
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 8, 1995                   TAG: 9506080082
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: GENEVA                                LENGTH: Medium

GOT BUCKS? THEN YOU'LL LIKE TOKYO

Tokyo tops the most expensive cities in the world for those who pay in dollars, while U.S. and Canadian cities have become cheaper this year, according to a survey published Wednesday.

Mexico City, which ranked in the middle of the ratings a year ago, plummeted to the bottom rank of 125 because of the collapse of the peso, said Corporate Resources Group, a Geneva-based consulting company.

It said the gap between the most- and the least-expensive cities had widened considerably in two years, hitting 249 percent compared with 186 percent in 1993.

With New York serving as base of 100, Tokyo had an index of 220, followed by Osaka, Japan, at 206. The next six places were held by European cities - Zurich, Switzerland; Geneva; Oslo, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; Vienna, Austria; and Moscow.

Moscow, which ranked third last year, dropped to eighth.

Libreville, Gabon, was the only Third World city in the top 10. Lagos, Nigeria, fell to 122nd from 11th last year because of a major currency adjustment.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, at 17th, was the highest ranked city in the Western Hemisphere.

New York was 53rd this year, down from 35th a year ago. Chicago was 72nd and Los Angeles 78th, while Miami, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., tied for 80th. Boston and Houston tied for 92nd, Detroit was 97th, and Pittsburgh ranked 101st.

Other U.S. cities included Cleveland and Seattle, tied for 105th, St. Louis at 108th, Atlanta at 110th.

Toronto also was ranked 110th, the most expensive Canadian city. Others included Montreal at 114, Vancouver at 115 and Calgary at 119.

Beijing, 11, and Shanghai, 26, showed the largest increase in Asia over the past year.

Corporate Resources Group said its survey was conducted simultaneously in all 125 cities during the first week of March, using currency exchange rates in effect at the time, when the dollar was near historic lows.

It was based on a market basket of 155 products, including food, alcohol, tobacco, domestic supplies and services, personal care, clothing and shoes, utilities, transportation, sports and home entertainment.

Housing and schooling were excluded.

by CNB