Global Travel Cost Comparison Index Launched
TripIndex reveals popular world cities where dollars go the distance
NEWTON, Mass. - TripIndex – a cost comparison of 50 key tourist cities around the world and 15 hotspots in the U.S., tracked against the U.S. dollar, has been launched today.
TripIndex is based on the combined cost of one night's accommodation (four star hotel), a core food item (pizza), an alcoholic drink (dry martini) and a taxi journey in each destination.
Domestic Deals and Global Steals
Las Vegas is the least expensive city in the U.S. for domestic travelers, with a total TripIndex cost of $164.
Beating 49 rival cities, Bangkok is the best-value global city for U.S. travelers, with its total TripIndex tally of $112.
Sofia, Bulgaria is the most affordable European city for Americans, at $136 and ranking at number five overall on the TripIndex list.
Asia emerged as the most affordable continent, claiming four of the top ten cheapest cities for American travelers.
Price-Toppers
New York City is the most expensive domestic destination for U.S. travelers, with a total TripIndex cost of $367.
Paris' TripIndex price tag of $429 makes it the costliest city in the world for Americans.
Europe was revealed as the most expensive continent for U.S. travelers, with six of the world's top 10 high-priced cities.
European Steals
While Paris, Zurich, and London rank in the global TripIndex as the costliest spots for U.S. travelers, the city of Sofia, Bulgaria proves Americans can enjoy a European retreat without breaking the bank. Sofia weighed in as the best value European city for U.S. travelers, with its total TripIndex cost of $136 – a third of the price of Paris, the most expensive city on the list. Budapest, Hungary ($143) is a close second to Sofia in terms of affordability in Europe.
Southern Comfort
For U.S. travelers seeking a domestic deal, TripIndex reveals that the south is a steal. While the east-coast hotspots of New York City, Boston, and Washington D.C. carry the highest U.S. TripIndex figures, the southern cities of Dallas, New Orleans, and Atlanta rank among the five least expensive domestic destinations. According to TripIndex, travelers in these three southern cities can experience some southern hospitality on a budget, with TripIndex costs ranging from $210 - $215.
Hotels & Taxis Set Destinations Apart
Affordability in the ten cheapest destinations is most evident in hotel and taxi costs:
One night in a four-star hotel in Bangkok is just $86 – compared to over $300 in six of the ten most expensive world destinations.
While a five mile taxi journey costs under $5 in six of the ten cheapest destinations, the same journey costs around $40 in the likes of Zurich and Tokyo.
TripIndex is based on the current exchange rate and applies to travel between June and August 2011 with hotel prices based on the average cost of a four star hotel found on TripAdvisor, via multiple partner booking sites.
"Value against the dollar is one of the most important considerations for American travelers planning international trips," said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. "TripIndex offers a useful means of setting realistic budget expectations and reveals some outstanding destination deals."
Best Value International Cities
City
Hotel ($)
Taxi ($)
Pizza ($)
Dry Martini ($)
Total ($)
1. Bangkok
$85.71
$2.49
$13.81
$9.98
$111.99
2. Beijing
$97.99
$4.02
$6.03
$12.07
$120.12
3. Sharm El Sheikh
$103.96
$3.36
$5.80
$15.12
$128.24
4. Kuala Lumpur
$105.77
$3.33
$10.99
$13.91
$134.01
5. Sofia
$114.35
$3.88
$8.71
$8.71
$135.66
6. Budapest
$117.24
$11.71
$6.54
$7.90
$143.40
7. Auckland
$102.36
$22.91
$8.35
$13.50
$147.13
8. Marrakech
$120.13
$2.52
$12.47
$12.59
$147.71
9. Warsaw
$116.81
$10.57
$10.53
$10.57
$148.48
10. Dubai
$128.44
$5.17
$10.35
$10.35
$154.31
Most Expensive International Cities
City
Hotel ($)
Taxi ($)
Pizza ($)
Dry Martini ($)
Total ($)
1. Paris
$362.28
$9.94
$21.16
$35.50
$428.88
2. Zurich
$307.50
$41.68
$19.41
$11.03
$379.62
3. London
$299.65
$32.24
$19.33
$22.57
$373.79
4. Tokyo
$272.28
$37.70
$35.43
$26.57
$371.98
5. New York City
$324.38
$12.50
$11.99
$18.00
$366.87
6. Rio de Janeiro
$310.43
$6.70
$15.26
$13.99
$346.37
7. Moscow
$302.58
$8.90
$12.11
$21.37
$344.96
8. Kiev
$309.25
$4.38
$9.76
$8.14
$331.53
9. Amsterdam
$234.36
$29.82
$30.18
$18.46
$312.82
10. Stockholm
$253.45
$13.43
$26.24
$18.52
$311.64
U.S. Cities
City
Hotel ($)
Taxi ($)
Pizza ($)
Dry Martini ($)
Total ($)
1. Las Vegas
$121.30
$16.30
$11.99
$14.00
$163.59
2. Dallas
$173.37
$11.25
$10.99
$14.00
$209.61
3. New Orleans
$177.23
$13.50
$11.99
$7.00
$209.72
4. Atlanta
$177.34
$13.75
$9.99
$14.00
$215.08
5. Minneapolis
$189.69
$14.25
$12.99
$10.00
$226.93
6. Orlando
$200.89
$12.65
$10.99
$13.50
$238.03
7. Denver
$213.14
$12.50
$11.99
$11.00
$248.63
8. Los Angeles
$228.54
$16.05
$12.99
$18.00
$275.58
9. Seattle
$242.28
$15.00
$10.99
$14.00
$282.27
10. Honolulu
$238.78
$18.70
$14.00
$12.00
$283.48
11. San Francisco
$254.69
$13.90
$13.99
$12.50
$295.08
12. Chicago
$257.82
$11.25
$11.99
$16.50
$297.56
13. Washington, DC
$291.12
$10.25
$10.99
$15.00
$327.36
14. Boston
$301.32
$16.20
$11.99
$13.00
$342.51
15. New York City
$324.38
$12.50
$11.99
$18.00
$366.87
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