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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 resort, adopted by dinner and a film, a taxi residence and a bottle of wine to cap issues off (see chart). Think about this a tough information—EIU gathers costs with expatriates and enterprise travellers, not locals, in thoughts.
On the high of the checklist 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 practically each metropolis dinner is the most costly element 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 barely half the story. What concerning the prep? We additionally ranked cities primarily based on the price of preening. As anybody on the courting scene will know, that takes funding too—26 extra minutes a day than for married individuals, in response to a latest research 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 checklist, 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 have 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 concerning the EIU’s price of dwelling 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
