Insights And Experience

A Carrefour parking lot in Saint-Denis, Reunion. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Eugene Kobiako.

A fascinating mélange of French and Creole cultures

This past quarter I surveyed Saint-Denis, Reunion, an isolated island that was a fascinating mélange of French and Creole cultures. Reunion Island is an overseas department and region of France located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius. Its capital and economic center is Saint-Denis. Since Reunion is officially part of France, everything functions on the island almost exactly like it does in mainland France.

A mall in Astana, Kazakhstan as seen during an AIRINC cost of living survey. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Oscar Rasson.

A Cost of Living Survey in a digital world

At AIRINC, technology allows our dedicated survey staff to collect data and monitor changes through telephone and online research in conjunction with on-site surveys. We collect a wider range of data more efficiently using this multi-pronged approach, and by using an in-house research survey team, we collect the most objective, consistent pricing data.

A screenshot from a phone app for transportation in Jakarta, Indonesia. Here, the number provided connects the app payment method to a taxi hailed from the street. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Yimkwan Tsang.

Taxis vs Rideshares in Jakarta

Rideshare companies are having an impact in Jakarta, a city where traffic is ever present and getting around can be challenging. While it is common for expatriates to have a car and driver here, taxi and rideshare companies are innovating ways to capture expatriate clientele.

One of many alerts posted around the V&A Waterfront Mall in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Eugene Kobiako.

Update on the Water Crisis

AIRINC’s onsite Surveyors investigate topics of international interest, including hardship situations. My colleague, Yimkwan Tsang, wrote about the water crisis in Cape Town after her February 2018 survey. At that time, Cape Town was expected to run out of water as early as June. However, this event, known as Day Zero, kept getting pushed back. 

City view of Doha, Qatar. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Samuel Pearl Schwartz.

Increased Incentives, Availability 

With the continuing diplomatic blockade, more expatriates are leaving than arriving in Doha. In addition to dropping rents, some landlords are offering incentives on one-year leases, such as one to three months of free rent on twelve-month leases.

A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait during an AIRINC cost-of-living survey.

Tobacco, Alcohol, and Rising Inflation

In Q4 2017 we reported on the emergence of sin taxes across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Aerial view of Guyana en route to the capital city, Georgetown. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Rose Allen.

Guyana and the Discovery of Vast Oil Deposits

During our recent survey quarter, I traveled to Georgetown, Guyana. Flying over Guyana I was struck by its rural feel and dense forests. From the air, it looked like the most untouched land I’d ever seen, and I later learned that roughly 80% of Guyana is rainforest.

Hundreds of housing units to choose from:

The rental housing market in Abu Dhabi is coming steadily down due to the high number of quality new properties that have come on the market, as well as fewer expatriate arrivals.