MUMBAI EMERGES AS SIXTH MOST AFFORDABLE ASIAN CITY, REVEALS TRIPADVISOR TRIPINDEX

Paris, Zurich and Oslo become the most expensive cities for Indians and Sofia, Hanoi, and Warsaw become the cheapest

TripIndex by TripAdvisor reveals the price of an evening out in key cities for Indians, in Asia, and the world

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 across the world.

The TripAdvisor TripIndex Cities is tracked against the Indian rupee and is based on the combined costs for two people for one night in a four-star hotel, cocktails, a two-course dinner with a bottle of wine, and return taxi transportation (two journeys of three kilometers each).  Costs listed are accurate for the summer months ahead (1 June – 31 August 2013).

Sofia, Bulgaria offers the most affordable evening out for Indian travellers with a total TripIndex cost of INR 8,561.83, while Hanoi in Vietnam takes second place with INR 9470.32. At nearly four times the cost of Sofia, Oslo, Norway tops the list as most expensive with a TripIndex cost of INR 31,423.44, closely followed by Zurich, Switzerland which totals INR 28,293.94.

 “TripIndex serves as a good indicator for the globetrotting Indian to know where he can get most value for his travel budget. The list this year highlights Asia as the most pocket friendly continent for Indians, while Europe is expectedly the most expensive” says Nikhil Ganju, Country Manager, TripAdvisor India.

“We also see Mumbai fall from being the 14^th most affordable city last year to 16^th spot this year on increase in the average cost of wining, dining and commute”  he further adds.

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 cheapest and most expensive destinations lies with the return taxi trip. At INR 2,239.42, London is almost twenty times more expensive for taxi transportation than Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at INR 114.99. Mumbai ranks 8^th as the city with the most affordable taxi ride. 

The cheapest average hotel room goes to Sofia, Bulgaria at INR 5,204.50 per night, while the most expensive, at nearly four times the cost, goes to New York City, at INR 20,497.78 per night.

Truly Affordable Asia vs. Comparatively Costly in Europe

Asia features heavily in the top 20 most affordable TripIndex cities list, claiming eight cities in total. Hanoi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh, Dubai, Mumbai, Beijing and Taipei featured in the list.

Interestingly, Mumbai, the Financial Capital of India, also featured among the list of top 20 most affordable destinations list, whereas 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 rupee 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

 Asian cities in TripIndex list:

Destination	Hotel (INR)	Return taxi trip (INR)	Total Dinner for two (INR)	Martinis for two (INR)	Total cost (INR)
Hanoi, Vietnam	6,221.13	318.00	1,981.19	950.00	9,470.32
Bangkok Thailand	5,905.77	169.13	3,770.95	1,027.31	10,873.16
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	6,421.43	114.99	3,814.07	1,419.87	11,770.36
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	9,046.77	329.51	2,521.38	0.00	11,897.66
Dubai, UAE	7,869.30	294.27	2,471.83	1,912.73	12,548.13
Mumbai, India	8,316.98	228.43	3,726.67	1,300.00	13,572.08
Beijing, China	6,773.11	181.85	5,231.13	1,474.66	13,660.75
Taipei, Taiwan	9,648.45	465.08	2,422.76	1,321.94	13,858.23
Macau	10,105.09	592.13	3,349.33	1,104.41	15,150.96
Hong Kong	11,577.82	375.95	2,160.51	1,661.61	15,775.89
Seoul, South Korea	10,526.77	375.59	3,129.88	2,407.60	16,439.84
Jakarta, Indonesia	6,809.25	132.00	5,740.17	1,393.33	14,074.75
Singapore	13,355.18	403.07	6,015.45	1,894.25	21,667.95
Tokyo, Japan	13,122.13	1,276.45	5,223.16	2,127.41	21,749.15

           

TripIndex Cities

Top 20 most Affordable Cities

Destination	Hotel (INR)	Return taxi trip (INR)	Total Dinner for two (INR)	Martinis for two (INR)	Total cost (INR)
Sofia, Bulgaria	5,204.50	258.20	2,185.33	913.80	8,561.83
Hanoi, Vietnam	6,221.13	318.00	1,981.19	950.00	9,470.32
Warsaw, Poland	5,583.38	753.68	2,877.69	924.97	10,139.72
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt	5,493.35	156.69	3,515.04	1,175.15	10,340.23
Budapest, Hungary	5,615.12	600.82	2,704.48	1,540.19	10,460.61
Bangkok Thailand	5,905.77	169.13	3,770.95	1,027.31	10,873.16
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	6,421.43	114.99	3,814.07	1,419.87	11,770.36
Tunis, Tunisia	8,431.95	140.06	2,314.10	942.74	11,828.85
Cape Town, South Africa	7,288.40	740.50	3,358.50	478.93	11,866.33
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	9,046.77	329.51	2,521.38	0.00	11,897.66
Buenos Aires, Argentina	8,616.32	230.58	2,445.46	1,082.97	12,375.33
Athens, Greece	6,602.67	222.93	3,776.41	1,928.07	12,530.08
Dubai, UAE	7,869.30	294.27	2,471.83	1,912.73	12,548.13
Lisbon, Portugal	7,432.25	596.55	2,821.90	1,846.23	12,696.93
Marrakech, Morocco	7,165.74	285.37	4,565.86	1,289.41	13,306.38
Mumbai, India	8,316.98	228.43	3,726.67	1,300.00	13,572.08
Beijing, China	6,773.11	181.85	5,231.13	1,474.66	13,660.75
Taipei, Taiwan	9,648.45	465.08	2,422.76	1,321.94	13,858.23
Kiev, Ukraine	9,015.75	465.24	3,493.75	930.48	13,905.22
Prague, Czech Republic	7,196.05	697.46	5,585.14	617.55	14,096.20

Top 10 Most Expensive cities:

Destination	Hotel (INR)	Return taxi trip (INR)	Total Dinner for two (INR)	Martinis for two (INR)	Total cost (INR)
Paris, France	17,452.30	5,643.81	5,667.09	3,574.65	32,337.85
Oslo, Norway	12,430.94	1,566.91	14,969.56	2,456.03	31,423.44
Zurich, Switzerland	16,148.47	2,105.60	8,165.00	1,874.87	28,293.94
Stockholm, Sweden	13,146.24	1,469.46	11,326.75	2,258.16	28,200.61
New York City, USA	20,497.78	1,237.67	4,404.82	1,747.34	27,887.61
Sydney, Australia	12,516.33	1,312.81	9,053.05	2,007.70	24,889.89
London, UK	14,647.38	2,239.42	5,497.29	2,003.13	24,387.22
Punta Cana, DR	18,046.96	1,437.16	2,865.56	1,196.54	23,546.22
Cancun, Mexico	17,142.94	1,093.24	4,341.90	1,270.52	23,848.60
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	17,081.65	473.94	3,922.46	1,601.32	23,079.37

The full TripIndex is available at:                  

http://www.tripadvisor.in/InfoCenter-a_ctr.TripIndex_Cities_2013_IND

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Notes to Editors:

The international TripIndex Cities 2013 destination list comprises key cities from 49 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 four-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)

Prices were collected through a variety of research methods as outlined below.  Prices were taken in local currencies between March and April 2013 and converted into INR on 19 April 2013.

Hotels: Prices specify the average per-night cost of a room at four-star hotel found on TripAdvisor (via partner booking sites such as online travel agencies and direct hotel suppliers) in each destination for the summer travel period (1 June - 31 August 2013).

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.

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 three mid-range restaurants in each destination). 

Return taxi trip: Prices specify the approximate cost of two taxi journeys of two miles each (representing an evening’s return transportation).  Data was taken from local authorities, recognised taxi companies, and/or travel experts on the area.