>Jordan,
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>>cost of the food(according pice in hypermarket) is almost the same.
>
>Yes, the price of can with CocaCola is about the same in the whole world, but there are many other, more important things. The living cost may vary very widely even in the same country. For example, with the relatively low housing cost in Russia the price of new housing in prestige region of Moscow may be as high as $10,000 per one sq.meter with total price up to $4,000,000.
>

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Just wanted to throw my two cents into the discussion....

I know that everyone's been mentioning the cost of living, and the fact that you need to plan accordingly and charge accordingly for your needs. But there's a supply-side factor, too -- companies are more or less willing to pay different amounts depending on their geographic location. This is due of course to the cost of living, as well as competition, etc., but it's important to point it out. Don't just figure out what you need to survive in your city/town/country, but try to learn as well what the companies are used to paying. Also, the type of business will matter a good deal, so take that into account. Otherwise, you may end up charging lower than you could have.

For instance, in New York City, where I live, the cost of living is quite high. But, many companies I have worked with are used to paying much higher rates than elsewhere in the country. In addition, a financial services client could pay a lot more than a small non-profit.