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TREATING SOMEONE to a date on Valentine’s Day can price a reasonably penny. However in some cities it takes a prettier penny than in others. Our sister firm, EIU, collects the costs of about 350 items in 173 cities for its Worldwide Cost of Living survey. Utilizing its newest report, we ranked the 15 most costly cities primarily based on the invoice for a romantic evening out: drinks at a swanky lodge, adopted by dinner and a film, a taxi dwelling and a bottle of wine to cap issues off (see chart). Contemplate this a tough information—EIU gathers costs with expatriates and enterprise travellers, not locals, in thoughts.
On the high of the listing is Shanghai, the place our notional date may set lovers again $655. That’s $195 greater than in Abu Dhabi, the Fifteenth-priciest metropolis. St Petersburg and Moscow take third and sixth place, respectively; Western sanctions over Russia’s battle in Ukraine have pushed up the price of small luxuries there. In almost each metropolis dinner is the most costly part of the evening. The exception is Manama, the capital of Bahrain, the place a bottle of wine prices greater than a meal for 2.
However the evening out is simply half the story. What in regards to the prep? We additionally ranked cities primarily based on the price of preening. As anybody on the relationship scene will know, that takes funding too—26 extra minutes a day than for married individuals, in line with a latest examine printed in Evolution and Human Behaviour, a journal. So into our basket of products goes a month-to-month health club membership, lipstick and haircuts. Little shock that Los Angeles—a metropolis of celebrities and health influencers—comes high of our prep listing, at $480. EIU reckon a haircut and blow-dry at an upscale salon there’ll set ladies again $261; solely in New York and London does the price of coiffing additionally exceed $200.
“Child, bank cards aren’t romance”, Jennifer Lopez insisted in her hit single “Love Don’t Price a Factor”. If solely that had been true. A big physique of analysis demonstrates the significance of standing and appears in mating. Romance could also be emotionally enriching, nevertheless it prices a factor.■
Learn extra in regards to the EIU’s price of residing survey:
The world’s most, and least, expensive cities
These are the most expensive cities in North America
The world’s most, and least, affordable cities are in Asia
These are the most expensive cities in Europe
