TripAdvisor’s TripIndex is based on the combined cost of one night’s accommodation, a core food item, a beverage and a taxi journey in each destination. Though the parameters for some of these basic items vary for the domestic and international cost analysis, it still gives a very credible benchmark for travellers to estimate expenditure and compare holiday spots based on their budget.
 

According to Nikhil Ganju, Country Manager TripAdvisor (India) "Value for money is an important consideration for Indian travellers while planning a holiday.  TripIndex is a great measure to assess the hit on your wallet for some of the most visited cities in India and the world, and will certainly help travellers  plan trips based on realistic expenditure estimates."

Deal Stealers

• Pink city, Jaipur   emerges as the least expensive holiday spot for Indians with a total TripIndex cost of Rs. 3933/-
• Jaipur is closely followed by Agra with a TripIndex of   4,573/-.
• For those with their sight set on an international holiday, Bangkok surfaces as a budget friendly foreign trip with a TripIndex cost of 5104.15/-.

Life in a Metro 

• ‘Maximum city’ Mumbai emerged as the most expensive of all metros between New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore with a TripIndex cost of 7,921.
• However, Mumbai features at No. 15 among the most affordable cities in the international list.

Stretching the Rupee

With a TripIndex cost of 6175, 6740 & 6125 respectively for Darjeeling, Goa and Kochi, these vacation hot spots may be less expensive than the metros but are at least 25% more expensive than both Jaipur and Agra.

For the Indian Globetrotter  

• A favourite among Indian travellers, Bangkok emerged as the best value international city beating 49 cities with its total TripIndex cost coming to 5104 & rivalling evergreen hill station Shimla as a choice for your next vacation.

• Conveniently accessible Asia is the most affordable continent for Indians comprising of 4 of the 10 most affordable cities including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing & Macau.

• The most expensive city in the International list list, Paris, came in at 19,553.9 nearly 4 times more expensive than Bangkok, followed by Zurich, Tokyo, London & New York.
• Affordability in the ten cheapest destinations is most evident in hotel and taxi costs.  One night in a four-star hotel in Bangkok is just 3908.5 compared to an average of  13,572.53 for the ten most expensive destinations. While an eight km taxi journey costs just 113.1 238.8 in many of the ten cheapest destinations, the same journey costs over 1903.2  in the likes of Zurich and Tokyo.    

Best Value International Cities

Most Expensive International Cities

The full TripIndex is available at http://www.tripadvisor.in/InfoCenter-a_ctr.landerIN

The India TripIndex list comprises 11 popular tourist and metropolitan Indian cities. TripIndex prices include the following items in each destination:

• Per night cost of a three-star hotel (between June and August 2011)
• Cost of 8 hours taxi hire
• Cost of a pint of beer
• Cost of a vegetarian meal (rice, pulse and vegetable )

Prices were collected through a variety of research methods as outlined below. 

Hotels: Hotel prices shown specify the average cost of a three-star hotel found on TripAdvisor.In (via partner booking sites such as online travel agencies and direct hotel suppliers) in each destination for the summer travel period (June-August 2011). 

Beer: Prices shown is the average cost of a pint of domestic beer of a popular Indian brand in a three star hotel found in each destination

Rice, pulse and vegetable:Meal prices shown specify the cost of one portion of rice, pulse and one vegetable from a three star hotel in each destination. 

Taxi: Taxi prices shown specify the cost for hiring a taxi for 8 hours in each destination.  In most cases, data was obtained from the local government or large taxi company operating in the area.   Please note taxi prices will vary according to a number of factors, including number of passengers, pick-up/drop-off points, traffic, time of day, method of booking, luggage, etc.

All prices shown are as quoted by source.

The international TripIndex destination list comprises key cities from each of the 50 countries which receive the largest number of international tourist arrivals (data compiled by the UNWTO – United Nations World Tourism Organisation) 

TripIndex prices out the following items in each destination:

• Per night cost a four-star hotel (between June and August 2011)
• Cost of 5 mile taxi
• Cost of dry martini
• Cost of a meal (large cheese pizza) 

Prices were collected through a variety of research methods as outlined below.  Prices were taken in local currencies in May 2011 and converted to INR on 16th August 2011.

Hotels: Hotel prices shown specify the average cost of a four-star hotel found on TripAdvisor (via partner booking sites such as online travel agencies and direct hotel suppliers) in each destination for the summer travel period (June-August 2011). 

Dry Martini: Dry Martini prices shown specify the cost of a traditional dry martini in one of the top three five-star hotels on TripAdvisor in each destination.  Taxes and service are not included in the cost shown. 

Pizza: Pizza prices shown specify the cost of a large cheese pizza from a globally-recognised chain in each destination.  In the four destinations where globally-recognised pizza chains do not operate, an average cost was taken from three local pizzerias

Taxi: Taxi prices shown specify the cost of a five-mile taxi journey (8km) in each destination.  In most cases, data was obtained from the local government or large taxi company operating in the area.  In the approximately 30% of destinations where such information was not available, data was obtained from destination specialists.  Please note taxi prices will vary according to a number of factors, including number of passengers, pick-up/drop-off points, traffic, time of day, method of booking, luggage, etc.