Expensive cities that earn their daily cost

Some destinations sit at the top of the index for a reason — they offer concentrated experiences, infrastructure, food and design density that justifies the daily spend. This list ranks our highest-cost cities, with a one-line case for why each is worth it.

  1. 01
    New York, United States

    Mid-range $728/day. The platonic ideal of a city, in twenty-three flavours.

    Tier: Very pricey · $500+/day mid-range
    $728/day
  2. 02
    San Francisco, United States

    Mid-range $728/day. Pacific fog, painted hills, hyper-modern appetite.

    Tier: Very pricey · $500+/day mid-range
    $728/day
  3. 03
    Zurich, Switzerland

    Mid-range $728/day. Alpine lake city engineered to the second.

    Tier: Very pricey · $500+/day mid-range
    $728/day
  4. 04
    London, United Kingdom

    Mid-range $556/day. Centuries layered into walkable villages.

    Tier: Pricey · $350–500/day mid-range
    $556/day
  5. 05
    Reykjavik, Iceland

    Mid-range $556/day. Tiny capital at the edge of fire-and-ice geology.

    Tier: Pricey · $350–500/day mid-range
    $556/day
  6. 06
    Paris, France

    Mid-range $514/day. Limestone, light, and an unending appetite for the table.

    Tier: Pricey · $350–500/day mid-range
    $514/day
  7. 07
    Sydney, Australia

    Mid-range $514/day. Harbour theatre, surf beaches, blue-sky confidence.

    Tier: Pricey · $350–500/day mid-range
    $514/day
  8. 08
    Copenhagen, Denmark

    Mid-range $471/day. Quietly radical design and harbour light.

    Tier: Moderate · $200–350/day mid-range
    $471/day
  9. 09
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Mid-range $471/day. Engineered skyline, desert nights, gold-lit malls.

    Tier: Moderate · $200–350/day mid-range
    $471/day
  10. 10
    Melbourne, Australia

    Mid-range $471/day. Laneway coffee culture and an art-led skyline.

    Tier: Moderate · $200–350/day mid-range
    $471/day
FAQ

Common questions

What is the most expensive city to visit?
Across our 68-city index, Zurich, New York and San Francisco share the highest mid-range daily cost in shoulder season — driven almost entirely by accommodation.
Are expensive cities worth it?
It depends on density. Cities like Tokyo, Paris, New York and Singapore pack an unusual concentration of food, culture and infrastructure into a single visit — the per-memory cost can actually beat cheaper, sparser destinations.