A Lesson On Foreign Currency

I was talking to someone very close to me about cigarette prices today. I told her that my favourite brand of cigarettes costed about $ 9.44 per pack here in New York. She then explained to me that a pack of Chesterfields costed 6 Euros and was just like saying it was $ 12.

She was correct in saying that 6 Euros was worth 12 American dollars but incorrect about them costing more. What I mean is this.

If you live in Europe then you are always going to use Euros as currency (excluding Sterling and other less-used forms of Europeam currency). When you compare prices of the cost of everyday merchandies or saleries, if the average European makes 30,000 Euros a year, he does not make more than the average American who also makes $ 30,000 a year simply because they wont be in the other's country.

A smaller scaled example.

The pack of Chesterfields (6 Euros) does not cost more than the other brand ( $ 9.44).

You lost me on this, Scorpius .. I can't reason it out.

In the most simple terms, what I am saying is that if you have always and will continue to live in a European country then you will not be paying more than someone who lives and will continue to live in an American country.

And in further, more important news, the Canadian dollar is now officially worth more than American dollars. This is getting ridiculous.

Oh, I see ... the cost/standard of living ...

The rate fluctuates somewhere around .64-.68

So, using the lower rate ..

Smokes at 9.44 would cost 6.04 Euros ..so, 6E isn't equivelant to 12D

If an average salary in Europe is 30 grand in Euros = 46,875 D

Do you think the average American makes in the mid 40's per year?


U.S. vs. Europe appears to be about equivelant in cost/standard of living.

I disagree with that last statement only becsause I know that in Spain the cost of living is extremely low. According to Roxi, the average realestate agent makes 30,000 Euros a year. I also know that someone there can live comfortably on 1,000 Euros per month. However, Britain is a healthy competition to America, surprisingly.

The average yearly salery from what I remember as a kid was 35 grand. I don't know what defines average besides a statistic. Last year I made roughly 62,000 in profit and that was enough for a car and 4 house payments. This year I make less than half that and only have one house. I think it's all on the way you budget your money. If you have no debts then it helps as well. Budgeting is extremely important and if you don't do it then you end up like MC Hammer.

Alot also depends on location .... you live in the city, Roxi is more rural .. cost of living will vary.

If you made 62 g's .. then a person who has the same work in my part of the U.S. (remote country), would likely only make around 22-25 .. if that much.

For instance: My trade is in tax accounting (certified) .. where you live, I could make on an average 65-70 grand, maybe even closer to 100. Whereas, out here, the same job would pay in the neighborhood of 30-35.

It's like comparing apples to oranges. A person working in "sales" isn't stable income, so that wouldn't be a viable vocation in which to make reference .. actual figures within similiar demographics would have to be computed/compared to get a more definitive answer.

Great topic, Scorpius .. to embark upon this task would stimulate.

Thank you. Out of curiosity, if you can make closer to 100K up here then what are you doing all the way in Neptune? Secondly, I didn't know you had such a healthy intrest in economics and politics. I'm impressed.