- A date in Geneva, Switzerland, is the most expensive in the world, costing couples over £227
- The average cost for a date in Europe is £122
- A date in London costs £158, almost £50 more expensive than in Belfast
- Couples can spend less than £100 on a date in Prague, Budapest or Cape Town, some of the world’s most romantic cities
This Valentine’s Day, new research by ECA International (ECA) reveals how much couples can expect to spend on a date in some of the most romantic cities around the world.
For its annual Cost of Loving Index*, the global mobility expert has compared the average cost of a traditional Valentine’s Day date in cities around the world including drinks**, dinner and cinema tickets for two, and two taxi rides.
ECA’s data reveals Geneva as the most expensive city in the world for a date this Valentine’s Day, costing over £227 on average. While in Budapest, Prague and Cape Town, couples can spend less than £100 on a romantic night out.
London ranks high as one of the more expensive cities, costing £158 for a date, £36 more than the European average (£122). Dinner and drinks for two in London will cost £104 on average, £37 more expensive than in Prague, one of Europe’s cheapest romantic cities. Cinema tickets and taxi rides will cost £54 in the UK’s capital, more than double the cost in Prague (£23).
In the UK, Belfast is the cheapest main city for lovers, with a date costing just over £109, almost £50 less than in London.
Steven Kilfedder, Production Manager at ECA, said: “Valentine’s Day can be an expensive time of year for couples and it’s incredible to see the difference in cost of the same activities in cities around the world. London is particularly pricey for a date, especially if you visit the cinema, with two tickets costing more than any other city in our report except in Switzerland. London taxis are also among the most expensive in the world; nearly £10 more expensive than in Paris, commonly known as the city of love.”
Average cost of a date in the world’s most romantic cities:
- Geneva = £227
- New York = £173
- London = £158
- Paris = £152
- Montreal = £135
- Tokyo = £147
- Amsterdam = £140
- Florence = £132
- Buenos Aires = £106
- Budapest = £96
- Prague = £90
- Cape Town = £53
A date for under £100
A romantic date in some of the world’s most romantic cities, Cape Town, Prague and Budapest, are revealed to cost from £53 to £96 on average. Couples can enjoy drinks in Cape Town for just £6, less than half the price of London drinks (£13). The average cost for a dinner for two in Prague is just £57, £34 cheaper than dining in London (£91).
A trip to the cinema for two in Budapest costs just £11 on average compared to £28 for film fanatics in London. And two taxi rides will cost £9 on average in Budapest, compared to £26 for a London taxi.
“While flight and accommodation costs will of course need to be taken into account, it’s useful to see where costs can be saved for a romantic evening out in some of the world’s most romantic cities, especially compared to London. For those looking to impress their date while getting the best value for their money, couples could consider heading further afield this Valentine’s Day,” said Kilfedder.
The world’s most expensive Valentine’s dates
Switzerland is the most expensive country in the world for a date with Swiss cities such as Zurich (£227) and Bern (£209) costing the most after Geneva. For example dinner and drinks in Geneva will cost couples £160 on average, £56 more than in London.
Outside of Europe, Sydney and New York are among some of the most expensive cities for dating. A date in Sydney will set couples back just over £167 on average, while the price of a date in New York will cost £173.
For more information visit www.eca-international.com.
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Notes to Editors
*The Cost of Loving Index uses data from ECA’s Cost of Living survey to compare the price of two drinks, dinner, two cinema tickets and two taxi rides in over 460 locations worldwide.
**Drinks are classified as a spirit and a mixer – e.g. a single gin and tonic
Certain living costs, such as accommodation rental, utilities, car purchases and school fees are usually covered by separate allowances. Data for these costs are collected separately and are not included in ECA’s Cost of Living basket.
Rooster will coordinate comment and interview opportunities for Steven Kilfedder, Production Manager at ECA International.
For further press information, please contact:
Yasmine Triana/Aaryn Vaughan/James Brooke
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8934
E: [email protected]
About ECA International (www.eca-international.com)
ECA International (ECA) is the leading provider of knowledge, information and technology that enables businesses to manage their international reward programmes.
Partnering with thousands of clients on every continent, ECA provides a fully-integrated suite of high quality data, specialist software, consultancy and training. ECA’s unparalleled insights guide clients as they mobilise their most valuable resource: people.
ECA makes the complex world of international mobility simple, providing clients with the expertise and support they need to make the right decisions – every time.
ECA International: Mobility solutions for a world that’s constantly moving.
Follow ECA on twitter: @ECAintl
About ECA’s Cost of Living Survey
ECA International’s Cost of Living surveys are carried out in March and September using a basket of day-to-day goods and services commonly purchased by assignees. The data used above refers to prices used in ECA’s September 2017 survey.
Cost of living indices are used by ECA clients to calculate cost of living allowances for assignees. The survey covers:
Food: Groceries; dairy produce; meat and fish; fresh fruit and vegetables
Basic: Household goods; recreational goods; general services; leisure services
General: Clothing; electrical goods; motoring; meals out; alcohol and tobacco
Certain living costs such as accommodation rental, utilities charges (electricity, gas, and water), car purchases and school fees are not included in the survey. Such items can make a significant difference to expenses but are usually compensated for separately in expatriate packages.
ECA’s blog provides updates and commentary on currency, inflation and expatriate cost of living. Follow the blog here: https://eca-international.com/insights/blogs
