Let's create a BnA World City Cost Index for Travelers

by **Stoo** » August 10th, 2006

Every time someone posts a world city index regarding cost, happiness, or whatever then people get a little grumpy about it (ehemâ€¦yes, that means you annie

). Also, these indices donâ€™t really reflect our common interestâ€¦travel! So, I propose the following:

First, we all agree on a weighted basket of products and services
Second, we agree on a list of world cities
Third, we all pitch in to determine the costs of the products and services for each of the world cities
Fourth, Iâ€™ll whip up a spreadsheet with the above information, post the results and make the spreadsheet available to everyone

Sound good?

Letâ€™s start with the products and services. I suggest we try to keep the following definition: â€œthe things a backpacker would spend their money on if he or she were in a city for a monthâ€. I say four weeks so that we can include things like toothpaste, soap, etc. To get a list startedâ€¦

a beer a day
one T-Shirt
a tourist grade public transport pass
five museum visits
four weeks at a city centre hostel
(1) 2L bottle of water per day
50g toothpaste
1 roll of toilet paper
five hours of internet access a week

OKâ€¦so bring on your suggestions!

Remember, let us just stick to the products and services for the moment.

by **christina-in-brooklyn** » August 10th, 2006

Figure in the average cost, or range, of a meal at a no-frills sit down restaurant in the city center.

by **Destiny** » August 10th, 2006

A can of soft drink out of bending machine.

Nic

by **Stoo** » August 10th, 2006

quote:
Originally posted by Destiny:
A can of soft drink out of bending machine.

Nic

how many per month do you think?

by **Sky Annie** » August 10th, 2006

I think, ignore the toothpaste and other personal hygiene items, but focus on the things you would actually *have* to buy. When I think of the things a backpacker will need in a month, I think of transportation, food, museum and/or other tourist venues, accomodation costs and internet access. Hostels supply toilet paper so I don't think that should be included and a tube of toothpaste lasts me more than a month so the cost of that will not tip the scale.

My thoughts for the basket of goods & services:

-one beer per day
-one t-shirt (standard, tourist grade)
-cost of transit for the month
-5 tourist activity ticket prices (I don't think we even have 5 museums I would choose to go to)
-4 weeks at a hostel or other similar accomodation
-2L of soft drink beverages (including water) per day
-reasonable estimate to eat out for all your daily meals on the cheap
-cost of one standard trip to the laundromat per week, including washing powder

by **Stoo** » August 10th, 2006

quote:
(I don't think we even have 5 museums I would choose to go to)

i was thinking that i visit museums at a rate of 5 per month...not going to five museums in once city.

not many of us would hang in one city for four weeks while on the road!

fair point on the toothpaste, etc.

by **Destiny** » August 10th, 2006

quote:
Originally posted by Stoo:
quote:
Originally posted by Destiny:
A can of soft drink out of bending machine.

Nic

how many per month do you think?

1 a day, sometimes twice a day, so about 35???

Nic

by **anniebanannie** » August 10th, 2006

quote:
(ehemâ€¦yes, that means you annie Smile)

Before assuming...I wasn't grumpy at all. The index was posted without any background or context, and I was surprised because everyone who visits here complains how expensive it is.

When I was in a city for a month, I also ate once in a while. Usually shopping at the local market and cooking myself for one meal, and eating out for the other. Usually inexpensive.

by **Sky Annie** » August 10th, 2006

quote:
Originally posted by Stoo:
quote:
(I don't think we even have 5 museums I would choose to go to)

i was thinking that i visit museums at a rate of 5 per month...not going to five museums in once city. not many of us would hang in one city for four weeks while on the road!

My point was more that there are more activities than museums to consider and that perhaps we could include something like that? Maybe?

by **Stoo** » August 10th, 2006

quote:
Originally posted by Sky Annie:
quote:
Originally posted by Stoo:
quote:
(I don't think we even have 5 museums I would choose to go to)

i was thinking that i visit museums at a rate of 5 per month...not going to five museums in once city. not many of us would hang in one city for four weeks while on the road!

My point was more that there are more activities than museums to consider and that perhaps we could include something like that? Maybe?

ok, i see your point. diving had come to mind really quickly but that is something that you can only do in certain cities. if we can find something that can be bought everywhere then lets include it!

by **LifeWanderer** » August 10th, 2006

don't forget about the universal cost defining measure:

the big mac index

by **Kathryn M** » August 10th, 2006

In stead of breaking them down so much they should be more vauge.

Hostel- lodging for the month
Food- Maybe figure one or two nice meals a week
Entertainment-beer and the general costs of going out
Culture- museums and other destination specific costs

by **Stoo** » August 10th, 2006

quote:
Originally posted by Kathryn M:
In stead of breaking them down so much they should be more vauge.

Hostel- lodging for the month
Food- Maybe figure one or two nice meals a week
Entertainment-beer and the general costs of going out
Culture- museums and other destination specific costs

My thinking is that if we have a set group of things then we can accurately compare the cost between cities. No, it is not perfect...just like all indecies, but a vague 'general cost of going out' is very subjective. this is (as i understand it) how all those scientific-but-not-relavent-to-us rankings.

as for dinging out...don't we all pretty much work a mix of self catering (markets) and 'dine out' on the road? i think Sky Annie's "reasonable estimate to eat out for all your daily meals on the cheap" is about as good as we are going to get.

by **christina-in-brooklyn** » August 10th, 2006

quote:
Originally posted by Sky Annie:
I think, ignore the toothpaste and other personal hygiene items, but focus on the things you would actually *have* to buy. When I think of the things a backpacker will need in a month, I think of transportation, food, museum and/or other tourist venues, accomodation costs and internet access. Hostels supply toilet paper so I don't think that should be included and a tube of toothpaste lasts me more than a month so the cost of that will not tip the scale.

My thoughts for the basket of goods & services:

-one beer per day
-one t-shirt (standard, tourist grade)
-cost of transit for the month
-5 tourist activity ticket prices (I don't think we even have 5 museums I would choose to go to)
-4 weeks at a hostel or other similar accomodation
-2L of soft drink beverages (including water) per day
-reasonable estimate to eat out for all your daily meals on the cheap
-cost of one standard trip to the laundromat per week, including washing powder

Can we make it a week? I think that range is going to capture the expenses of being a traveler a little better -- I think 4 weeks anywhere you are much better off looking for a sublet than staying in a hostel, which is a whole other can of worms. That also eliminates buying soap etc.

So if we do that, the list should be:
-7 beers (one per day)
-one t-shirt (standard, tourist grade)
-cost of transit for the week
-3 tourist/entertainment activity ticket prices (museums, monuments, walking tours, etc)
- 2 low-to-mid-range tickets to a play/film/or dance club
-1 week in a hostel dorm in the city center, or other similar accomodation
-2L of water and/or soda per day
-reasonable estimate to eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the cheap (I count picking up a bagel and a banana and eating it on a park bench as "eating out")
-cost of one standard trip to the laundromat, including washing powder

by **whalewatcher** » August 10th, 2006

One beer a day??

Also depends on where you're heading, but for European/US cities, I want to know the cost of a medium coffee (or even coffee-and-croissant) and a day travelcard.

Not so far off with the BigMac index. Where street food is not commonly available, could include the cost of burger meal, fish 'n' chips or other equivalent.

Oh--and I know it won't make me popular--but where it's still legal: a packet of fags!

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Let's create a BnA World City Cost Index for Travelers

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