Sydney, Australia – 12 June 2014: Sydney is revealed as the tenth most expensive destination in the world for a city break, according to a TripAdvisor® annual cost comparison study – TripIndex Cities – conducted by independent research firm, Ipsos Mori.

An evening out and overnight stay in a four star hotel for two in Sydney will set you back an average of $404.17. While a 4 or 4.5 star hotel in Sydney is priced more reasonably than the likes of London, Paris and New York at around $211.35 per night, Sydney ranked in the top 3 most expensive cities in the world for a meal, behind Stockholm and Oslo respectively.

London is named the most expensive destination in the world with an average total cost of $560.56, over three times the price of a break in the world’s best value destination a little closer to home, Hanoi which comes in at an average of $164.85.

TripIndex Cities compares the cost of an evening out in 48 key tourist cities around the world, taking into account typical costs for two people to enjoy a pre-meal cocktail at a five star hotel, a meal out, taxis, and an overnight stay for two in a four star hotel during the travel months of June to August.

Hanoi, the second best value destination last year, knocks off Sofia to take the top spot this year. While London hikes up six places to take the title from Oslo as the most expensive. Europe, home to seven of the top 10, continues to dominate the most expensive list, although three Eastern European destinations also feature amongst the 10 best value. Asian destinations top the best value list with five in the top 10.

“As consumers start to think about where to travel this winter, the TripIndex Cities list helps travellers to see where their dollar goes the furthest.  This year’s results show that Asian destinations are still the most affordable, while European destinations continue to top the most expensive list. However, Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria and Czech Republic seem to be bucking this trend so may serve as the alternative places for Australian travellers looking for a city break in Europe,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson, Scott Wegener.

“Travellers who still want to experience the most expensive cities don’t need to forgo their trips.  They can find ways to reduce the cost of their trip by visiting the cities’ respective TripAdvisor destination pages (TripAdvisor Sydney) where they can search for hotels and restaurants more in-line with their budget,” continued Scott.

When you consider each of the components for a typical city break, what does the cost look like?  

Pre-dinner drinks: Cancun cheapest for cocktails

A pre-dinner vodka martini for two is cheapest in Cancun, Mexico, coming in at an average of $3.63. For the same amount of money you could get one and a half cocktails in Cape Town, half a cocktail in Hanoi and just the olives in Paris where two cocktails are over fifteen times more expensive than in Cancun costing an eye-watering average of $55.70.

Evening meal: Stockholm most expensive for dinner

This year’s TripIndex results show that Stockholm, Sweden is the most expensive destination to get a bite to eat. For the average cost of an evening meal for two with wine in Stockholm ($184.39), you can have dinner for two with wine plus cocktails, cab fare, a night in a four star hotel in Hanoi and still have change left. Dinner in Hanoi will set you back an average of just $36.83, a fifth of the price in Stockholm.

Getting around: Travel further for less in Jakarta

Grabbing a cab to take a short 3km round trip in Oslo will hit your wallet hard at $60.71 – nearly 20 times more than in Jakarta where the same trip costs just $3.12. For the same price as a 6km return taxi ride in Oslo, you could actually travel 13km in Tokyo, 27km in Cape Town and a whopping 122km in Jakarta.

Hotel room: New York still the most expensive

When it comes to hitting the hay for the night, for the second year running New York tops the most expensive list with one night in a four star hotel costing an average of $392.22. At four times less than New York, an overnight stay in a four-star Bangkok hotel comes in at an average cost of $92.43. For the price of just one night in New York, you could sleep for three nights in Buenos Aires and two in Barcelona.

Top 10 cities where you can save:  

*Change indicates the increase or decrease in TripIndex ranking when comparing the position of the destination in 2014 with the results in 2013

Top 10 cities to splurge: 

*Change indicates the increase or decrease in TripIndex ranking when comparing the position of the destination in 2014 with the results in 2013

Notes to Editors:

The TripIndex Cities 2014 destination list comprises key cities from 48 of the 50 countries which receive the largest number of international visitor arrivals (data compiled by the UNWTO). 

TripIndex prices out the following items in each destination to represent the cost of a night out for two people:

·         One night’s accommodation in a 4-4.5 star hotel

·         Cocktails for two people

·         Dinner for two (two courses and a bottle of house wine)

·         Return taxi transportation (two taxi journeys of two miles each)

Research was conducted by Ipsos Mori and prices were collected through a variety of research methods as outlined below.  Prices were taken in local currencies between 5^th March and 31^st March 2014 and converted into Australian dollars on 31^st March 2014.

Hotels: Prices specify the average per-night cost of a room at 4-4.5 star hotel found on TripAdvisor (via partner booking sites such as online travel agencies and direct hotel suppliers) in each destination for the travel period 1 June - 31 August 2014.

Cocktails for two: Prices specify the average cost of two traditional dry martinis from a top-rated five-star hotel on TripAdvisor in each destination. Prices averaged from four to ten five-star hotels in each destination. 

Dinner for two: Prices specify the average cost of a traditional or common two-course meal (starter and main course) for two people with a bottle of house (or cheapest available) white wine (prices averaged from four to ten mid-range restaurants in each destination). 

Return taxi trip: Prices specify the approximate cost of two taxi journeys of 3 kilometres each (representing an evening’s return transportation).  Data was taken from local authorities and recognised taxi companies in the area.