The world’s most expensive cities to buy wine

February 6, 2019
By Alana House

Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world to buy a bottle of wine according to The Economist’s annual Worldwide Cost of Living 2018 survey.

The city ranked at 10th overall, with Singapore ranking as the world’s most expensive city for the fifth year running.

When it came to a bottle of wine, Sydney was in 4th place at $US20.49, a year-on-year increase of 7%. 

The most expensive city in the world to buy wine was Tel Aviv, at $US28.77 a bottle. Meanwhile, Paris saw the biggest increase, with the cost of a bottle of wine rising by 15% in 2018 compared with 2017. 

The Worldwide Cost of Living 2018 based its results on the average US$ price for one bottle of table wine (750ml). Prices are surveyed in the off-trade, analysing supermarkets, mid-priced stores and higher-priced speciality outlets to determine an average.

Overall, the report looked at 400 individual prices for 160 products and services. The surveyed products included, clothing, household items, food, personal care items, rental prices, transportation, utility bills, private schooling cost, domestic assistance etc. 

The top 10 most expensive cities to buy wine

1. Tel Aviv: $US28.77

2. Seoul: $US27.02

3. Singapore: $US23.68

4. Sydney: $US20.49

5. Hong Kong: $US16.16

6. Zurich: $US15.89

7. Oslo: $US13.70

8. Copenhagen: $US13.28

9. Paris: $US11.90

10. Geneva: $US8.37

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