 "Mumbai, Delhi are cheapest cities, but conditions apply")
“Mumbai, Delhi among world’s cheapest cities to live,” said a headline in the Economic Times. If you live in Mumbai or Delhi, you were stunned by the headline. However, it’s true, so read on. [caption id=“attachment_615610” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
 The cheapest but not for all. AFP[/caption] “Financial capitals of India and Pakistan -Mumbai and Karachi - were the cheapest cities in the world to live followed by New Delhi, according to a new survey… the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) worldwide cost of living index found…The EIU found that Mumbai shared the top ranking with Karachi in the survey based on costs of over 160 items ranging from transport, utilities, food and clothing,”
said the story. “Mumbai, Delhi among world’s cheapest cities: Economist Intelligence Unit,” said the Indian Express headline, with the copy virtually parroting the Economic Times story. Readers were incredulous, it seems. https://twitter.com/PritishNandy/status/299030931463892993 https://twitter.com/SachinKalbag/status/298984793226485760 https://twitter.com/ancheeeee/status/299011769127563265 https://twitter.com/kiranmanral/status/299003735672238080 What the ET and the IE seem to have missed are the qualifying statements that the EIU makes. Interestingly, the table accompanying the ET story, unlike the story itself, takes note of the qualifying statements. Here’s the table from the ET story (article continues below):
Are Mumbai and Delhi, the cheapest global cities to live in? Maybe, but you should read the fine print first.
Anant Rangaswami was, until recently, the editor of Campaign India magazine, of which Anant was also the founding editor. Campaign India is now arguably India's most respected publication in the advertising and media space. Anant has over 20 years experience in media and advertising. He began in Madras, for STAR TV, moving on as Regional Manager, South for Sony’s SET and finally as Chief Manager at BCCL’s Times Television and Times FM. He then moved to advertising, rising to the post of Associate Vice President at TBWA India. Anant then made the leap into journalism, taking over as editor of what is now Campaign India's competitive publication, Impact. Anant teaches regularly and is a prolific blogger and author of Watching from the sidelines. see more
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