NYC shatters records as priciest popular tourist destination

Greetings from the Big Gouge!

Tourists are paying more to visit NYC than any other popular tourist destination, according to a new study of the ten most visited large cities in the world.

The average cost of one night’s stay in Gotham has soared to $687 per person, research by Rustic Pathways, a student travel company, recently showed.

That’s hundreds of dollars more than cities like Paris and Rome, long perceived by travelers to be wildly expensive.

“With the cost of living having risen dramatically over recent years for many countries, many will still want a [vacation] abroad, but will be looking to spend less than they usually would,” Shayne Fitz-Coy, CEO of Rustic Pathways, said in a written statement.

“This study provides a clear insight into the cities that people want to visit…and which of these cities are not going to break the bank.”

The numbers were tallied up using the median cost of a room in a middle-of-the-road hotel, the average price of three meals a day at a cheap restaurant, alcoholic beverages, the cost of local transportation and tips.

Once the figures were all added up, the cities were ranked in order, from cheapest to priciest. Here are the findings.

1. Berlin $266 per night

The cost of one night in NYC could get you nearly three nights in the German capital, though watch your food budget — at $56, the city is the most expensive of the 10 for eating.

2. Madrid $298 per night

Spain’s largest city won’t take that big a bite out of your wallet — hotel rooms are just $167 and meals $37.

3. Tokyo $338 per night

Hard to believe for those longer memories, but these days, one of the world’s priciest places is now a relative bargain.

4. Barcelona $340 per night 

The city that’s so popular, local officials have discussed how to cut back on visitation remains a relative steal. For those who don’t want to overspend on food, Fitz-Coy said, this is a great option “with the average visitor spending only $35 on food.”

5. Amsterdam $374 per night

The list takes a turn for the more expensive as we hit the midpoint — a room in the Dutch capital will run you $221 a night, on average.

6. Rome $383 per night

The Eternal City’s reputation as a costly stop-off for travelers is well-warranted, but high prices on things like hotels are balanced out by affordability on other fronts.

7. London $461 per night

Cheap thrills are hard to find in the Big Smoke, but it’s possible — landing the city far lower on the list than some might have assumed.

8. Dubai $465 per night

The Las Vegas of the Middle East can leave a hole in a visitor’s pocket even without gambling at every turn.

“If someone is looking for a break with plenty of sightseeing, then Dubai is a good option, with many of the country’s most popular tourist hotspots being free to the public, such as The Dubai Fountain and Marina Beach,” Fitz-Coy said.

9. Paris $557 per night

In the least surprising result on the list, the French capital ranked right near the top. The average visitor spends roughly $84 per day on entertainment alone.

10. New York $687 per night

The shock ranking may be driven in part by exorbitant average hotel rates, but NYC locals know — absolutely everything here is more expensive in 2024.