Xpatulator FAQs

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How do I create an account?

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How do I subscribe?

• Once you have signed up as a user, you can subscribe to our premium content calculators and receive your reports online within seconds.
• Click on the "Subscribe" button and select the subscription option that best fits your requirements.

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Xpatulator Calculators

Basic Salary Purchasing Power Parity (BSPPP) - Free Calculator

• Our (Basic) Salary Purchasing Power Parity calculator is free to the public.
• This calculator allows a user to calculate a basic conversion of actual salary being earned from Home to Host Location, without the additional details contained in the SPPP report.

Salary Purchasing Power Parity (SPPP) Report Calculator

• The SPPP calculator allows you to calculate an equivalent salary, when moving to a city in another location, whereby the salary is adjusted for cost of living variances between the two to ensure the same standard of living.
• This calculator is recommended if you are an organisation planning to relocate an employee to an international location, or an individual with a job offer in another country, use the current home location salary to calculate the equivalent host location salary in terms of purchasing power.

International Assignment Management (IAM) Calculator

• The IAM calculator sets out clear guidelines to make an international assignee/expatriate's transfer fair and financially viable, taking cognisance of the reward structure and market dynamics of the home and host country. The calculations use the build-up / balance sheet / home-based approach and include hypothetical tax, cost of living index, hardship premium, exchange rate, expatriation premium, benchmark housing allowance and benchmark transport allowance.
• The objective is to ensure consistent equitable treatment and benefits for all expatriate assignees and have a user-friendly reward structure to provide seamless coverage for different family scenarios. This calculator is recommended for the calculation of the compensation and benefits for a typical expatriate assignment of six months up to five years duration using your choice of home and host location.
• The International Assignment Management (IAM) Report sets out clear guidelines to make an international assignee/expatriate's transfer fair and financially viable, taking cognisance of the reward structure and market dynamics of the home and host country.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Calculator

• The COLA calculator calculates how much additional allowance (over and above the current salary) an individual needs to earn in another location to compensate for a higher cost of living, a greater degree of hardship and the ruling arbitrage exchange rate, in order to have the same relative spending power and as a result have a similar standard of living as experienced in the home location.
• This calculator is recommended for calculating a cost of living allowance for short-term assignments and a detailed cost of living comparison basket by basket.

Cost of Living Index (COLI) Calculator

• The COLI calculator calculates cost of living indices for the host locations you select using the home location you specify. You can choose from any one of the 13 baskets, or you can choose the overall cost of living index.
• This calculator is recommended for the calculation of 3 or more host location cost of living indices using your choice of home base city.
• It is typically used by multinational organisations with operations in several international locations for use in managing international assignments.

Additional Features

Arbitrage Exchange Rate Tool

• The Xpatulator Arbitrage exchange rate tool helps individuals or businesses convert the value of one currency into another at the prevailing exchange rate. Exchange rates represent the value of one currency in terms of another and can fluctuate based on various economic factors, market conditions, and geopolitical events. Current and future exchange rates incorporate interest rate differentials between 2 currencies. Large interest rate differentials may result in a temporary imbalance in exchange rates.
• Due to these factors, Xpatulator makes use of an arbitrage exchange rate rather than the ruling exchange rate. Arbitrage is the practice of taking advantage of a price difference between two or more markets. The Xpatulator Arbitrage Exchange Rate calculates each currency against a single currency in order to ensure that any temporary price differences that may occur are negated. This data is updated daily.

Hypothetical Personal Income Tax Tool

• The Xpatulator Hypothetical Personal Income Tax Tool is designed to estimate the amount of income tax an individual might owe based on various hypothetical scenarios.
• Users can input varying levels of income to see how these changes would impact their potential tax liability. It's a useful tool for individuals to explore different financial scenarios and plan their finances accordingly. Keep in mind that this calculator is for estimation purposes only, and the actual tax liability may vary based on the specific tax laws and regulations applicable in a given jurisdiction.

Technical Cost of Living (COL) Information

What is Cost of Living?

• Cost of Living is the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living.
• When comparing the cost of living between different locations the objective is to calculate the difference in the COL expressed as an index (e.g. dividing the cost of living in Location A by the cost of living in Location B may result in an index of 140). A Cost of Living Index (COLI) indicates the difference in the cost of living between the two locations.
• In this example the index of 140 means that Location A is 40% more expensive than Location B. This would mean that a person who moves from Location B to Location A would need to earn 40% more, to have the same standard of living as they currently have in Location A.

What role does the exchange rate play in the Cost of Living?

• The exchange rate between two currencies specifies how much one currency is worth in terms of the other. The currency that is worth less will generally have a lower cost of living relative to the currency that is worth more, however imported goods and services will have a higher cost of living.
• Most countries have a free-floating exchange rate. This means that its exchange rate is allowed to vary against that of other currencies, determined by the market forces of supply and demand.
• Exchange rates usually change almost constantly as quoted on the financial markets, around the world. Exchange rates change whenever the values of either currencies change.
• A currency tends to be more valuable when demand is greater than supply (i.e. when a large amount of that currency is sought after for purchase). A currency tends to be less valuable when demand is less than supply (i.e. when very little of that currency is required for purchase. This typically occurs when the majority prefer holding their wealth in some other form, possibly in another currency).
• Current and future exchange rates incorporate interest rate differentials between two currencies. Large interest rate differentials may result in a temporary imbalance in exchange rates.
• Due to these factors, Xpatulator makes use of an arbitrage exchange rate rather than the ruling exchange rate. Arbitrage is the practice of taking advantage of a price difference between two or more markets. The Xpatulator Arbitrage Exchange Rate calculates each currency against a single currency to ensure that any temporary price differences that may occur are negated. This data is updated dynamically.

Why is the Cost of Living Index (COLI) different in every location?

• The Cost of Living Index values are different because prices are different from one location to the next due to many factors such as the cost of production, level of wages, demand, supply, and the strength or weakness of the exchange rate.
• When comparing the cost of living between two locations the difference in the aggregate cost of the selected basket groups are examined in each location using the average reported price in each location for the same quantity of each item.
• The average prices are different from one location to the next due to many factors such as the cost of production, level of wages, demand, supply, and the strength or weakness of the exchange rate.
• Cost of living is the relative differential in the local cost of the basket groups and the ruling exchange rate between the two selected locations.
• When comparing the cost of living between different locations the objective is to calculate the difference in the cost of living expressed as an index (e.g. dividing the cost of living in Location A by the cost of living in Location B may result in an index of 140).
• The cost of living index indicates the difference in the cost of living between the two locations. In the above example the index of 140 means that Location A is 40% more expensive than Location B. This would mean that a person who moves from Location B to Location A would need to earn 40% more, to have the same standard of living in Location A as they have currently.

Basket Groups

What are basket groups?

• The 13 Xpatulator basket groups are the result of extensive research of actual expat spending habits, this allows the cost of living indices to reflect a reality-based international expenditure pattern.
• When comparing the cost of living between two locations, the difference in the aggregate cost of all the items in each of the 13 basket groups are examined in each location, this is done by using the average reported price in each location for the same quantity of each item.
• Cost of living is the relative differential of the local cost of the basket groups and the ruling exchange rate between the two selected locations.
• The 13 different basket groups are weighted according to Expatriate expenditure norms.

What do the Xpatulator Basket Groups cover?

Alcohol and Tobacco Basket (Weight=2%)

• Cigarettes (International Brand Pack of 20)
• Cigarettes (International Brand Pack of 30)
• International Beer from a shop (330ml)
• International Beer from a Shop (500ml)
• Locally Produced Spirit at Bar (1 Glass Double Tot)
• Locally Produced Spirit a shop (1 Bottle)
• Whiskey at Bar (1 Glass Double Tot)
• Whiskey from a shop (1 Bottle)
• Wine (mid-range) at Bar (1 Glass)
• Wine (mid range) from a shop (1 Bottle)

Clothing Basket (Weight=2.4%)

• Business Suit (1 men's suit)
• Business Suit (1 women's suit)
• Business Jacket or Blazer (1 men's)
• Business Jacket (1 women's)
• Casual Long Sleeve Shirt (1 men's)
• Casual Jeans (1 men's)
• Casual Blouse (1 women's)
• Casual Summer Dress (1 women's)
• Children's Jeans (1 pair aged 10-12)
• Children's Skirt (1 pair aged 10-12)
• Children's Boys Shoes (1 pair)
• Children's Girls Shoes (1 pair)
• Coat (1 men's outdoor)
• Coat (1 women's outdoor)
• Evening Wear (1 men's suit)
• Evening Wear (1 women's suit)
• Hat (1 men's outdoor)
• Hat (1 women's outdoor)
• Shoes (international brand of running shoes)
• Shoes (office leather shoes)
• Underwear (1 men's boxer shorts)
• Underwear (1 women's Brassiere)

Communication Basket (Weight=2%)

• Monthly Phone Rental Charge (1 Domestic Landline)
• Internet Subscription Fixed Line (1 Month Standard Plan)
• Mobile Tariff (1 Minute Standard Rate)
• Mobile Data Rate (1 Meg Standard Rate)

Education Basket (Weight=5%)

• Annual Creche/Preschool Fees (International; Private; Excluding Extras)
• Annual Primary School Fees (International; Private; Excluding Extras)
• Annual High School Fees (International; Private; Excluding Extras)
• Annual First Year Tertiary/University Fees (International; Private; Excluding Extras)

Furniture and Appliances Basket (Weight=5%)

• Dining Table and 6 Chairs (Executive)
• Home Entertainment Blu-ray Player (Sony BDP-S270 Blu-ray Player or Equivalent)
• Home Entertainment Television (46' LED HD TV)
• Kitchen Appliances Fridge Freezer (Large Double Door)
• Kitchen Appliances Iron (1 Clothing Hand Steamer Iron)
• Kitchen Appliances Light Bulb (Energy Saver e.g. 11w=60w)
• Kitchen Appliances Microwave (Medium Sized)
• Kitchen Appliances Toaster (2 Slice Toaster)
• Kitchen Appliances Vacuum Cleaner (Household Carpet Vacuum Cleaner)
• Kitchen Appliances Washing Machine (Automatic Washing Machine)
• Kitchen Appliances Kettle (Standard Electric Kettle)
• Sofa / Lounge Suite (6 Seater; Leather)

Groceries Basket (Weight=16.5%)

• Baby Consumables (Powdered Milk Formula)
• Baby Consumables (Pureed Baby Food)
• Baked Goods (Packet Plain Biscuits)
• Baked Goods (500g Loaf of Brown Bread)
• Baked Goods (500g Loaf of White Bread)
• Baking (1kg Cake Flour)
• Baking (12 Large Eggs)
• Baking (1kg Sugar)
• Canned Foods (1 Tin Baked Beans)
• Canned Foods (1 Tin Fruit Salad)
• Canned Foods (1 Tin Meat Balls)
• Canned Foods (1 Tin Soup)
• Canned Foods (1 Tin Tuna)
• Cleaning Products (1 kg Automatic Clothes Washing Powder)
• Cleaning Products (1 Litre Dish-Washing Liquid)
• Cleaning Products (1 Litre Window Cleaning Liquid)
• Dairy (1kg Breakfast Cereal)
• Dairy (250g Butter)
• Dairy (1 kg Standard Cheese e.g. Cheddar)
• Dairy (1 Dozen Large Eggs)
• Dairy (1 Litre Full Cream Milk)
• Fresh Fruits (1 kg Bananas)
• Fresh Fruits (1kg Green Apples)
• Fresh Fruits (1 kg Oranges)
• Fresh Vegetables (1 Head Lettuce)
• Fresh Vegetables (1kg Potatoes/Rice/Pasta)
• Fresh Vegetables (1kg Tomatoes)
• Fruit Juices (1 Litre Apple Juice)
• Fruit Juices (1 Litre Orange Juice)
• Frozen (1kg Mixed Vegetables)
• Frozen (1kg Peas)
• Meat (1kg Beef Steak)
• Meat (1kg Leg Lamb)
• Meat (1kg Minced Beef)
• Meat (1kg Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Breast)
• Meat (1kg Whole Chicken)
• Oil & Vinegars (1 Litre Cooking Oil)
• Oil & Vinegars (1 Litre Olive Oil)
• Pet Food (2kg Dry Cat Food)
• Pet Food (5kg Dry Dog Food)
• Pre-prepared Meals (1 Frozen Meal e.g. Lasagne)
• Sauces (500ml Jam/Marmalade)
• Sauces (500ml Tomato Ketchup)
• Sauces (500ml Soy Sauce)
• Seafood (1kg Calamari)
• Seafood (1kg Fresh Fish)
• Seafood (1kg Frozen Fish)
• Snacks (100g Bar Chocolate)
• Snacks (250g Salted Peanuts)
• Soft Drinks/Non-Alc Bev (1 Can Coke)
• Soft Drinks/Non-Alc Bev (1 Litre Carbonated/Fizzy Cola)
• Soft Drinks/Non-Alc Bev (1 Litre Carbonated/Fizzy Soft Drink)
• Soft Drinks/Non-Alc Bev (1.5 Litre Natural Mineral Water)
• Soft Drinks/Non-Alc Bev (250g Tea Bags)
• Soft Drinks/Non-Alc Bev (500g Instant Coffee)
• Soft Drinks/Non-Alc Bev (500g Ground Coffee)
• Spices & Herbs (250g Pepper)
• Spices & Herbs (250g Salt)

Healthcare Basket (Weight=5%)

• Private Practice Doctor Visit for Uninsured Patient
• Private Hospital stay per day including nursing care, medications, diagnostic tests, food, and related costs
• Non-Prescription Medicine (1 Bottle Cough Mixture)
• Non-Prescription Medicine (1 Box Plasters)
• Non-Prescription Medicine (30 Multivitamins)
• Non-Prescription Medicine (1 Tube Anti-Inflammatory)
• Non-Prescription Medicine (1 Tube Anti-Septic Ointment)
• Private Medical Insurance/Medical Aid (Contribution Member+1)

Household Accommodation Basket (Weight=30%)

• Apartment Purchase (Per M2 Central Location)
• Apartment Purchase (Per M2 Central Suburban)
• Mortgage (Annual Interest Rate)
• Rental Secure Upmarket Unfurnished Apartment Excluding Utilities (1 Bedroom Central Location)
• Rental Secure Upmarket Unfurnished Apartment Excluding Utilities (1 Bedroom Suburban Location)
• Rental Secure Upmarket Unfurnished Apartment Excluding Utilities (3 Bedroom Central Location)
• Rental Secure Upmarket Unfurnished Apartment Excluding Utilities (3 Bedroom Suburban Location)
• Rental Secure Upmarket Unfurnished House/Villa Excluding Utilities (4 Bedroom Central Location)
• Rental Secure Upmarket Unfurnished House/Villa Excluding Utilities (4 Bedroom Suburban Location)
• Utilities (Power, Water, Garbage & Local Tax for 1 Bedroom Apartment)

Miscellaneous Basket (Weight=3%)

• Domestic Help (1 Hour Part Time Salary)
• Domestic Help (1 Months Full Time Salary)
• Dry Cleaning (1 Men's 2 Piece Suit)
• Dry Cleaning (1 Men's Leather Jacket)
• Dry Cleaning (1 Women's Sued Jacket)
• Dry Cleaning (1 Women's Suit)
• Linen (1 Duvet for Single Bed)
• Linen (1 Large Bath Towel)
• Linen (1 Sheet for Single Bed)
• Newspapers and Magazines (1 International Daily Newspaper)
• Newspapers and Magazines (1 International Magazine)
• Newspapers and Magazines (1 Local Daily Newspaper)
• Newspapers and Magazines (1 Local Magazine)
• Office Supplies (1 Black Inkjet Printer Cartridge)
• Office Supplies (1 Colour Inkjet Printer Cartridge)
• Office Supplies (1 Pack of 500 sheets of fine printer paper)
• Postage Stamps (1 International Airmail Stamp - Short-haul)
• Postage Stamps (1 Local Domestic Stamp)

Personal Care Basket (Weight=3%)

• Cosmetics (1 Blush Compact)
• Cosmetics (1 Lipstick)
• Haircare (1 Men's Cut and Blow Dry)
• Haircare (1 Women's Cut and Blow Dry)
• Toiletries (100ml Hair Conditioner)
• Toiletries (100ml Hair Shampoo)
• Toiletries (250g Bar of Soap)
• Toiletries Moisturiser/Sun Block (250ml Moisturising Body Lotion)
• Toiletries Moisturiser/Sun Block (50ml Factor 30 Sunblock)
• Toiletries Nappies (Disposable Nappies)
• Toiletries Nappies (Wetwipes)
• Toiletries Pain Relief Tablets (24 Tablets)
• Toiletries Toilet Paper (1 Roll Double Ply)
• Toiletries Toilet Paper (1 Roll Single Ply)
• Toiletries Toothpaste (1 Tube Toothpaste)

Recreation and Culture Basket (Weight=6%)

• Books (1 New Paperback - Fiction)
• Cinema 1 Adult Ticket (latest release international (average of on and off peak where applicable)
• Sport (1 Hour Tennis Court Hire)
• Sport (1 Month International Gym Membership for 1 Person)
• Sport (1 Round of Golf - Green Fees)
• Theatre Ticket (1 Ticket to Evening Theatre Show)

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels Basket (Weight=2%)

• Hotel Rates (3 Star Daily Rate in City Hotel)
• Hotel Rates (4 Star Daily Rate in City Hotel)
• Hotel Rates (5 Star Daily Rate in City Hotel)
• Restaurant (Meal Out for 1 Inexpensive Excl Alcohol)
• Restaurant (Meal Out for 2 Mid-Range Excl Alcohol)
• Restaurant Burger Meal (International Franchise or similar)
• Restaurant Business Dinner (3 Courses for 2 at 5 Star Hotel Excl Alcohol)
• Restaurant Cappuccino (Regular, Medium)
• Take Away (1 Medium Sized Pizza)
• Take Away (1 Toasted Sandwich)
• Take Away (330 ml Water))
• Take Away (Coke/Pepsi (330ml)

Transport Basket (Weight=18%)

• Hire Purchase/Lease of Vehicle (Sedan Monthly Payment Only)
• Petrol/Diesel (1 Litre Premium Unleaded Petrol)
• Petrol/Diesel (1 Litre Premium Diesel)
• Public Transport (1 Bus Ticket 2 Stops City Centre)
• Public Transport (Taxi Start Normal Tariff)
• Public Transport (Taxi 1 Hour Standard Tariff)
• Public Transport (Monthly Pass (Central))
• Service Maintenance (Sedan Annual Maintenance)
• Tyres (1 Imported Sedan Tyre)
• Vehicle Insurance (Sedan Monthly Insurance)
• Vehicle Purchase (Price Volvo XC90 Manual New)
• Vehicle Purchase (Price Subcompact/Small / Economy (VW Golf 1.4 or Equivalent)

Tax

What is Hypothetical Tax?

• The concept of hypothetical tax involves calculating the amount of tax an expatriate would have hypothetically paid in their home location. This calculation is done to determine the net assignment salary, which is the salary after deducting the hypothetical tax. The home net assignment salary is obtained by subtracting the home hypothetical tax from the home assignment salary. This net salary is then adjusted for differences in the cost of living and hardship, using the hypothetical tax, to arrive at the net assignment salary.
• The purpose of this approach is to ensure that employees are not financially disadvantaged or advantaged due to variations in tax rates in different countries (tax equalization).
• The Xpatulator International Assignment Management Calculator takes into account hypothetical tax in both the host and home countries.

Is tax part of the Xpatulator Report Calculators?

• Income Tax on Salaries is taken into account in the calculators.
• The prices collected in each location already include the applicable mandatory sales taxes. The objective is to determine the total price of all goods and services, as it would apply to a typical expatriate living in each location. This can take various forms, such as VAT, GST, etc.
• The salary used in the calculator is the salary entered by the person running the report. the calculator will provide both the gross and net salary.

Data collection and methodology

How often is the Xpatulator information updated?

The prices of goods and services, cost of living indexes, and hardship / quality of living data are updated on a quarterly basis by Xpatulator Analysts (1 January; 1 April; 1 July; 1 October). Exchange rates and inflation data is updated daily.

What is hardship / quality of living?

Hardship / Quality of Living refers to the relative difference an expatriate and their family are likely to experience and the relative impact on their lifestyle when moving between different locations. Xpatulator's hardship ranking system measures the relative quality of living in each location, and assesses the level of difficulty that will be experienced in adapting to each location.

Hardship factors include-:

• Economic Factors: Such as poverty levels and level of service provision.
• Political Factors: Such as freedom / tolerance towards different points of view / lifestyle.
• Religious Factors: Such as freedom / tolerance towards different religions.
• Public Service Factors: Such as provision of water, electricity, sanitation, work permits etc.
• Environment/Climate Factors: Such as extreme weather.
• Personal Safety Factors: Such as personal safety / level of crime.
• Health Factors: Such as prevalence of disease and health standards.
• Education Factors: Such as education standards, prevalence of international schools.
• Transportation Factors: Such as prevalence of public transport, fuel and road safety.

In assessing how much to pay an expatriate, it is important to take into account the relative hardship, in terms of quality of living conditions between locations, and assess the relative level of difficulty that will be experienced in adapting to a new location.

What methodology is used for the Cost of Living Index Data?

• The Xpatulator methodology for cost of living indices is a dynamic process. The prices for goods and services and cost of living indices are collected, calculated and uploaded continually.
• The collected data (from more than 50 sources) comprises the local prices for goods and services applicable to expatriates, converted to USD at the time the data is collected.
• The goods and services have been grouped together into categories (baskets) and the cost calculated for each basket in each location. Furthermore, these baskets have been weighted based on extensive research of actual, senior, expatriate spending habits.
• As a result, the cost of living comparisons are applicable to internationally mobile senior staff such as specialists, professionals, managers and executives.