Bangkok--11 Jun--GHC Asia Ltd.
TripIndex by TripAdvisor reveals the price of an evening out in key cities in Asiaand around the world, identifying Hanoi, Vietnam as the least expensive city in Asia and Sofia, Bulgaria as the least expensive city worldwide;
Singapore receives most expensive title in Asia and Oslo, Norway is named most expensive city worldwide
TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site*, today unveils TripIndex Cities 2013, the third annual cost comparison of an evening out and overnight stay for two people in key tourist cities in Asia and around the world.
The TripAdvisor TripIndex Cities is based on the combined costs for two of one night in a four-star hotel, cocktails, a two-course dinner with a bottle of wine, and return taxi transportation (two journeys of approximately 3.2 kilometres each). Costs listed are accurate for the period of 1 June to 31 August 2013.
In Asia, Hanoi in Vietnam offers the most affordable evening out for travellers with a total TripIndex cost of THB 5,045.24, while Bangkok, Thailand ranks second with THB 5,774.02. Singapore surpasses Tokyo, Japan as the most expensive city within Asia by just THB 3.45 to reveal a total of THB 11,488.50. Globally, Sofia, Bulgaria comes in at THB 503.07 less expensive than Hanoi, making it the most affordable evening out in the world, with a total TripIndex cost of THB 4,542.17. At nearly four times the cost of Sofia, Oslo, Norway tops the list as most expensive with a TripIndex cost of THB 16,661.23 closely followed by Zurich, Switzerland which totals THB 15,013.51.
“TripIndex helps travellers to see where their money goes the furthest,” commented Jean Ow-Yeong, TripAdvisor spokesperson. “The list shows that Asia is the most affordable continent, while Europe is the most expensive, but some European cities — like Sofia, Warsaw and Budapest — are bucking this trend. While Bangkok was ranked third as the most affordable last year, it falls three places in this year’s TripIndex Cities to be ranked sixth most affordable of these worldwide cities.”
Hotels hike up the price but biggest gap is between taxi costs
While the cost of a hotel stay is the most expensive of the TripIndex basket items, the biggest disparity in cost between the least and most expensive destinations lies with the return taxi trip. At THB 1,196.48, London is almost twenty times more expensive for taxi transportation than Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at THB 60.91.
The least expensive average hotel room goes to Sofia, Bulgaria at THB 2,758.94 per night, while the most expensive, at nearly four times the cost, goes to New York City, at THB 10,865.99 per night.
Affordable Asia vs. Comparatively Costly in Europe
Asia features heavily in the ten least expensive destinations, claiming four cities in total. Hanoi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Riyadh rank second, sixth, seventh and tenth place respectively.
Europe dominated the most expensive cities with six of the top ten destinations. Oslo, Zurich, Stockholm, Paris, London and Copenhagen take first, second, third, fifth, seventh and eighth place respectively on the list.
How much bang will you get for your buck around the world?
TripIndex Cities shows travellers just how far their money will go across the key tourist cities around the world:
For the price of three taxis in Zurich, Switzerland a traveller can get one night’s stay in a four star hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam
Travellers can enjoy two dinners for two people in Taipei, Taiwan for the same price as two cocktails in Seoul, South Korea
One night’s hotel stay for two in a four star hotel in Zurich, Switzerland is nearly the same price as three nights in Warsaw, Poland
TripIndex Cities: Asia
Least to most expensive
Destination Hotel Return taxi trip Dinner for two Cocktails for two Total cost
1 Hanoi, Vietnam THB 3,297.86 THB 174.72 THB 1,050.70 THB 521.96 THB 5,045.24
2 Bangkok, Thailand THB 3,130.68 THB 90.00 THB 2,006.67 THB 546.67 THB 5,774.02
3 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia THB 3,404.04 THB 60.91 THB 2,020.21 THB 752.07 THB 6,237.23
4 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia THB 4,795.75 THB 174.84 THB 1,337.84 N/A THB 6,308.43
5 Mumbai, India THB4,408.88 THB 121.49 THB 1,982.05 THB 691.41 THB 7,203.83
6 Beijing, China THB 3,590.46 THB 96.48 THB 2,775.30 THB 782.36 THB 7,244.60
7 Taipei, Taiwan THB 5,114.70 THB 247.84 THB 1,291.08 THB 704.45 THB 7,358.07
8 Jakarta, Indonesia THB 3,609.62 THB 70.86 THB 3,081.55 THB 748.00 THB 7,510.03
9 Macau THB 5,356.77 THB 313.97 THB 1,775.95 THB 585.60 THB 8,032.29
10 Hong Kong THB 6,137.47 THB 199.42 THB 1,146.03 THB 881.39 THB 8,364.31
11 Seoul, South Korea THB 5,580.30 THB 199.70 THB 1,664.14 THB 1,280.11 THB 8,724.25
12 Tokyo, Japan THB 6,956.11 THB 670.10 THB 2,742.01 THB 1,116.83 THB 11,485.05
13 Singapore THB 7,079.66 THB 213.78 THB 3,190.41 THB 1,004.65 THB 11,488.50
TripIndex Cities: Worldwide
Least Expensive
Destination Hotel Return taxi trip Dinner for two Cocktails for two Total cost
1 Sofia, Bulgaria THB 2,758.94 THB 137.14 THB 1,160.73 THB 485.36 THB 4,542.17
2 Hanoi, Vietnam THB 3,297.86 THB 174.72 THB 1,050.70 THB 521.96 THB 5,045.24
3 Warsaw, Poland THB 2,959.78 THB 401.80 THB 1,534.13 THB 493.11 THB 5,388.82
4 Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt THB 2,912.06 THB 83.00 THB 1,861.99 THB 622.50 THB 5,479.55
5 Budapest, Hungary THB 2,976.61 THB 316.84 THB 1,426.21 THB 812.22 THB 5,531.88
6 Bangkok, Thailand THB 3,130.68 THB 90.00 THB 2,006.67 THB 546.67 THB 5,774.02
7 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia THB 3,404.04 THB 60.91 THB 2,020.21 THB 752.07 THB 6,237.23
8 Tunis, Tunisia THB 4,469.82 THB 74.27 THB 1,227.04 THB 499.88 THB 6,271.01
9 Cape Town, South Africa THB 3,863.62 THB 393.94 THB 1,786.69 THB 254.78 THB 6,299.03
10 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia THB 4,795.75 THB 174.84 THB 1,337.84 N/A THB 6,308.43
Most Expensive
Destination Hotel Return taxi trip Dinner for two Cocktails for two Total cost
1 Oslo, Norway THB 6,589.71 THB 830.91 THB 7,938.20 THB 1,302.41 THB 16,661.23
2 Zurich, Switzerland THB 8,560.39 THB 1,118.75 THB 4,338.22 THB 996.15 THB 15,013.51
3 Stockholm, Sweden THB 6,968.90 THB 780.00 THB 6,012.33 THB 1,198.65 THB 14,959.88
4 New York City, USA THB 10,865.99 THB 656.13 THB 2,335.14 THB 926.32 THB 14,783.58
5 Paris, France THB 9,251.56 THB 509.31 THB 3,008.29 THB 1,897.55 THB 14,666.71
6 Sydney, Australia THB 6,634.98 THB 697.53 THB 4,810.15 THB 1,066.75 THB 13,209.41
7 London, UK THB 7,764.66 THB 1,196.48 THB 2,937.10 THB 1,070.24 THB 12,968.48
8 Copenhagen, Denmark THB 6,284.76 THB 1,107.00 THB 4,272.02 THB 1,073.44 THB 12,737.22
9 Cancun, Mexico THB 9,087.57 THB 578.72 THB 2,298.44 THB 672.57 THB 12,637.30
10 Punta Cana, Dominican Republic THB 9,566.80 THB 761.99 THB 1,519.33 THB 634.41 THB 12,482.53
For more information, please contact:
GHC Asia Ltd.
Chutinun Guna-Tilaka
T +66 2357 1183
[email protected]
TripAdvisor APAC
Jean Ow-Yeong
T +65 6643 1241
[email protected]