Timor-Leste, Dili

Overview

Timor-Leste, Dili Dili is the capital and largest city of Timor-Leste/East Timor. Dili is the chief port and commercial centre for Timor-Leste/East Timor.

Timor-Leste/East Timor is in South Eastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste/East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco. The climate is tropical, hot and humid with distinct rainy and dry seasons.

The official languages are Tetum and Portuguese. Indonesian and English are used in business and as working languages. The main religion is Christianity.

The economy of Timor-Leste/East Timor is one of the world's poorest, in part due to decades of both neglect and misaligned economic priorities under Portuguese and subsequent Indonesian administration.

Timor-Leste/East Timor is a conservative society, diverse in terms of languages, culture and religion. English is mostly used in business. Expatriate business dress is conservative, typically a lightweight suit or modest dress for women.

The security risk for expatriates in Timor-Leste/East Timor is medium. Risks include general crime particularly in urban areas such as Dili, occasional protests with associated stone throwing and vandalism, as well as gang violence. Other risks include those related to poor infrastructure and limited security.

The currency of East Timor is the US Dollar (USD). The banking system is limited. It is best to bring US dollars. Very few places accept credit cards.

Medical facilities are limited, particularly outside Dili. Serious or complex medical treatment may require evacuation which can be expensive. Malaria and dengue fever are present.

The population of Dili is 234,300 (2018 est.), while the inflation rate (CPI) is 2% for East Timor as at March 2018.

For a single Expat, the personal income tax rate in Timor-Leste is progressive up to 10%.

Cost Of Living

The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Dili as at 1 April 2018 is high in comparison to other places in the world.

In Dili, the cost of each basket, based on local prices, compared to the international average, is categorized follows (Exact cost of living percentages only available in personalised reports):
1) Alcohol (where available) & Tobacco: High
2) Clothing: Low
3) Communication: Very High
4) Education: Low
5) Furniture & Appliances: High
6) Groceries: Very High
7) Healthcare: High
8) Household Accommodation: Very High
9) Miscellaneous: High
10) Personal Care: Very High
11) Recreation & Culture: Average
12) Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels: High
13) Transport: Low

Dili is for example 72% more expensive than Houston TX for groceries, 67.4% more expensive for household costs than Kuala Lumpur, and 5.5% more expensive for transport costs than Dubai.

Dili is ranked as a extreme hardship location.

The hardship premium for Dili for an expat from Perth, is for example 30%, i.e. host location (Dili) premium of 40% minus home (Perth) location premium of 10%.

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The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Dili as at 1 April 2018 is high in comparison to other places in the world.

Dili is ranked as a extreme hardship location.