The big cities where travel money lasts longer
The spring weekend season is underway and with several long weekends in the calendar, many people choose to travel to a European city for contrasts, culture and culinary experiences. But what does a day on the town really cost? In Geneva, Europe's most expensive city, it is 80% more expensive than in Stockholm and as much as 140% more expensive than in Prague. This is shown by FOREX's new city index, which compares prices in over 80 major cities.
" This year, too, you get a lot of value for money if you look east – in trendy Poland, for example, Gdansk, Warsaw and Krakow are between 25-32% cheaper than Stockholm. Bubblaren Belgrade offers prices that are 45% lower. Note that Serbian dinars can be difficult to get hold of outside Serbia, so the recommendation is to bring euros and exchange for dinars on site, says Niklas Lydahl, COO at FOREX.
In the classic weekend destinations London (145), Copenhagen (140) and Paris (118), the money does not go as far as in Athens (72) or Rome (90). Being aware of hidden costs, such as the tourist tax that is added in Italy and paid in cash on the spot, helps in planning the travel budget.
The East Coast cities of New York (170) and Miami (155) can be visited over a long weekend. The cities are still expensive to visit – they are 70% and 55% more expensive than Stockholm, respectively. In the US, tipping is also expected in basically all service contexts – in restaurants, around 20% is appropriate for good service and it is best left in cash.
Using cash is an effective way to keep track of your travel budget. In many countries outside the Nordic region, cash is also more common as a means of payment. Buying travel currency before departure means that you avoid both the currency surcharges and withdrawal fees that apply when using the card.
"If you know where the hidden costs are and you have a mix of cash and cards in your pocket, you are well prepared for the trip. FOREX store employees know what applies in the particular city you are going to, they are more than happy to give advice", says Niklas Lydahl.
Compare 80+ major cities around the world in the FOREX City Index 2026.