, JPY250K per month
 Running a vehicle (gas and routine maintenance) JPY50K per month
Your costs are likely to be substantial in your first year. Initial set up costs, such as
buying furniture, huge deposit on accommodation, buying a car etc will severely deplete
your budget. The above are very rough estimates as everyone will have their own
needs and expectations. You will also need to factor in your health insurance costs and
any tax liability, again different for each individual.
Many employers will already be aware of the cost difficulties expatriates experience in
Tokyo and will be willing to help with many of the initial outlays, such as apartment
deposits. The above costs are likely to me quite manageable for a higher level
executive... but if your company is not assisting you, it's time to read through our 'Living
in Tokyo on a Budget' pages.

Cost Of Living

Tokyo has an overall cost of living index which equates it with high cost of living locations. The
overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and
services across all 13 Basket Groups. Tokyo is currently ranked 1 overall, most expensive place in
the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations. The cost of living overview for
each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows: 

Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens
clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is relatively more
expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 29 out of 282.

Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call
charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is
relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 66 out of 282.

33
Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees,
and tertiary study fees is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 139
out of 282.

Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as
dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner,
and washing machine is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 21 out of
282.

Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby
consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits,
fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood,
snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank
of 1 out of 282.

Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general
practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and
private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is relatively more expensive compared to other
cities with a rank of 1 out of 282.

Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and
residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity
consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property
rates / taxes / levies is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 2 out of 282.

Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic
help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is
relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 29 out of 282.

Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care,
moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo /
conditioner is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 65 out of 282.

Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports
goods, and theatre tickets is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 80 out
of 282.

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast
food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is relatively more expensive compared to
other cities with a rank of 29 out of 282.

Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle
maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service
maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively more expensive compared
to other cities with a rank of 34 out of 282. 

Your exact customized cost of living index for Tokyo is based on which of the above basket groups
as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators. 

In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Tokyo is ranked
as a some hardship location with a hardship index of 20%. 

Your exact customized hardship index premium for Tokyo is based on the comparison location that
you select in the Calculato

34
Bandung

Kota Bandung

Flag

Seal

Nickname(s): Kota Kembang (City of Flowers) and Parijs Van Java

Motto: Bermartabat ('dignified')

Kota Bandung

Location of Bandung in Indonesia

Coordinates:  6°54′53.08″S 107°36′35.32″ECoordinates:  6°54′53.08″S 107°36′35.32″E

Country Indonesia

Province West Java

Government

 - Mayor Dada Rosada

Area

 - Total 167.67 km2 (64.74 sq mi)

Elevation 768 m (2,520 ft)

Population (2007)

 - Total 2,771,138

 - Density 16,564/km2 (36,520/sq mi)

Time zone WIB (UTC+7)

Website www.bandung.go.id

Bandung (pronounced [bənˈduŋ]) (Indonesian: Kota Bandung) is the capital of West

Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan

35
area, with 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 m (2,520 ft) above sea level, Bandung has
relatively year-around cooler temperature than most other Indonesian cities. The city lies on
a river basin and surrounded by volcanic mountains. This topography provides the city with
a good natural defense system, which was the primary reason of Dutch East
Indies government's plan to move the colony capital from Batavia to Bandung.

The Dutch colonials first opened tea plantations around the mountains in the eighteenth
century, followed by a road construction connecting the plantation area to the capital
(180 km or 112 miles to the northwest). The European inhabitants of the city demanded the
establishment of a municipality (gemeente), which was granted in 1906 and Bandung
gradually developed itself into a resort city for the plantation owners. Luxurious hotels,
restaurants, cafes and European boutiques were opened of which the city was dubbed
as Parijs van Java (Dutch: "The Paris of Java").

After Indonesian independence on 1945 onwards, the city experienced a rapid development

and urbanization that has transformed Bandung from idyllic town into a dense
16500 people/km² metropolitan area, a living space for over 2 million people. Natural
resources have been exploited excessively, particularly in the conversions of protected
upland area into highland villa and real estates. Although the city has encountered many
problems (ranging from waste disposal, floods to chaotic traffic system, etc.), Bandung
however still has its charm to attract people flocking into the city, either as weekend
travellers or living in.

Culture

Angklung

Bandung is the capital of West Java, a province of which most of its residents are
mainlySundanese people. Sundanese language is spoken as the first language and is
commonly used as informal language for communication in streets, school, campus, work
and markets, while Indonesian - Indonesia's national language and a lingua franca among
its many ethnic units - is used as a second language and the language of government,

36
businesses, and instruction at schools.

A popular traditional musical instrument is angklung, made of parallel bamboo tubes tuned
to specific frequencies with a hammer and is shaken to produce certain notes. Music is
performed by a choir of angklung players, each of whom are responsible for sounding
certain notes. Its melody is only slightly different from that of Central
Java's gamelan ensembles.

Tourism industry

Bandung has served for popular weekend-break destination for people living in Jakarta for
many reasons. The cooler climate of highland plantation area, the varieties of food, the
cheaper fashion shops located in factory outlets and distros, golf courses, and the
friendliness of local people have become the main attraction of the city. [24]

Denim store, Cihampelas Street

In the 1990s, local designers opened denim clothing stores along Cihampelas Street which
gave Bandung another nickname, the "Tourist Shopping City" (Kota Wisata Belanja). It was
a success as the-then residential street had been fully transformed into a "jeans street". The
city attracts people from other big cities to buy local fashion wears, as they are cheaper
than branded items.[25]

The Martabak

The city gained more shoppers to come when textile factories in the outskirt of Bandung
opened a fashion store that sells their products directly from the factory. The products are
tagged as sisa export (rejected or over-produced export quality items) and these shops are

37
called factory outlets. The trend was followed by another factory outlets. [26]

Transport
Bandung can be accessed through 4 highways from Jakarta. An intercity toll highway,
named as Cipularang toll road, connecting Jakarta, Karawang, Purwakarta, Padalarang and
Bandung, has recently been completed in May 2005. It is currently the fastest way to go to
Bandung from the capital. Driving time is about 1.5 hours on average. There are 3 other
options: the Puncak route (Jakarta-Cianjur/Sukabumi-Bandung), Purwakarta route (Jakarta-
Cikampek-Purwakarta-Cikalong Wetan-Padalarang-Cimahi-Bandung) and the Subang route
(Jakarta-Cikampek-Subang-Lembang-Bandung). From eastern part of the
cities(Cirebon, Tasikmalaya and Central Java province), Bandung can be accessed through
the main provincial road.

The Pasupati bridge recently opened to the public, relieving traffic jams in the city for east-
west transport. The 2.8 km cable-stayed bridge lies through the valley of Cikapundung. It is
30 to 60 metres wide and after extensive delays, its construction finally completed in June
2005, following financial investment from Kuwait.[27] The bridge is part of Bandung's
comprehensive inner-city highways plan.

Taxis are widely available. The primary means of public transportation is by minibus,

called angkot (from angkutan=transportation and kota=city). They serve certain routes
throughout the city and are operated privately. To find exact angkot routes, information are
available through the drivers or at terminals. City-owned buses, called DAMRI, operates on
larger relatively long routes. Bandung has 2 intercity bus terminals: Leuwipanjang, serving
buses from the west, and Cicaheum, serving buses from the east.

Bandung Husein Sastranegara International Airport serves direct flights

to Batam, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Denpasar, Palembang and Padang and also international
services from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Changi Airport. The airport is located nearby
the Dirgantara aerospace complex and Dirgantara Fairground.

Railway connects Bandung

to Cianjur, Jakarta, Purwakarta, Bekasi, Karawang and Cikampek to the west,
and Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Solo to the east. It is also the major means of transportation
for people living in suburb areas
of Cimahi, Padalarang, Rancaekek, Cicalengka and Cileunyi.
Science and education
There are hundreds of public and private schools in Bandung. Like in other Indonesian
cities, Bandung has several state-funded and administered junior high and high schools,

38
called State Junior High Schools (SMP Negeri) and State High Schools (SMA Negeri),
respectively. At least sixteen universities — three of which are state-owned universities —
and 45professional schools are scattered throughout the city. Education from social
sciences, technology until tourism education can be found in one of those universities.

Among the several universities located in Bandung, Institut Teknologi Telkom (Telkom

Institute of Technology), Institut Teknologi Bandung (Bandung Institute of
Technology), Universitas Padjadjaran (Padjadjaran University), Parahyangan Catholic
University, and Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (Indonesia University of Education) also
Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati (Sunan Gunung Djati Islamic State
University), Politeknik Negeri Bandung (Bandung State Polytechnic) and Politeknik
Manufaktur Bandung (Bandung Manufacture Polytechnic) are considered among the best
universities in their respective fields of specialty in Indonesia. Established 1920, Institut
Teknologi Bandung is Indonesia's oldest and most prestigious technical
university. Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (formerly IKIP Bandung, established in 1954)
is one of the first institutions of higher education established after Indonesian independence
and is currently a leading education university in the country. Universitas
Padjadjaran (established in 1956) is considered to be one of the best universities in the
country in the fields of medical, law, communication, and economic studies.

In the north of Bandung, Bosscha Observatory is the only observatory in Indonesia.

Construction of the observatory began in 1923 and was completed in 1928. In 1922, the first
international publication from Bosscha Observatory was published and in 1959, the
observatory was included as a part of the department of astronomy in the Institut Teknologi
Bandung (Bandung Institute of Technology).

Economy

Fresh products at a market in Bandung

Bandung economy is mainly built upon tourism, manufacturing, textile/apparel, education

institutions, technology, retail, services, plantation/agriculture, financial, pharmaceutical,
food, among others. Those are the major investments and most popular fields/industries

39
being sought here.[22]

Bandung has nearly 50 higher educational institutions and is among the most popular
destination for education in Indonesia. Creative-based culture has shaped the basis of
Bandung economy. The once quiet residential district of Dago has become an important
business and entertainment centre. Chic cafes and restaurants are spreading out along
Dago Street. In the early 1990s Cihampelas Street became a popular clothing store
location.

The distro sell stylish non-trademarked products, made by local designers. Books, indie

label records, magazines, fashion products and other accessories are typical distro
products. After their products receive large teenagers attention, then these local designers
make their own clothing company. Now, there are more than 200 local brand names in
Bandung. Distro distance itself from factory outlet in term of its philosophy. Distros come
from individual designers and young entrepreneurs, while factory outlet products come from
a garment factory.

Environmental issues

A mountain of trash at Pagarish Street

The north of the city serves as a water reservoir for Bandung's 2 million people, however,
the area has seen much residential development. Several attempts to reserve this area
have been made, including the creation of reserves, such as the Juanda National Park and
Puncrut, but the development continues. The real danger has come in the form of several
floodings in Bandung's south.[29]

In the middle of 2006, Bandung faced another environmental disaster, as the city's land fill
site was reevaluated after a landslide in 2005.[30]Collection of 8,000 m3/day domestic
garbage piled up, causing air pollution, spreading of diseases, and water contamination.
The provincial government eventually stepped in to solve the garbage issues

Bandung, the capital of West Java province, located about 180 kilometres (110 mi)
southeast of Jakarta, is the third largest city in Indonesia. Its elevation is 768 metres (2,520

40
ft) above sea level and is surrounded by up to 2,400 m (7,874 ft) high Late
[1]
Tertiary and Quarternary volcanic terrain.  The 400 km² flat of central Bandung plain is
situated in the middle of 2,340.88 km² wide of the Bandung Basin; the basin comprises
Bandung, the Cimahi city, part of Bandung Regency, part of West Bandung Regency, and
part of Sumedang Regency.[2] The basin's main river is the Citarum; one of its branches,
the Cikapundung, divides Bandung from north to south before it merges with Citarum again
in Dayeuhkolot. The Bandung Basin is an important source of water for drinking water,
irrigation and fisheries, and its 6,147 million m³ of groundwater is a major reservoir for the
city.[2]

The northern part of the city is hillier than the rest; the distinguished truncated flat-peak
shape of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano (Tangkuban Perahu literally means 'up-turned
boat') can be seen from the city to the north. Long-term volcanic activity has created
fertile andisol soil in the north, suitable for
intensive rice, fruit, tea, tobacco and coffee plantations. In the south and east, alluvial soils
deposited by the Cikapundung river are mostly found.

Geological data shows that the Bandung Basin is located on an ancient volcano, known as
Mount Sunda, erected up to 3,000–4,000 metres (9,850–13,100 ft) during
[3]
the Pleistoceneage.  Two large scale eruptions took place; the first formed the basin and
the other (est. 55,000 Before Present) blocked the Citarum river, turning the basin into a
lake known as "the Great Lake of Bandung".[4] The lake drained away; the reason for which
is the subject of ongoing debate among geologists. [5][6]

Due to its elevation, the climate in Bandung is cooler than most Indonesian cities and can
be classified as humid; the average temperature is 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) throughout the year.
[7]
 The average annual rainfall ranges from 1,000 millimetres in the central and southeast
regions to 3,500 millimetres in the north of the city. [2] The wet season conforms with other
Indonesian regions, around November to April.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Temperature (°C) 23.9 23.3 23.4 24.1 24.2 23.5 22.9 23.4 23.6 23.7 23.7 23.7 23.6
(°F) 75.0 73.9 74.1 75.4 75.6 74.3 73.2 74.1 74.5 74.7 74.7 74.7 74.5

Precipitation (mm 265.
72.1 365.0 136.0 117.7 37.4 40.5 74.7 76.3 314.2 185.9 197.2 1182.6
) 6

Evaporation (mm) 3.7 2.9 3.2 3.0 3.4 3.3 3.7 3.9 3.7 3.2 2.5 2.7 3.3

41
Rel. humidity (%) 75 82 82 78 75 71 67 69 71 77 80 81 76

921. 923.
Air pressure (mb) 922.5 922.2 921.9 921.9 922.3 922.8 922.5 922.6 922.0 922.1 922.3
7 0

Source: Bandung Dalam Angka (Bandung in Numbers), 2003.[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

42