expensive cities
 

which of these cities are the most/least expensive to travel in?

Paris
Rome
Zurich
Vienna

I'd say that the first three are pretty similar.. and Vienna only slighlt less expensive.

But in all four, there is a wide spectrum - - easily from x to 10x per day (maybe even 30x)... that a traveler might typically spend on lodging, meals, attractions and transportation throughout the city and its environs.

Best wishes,

Rex

I've only been to Paris and Rome of the four, but found Rome to be much more expensive for hotels, compared to Paris.

A double with a bath in Rome in a good neighborhood close to the major sites was a minimum of $150-$200 USD, and we still can find a great double in the heart of Paris (in the 7th) for less than $100.

I didn't notice any difference in the expense of the food or other coincidentals.

Jules

Most to least:
Zurich
Vienna
Rome
Paris

Great bed and breakfast in vienna's outskirts, by the station was The rooms bed and breakfast vienna. I think around 100 euro. We loved vienna and this was an inexpensive option and it was a delightful place to stay. havent been to zurich, but I found vienna less expensive than Paris. going to rome in April and the prices I have seen so far, seem more expensive than Paris.

I will agree w/Seamus although I've not been to Zurich. I think if you are comparing similar places to stay in a good location, Paris has more options & is thus, cheapest of the cities mentioned. None, however, are cheap.

1. Paris
2. Rome
3. Vienna
4. Zurich

Richardsonm:

Aren't you the guy who routinely stays in the Hotel Georges V when you are in Paris..yeah, I can see why you would say it is the most expensive city!

I would say,,,

1. Zurich
2. Rome
3. Vienna
4. Paris

I think Paris is the least expensive considering availability of cheap accomodations and the variety of food options.

I think it's considerably cheaper to stay in a central location in Paris than in Rome and somewhat cheaper in Vienna than in Rome. I don't know where you are coming from, but in my experience it's also a lot cheaper to fly to Paris than Rome. (I don't know Zurich.)

Intrepid: Yes I am, i only stay at five star hotels and fly first class, that is why I go in the first place. Doesn't make me a bad guy, or does it? No reason to be so snippy, just my opinion.

Ah I would have to say my home Dublin is way up there in Hotel and food costs. 1st or 2nd most expensive in Europe from what they tell us.

intrepid: not everyone that uses this site does so to get the cheapest hotel room, flight, or meal. as a young, poor traveler, i spent plenty of time in a Volkswagen bus in which i slept and ate, now i do not have to, so i don't, have a nice day and next trip, however you go.

While there isn't a perfect correlation between most expensive as a place to live... and most expensive as a place to visit - - my assessment was (at least partly) corroborated in the news recently, by the biannual survey from the Economist Intelligence Unit...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060131/...fe_cities_dc_1

After 14 years at the top, Tokyo has now been replaced by Oslo...

Of the cities which rzrbck asked about... Paris and Zurich are in the top 10 (numbers 4 and 8, respectively... the other two are not).

Agree with Siobhan, Dublin is very expensive, just as well i live here otherwise i'd never be able to afford to visit it!!!

I read in the paper yesterday that Dublin hotels make over €13,000 profit per hotel room per annum! Not a bad return!

Too right cailin!!

http://www.finfacts.com/costofliving.htm

With the current list, Zurich will top this group. Paris follows down a little on the list and Rome and Vienna are even lower.

Dublin is cheaper than Paris and Zurich but near to the prices as Rome and Vienna.

I would agree that those who said Paris is a cheap place. Lists and numbers can be inaccurate. I know I can eat well in Paris and much cheaper than the other cities listed.

Blackduff

Of those 4 I'd think Paris the cheapest and Zurich the most expensive by virtue of being in Switzerland.

Sorry, but I am one of the most travelled people on this board, and I think that Zurich is OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. It is far more expensive than Vienna or Rome. Zurich is more expensive than London, which isn't even on your list, darling. And everyone knows London is more expensive than Paris. Some of you that think Zurich is the least expensive of the four cities are DAFT!!

I am the greatest star there is! The stars are ageless.

John G.

Rex,

quote from that survey:
>>>>>>>
The biannual survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) compares the cost of goods and services in dollar terms. The rise of Oslo and other European cities partly reflects the long-term under performance of the U.S. currency.
<<<<<<

this means that it is useless to anyone not traveling from the US. I never understood these surveys that talk about the cost of living as related to one single currency (USD, of course). If you live in Oslo, zurich or wherever, you hardly car what is happening with the USD. Likewise, if you are travelling to zurich or vienna from the UK, the weakness of the dollar does not make these cities any more expensive for you.

these surveys are useful for US travelers but they are reported worldwide as true indicators for the expense of a city, when indeed, there usefulness is much less narrow.

Zürich McDonald's is certainly the most expensive of the four.

When I compare the fresh produce prices with the US, they are very close indeed. Clothes prices are comparable as well.

I believe walkinaround is correct.

Three of the four cities asked about by the original poster use the Euro and the RELATIVE cost won't change no matter what the exchange rate of the Euro with the USD. They will also retain their RELATIVE ranking no matter the currency you wish to compare it with, be it British Pounds or Swiss Francs.

They will change if the items being purchased change in Euros. If Paris imposes a 10% tax on hotel rooms, Paris becomes more expensive and its ranking will change relative to the other cities provided they don't add a comparable tax.

When you add Zurich to the comparison you add a dimension of cross currency trading that is too complex for this site.

BTW, it is senseless to compare costs unless you are comparing current costs. A hotel room in Rome in 2002 versus a hotel room in Paris in 2005 is not a valid comparison.