Who Comes Up With This Stuff?

Mercer Human Resources Consulting has released their annual cost-of-living survey that compares 144 cities from around the world by taking into consideration costs such as 'housing, food, clothing, transportation and entertainment.'

It's interesting to note that Atlanta is 83, ranking just below Toronto and 39 spots ahead of Ottawa which is somehow the cheapest city in North America to transfer your employees to. My mind reels. While rent here might not be nearly as high as in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver it's hardly a bargain. How do cities like Halifax not make this list? Especially when Winston-Salem, North Carolina makes it. Winston-Salem! More astounding than the fact that it makes the list (apparently being home to RJ Reynolds, Krispy Kreme and Sara Lee apparel gets you noticed) is that it's supposedly more expensive than Ottawa. I've lived in both and even when you factor in the exchange rate your dollar still goes a lot further in Winston-Salem where rent and groceries are dirt cheap thanks to it being mainly a college and factory town. Honestly, where do they get this stuff?