The cheapest beer in the world is sold in Krakow, Kyiv, and Bratislava, and the most expensive in Hong Kong and Geneva.
According to Gazeta.ru, in Russia the pace of food inflation can be tracked using the 'Olivier Index', which tracks the price of all the ingredients in this dish, while Ukraine uses a similar borscht index for the same purpose.
However, all these indices are related exclusively to food, not beverages. This 'injustice' was addressed by a study conducted by the travel search engine GoEuro: service analysts took up the study of beer prices in different cities around the world.
To compile the index, the cost of the most popular beer varieties, both imported and local, was analyzed in 75 cities. The average price for this alcoholic beverage was calculated based on two indicators – the price of beer in a regular supermarket and in a bar. The standard volume was taken as 0.33 liters.
It turned out that the cheapest beer can be drunk in two European cities – Polish Krakow and Kyiv. In Krakow, cheaper beer can be found in a store, in Kyiv – in a bar, but overall, the average cost of beer in both cities is $1.67.
Next, the top 10 cheapest beer locations are as follows. After Krakow and Kyiv come Hungarian Bratislava ($1.70), Spanish Malaga ($1.73), Indian Delhi ($1.77), Vietnamese Ho Chi Minh City ($1.80), Mexican Mexico City ($1.97), Serbian Belgrade ($1.98), Paraguayan Asunción ($2.00), and Thai Bangkok ($1.36).
The capital of the world's 'beeriest' country – the Czech Republic – ranks 26th in the rating. Beer in Prague can be bought for $1.03 in a supermarket and for $4.34 in a restaurant or bar. Thus the average price of beer is $2.68. Beer in Moscow is more expensive: 0.33 liters of beer in a Moscow supermarket can be bought for $2.50, and in the capital's bar for $5.50. In the ranking of cities with the cheapest beer, Moscow only ranks 56th.
The cities where the desire to drink beer will cost the most are located in different parts of the world. These include New York ($5.25), Oslo ($5.34), Tel Aviv ($5.83), and Hong Kong ($6.20). The highest average price for beer was found in Geneva: there, for 330 ml, you will have to pay $6.37.
As for prices in stores and supermarkets, the cheapest beer from a supermarket can be found in Seville ($0.53), and the most expensive in Oslo ($3.47). Having a mug of beer in a bar is cheapest in Bratislava ($2.23), and most expensive in Hong Kong ($10.93).
Also as part of the study, the service indicated the level of beer consumption in liters per person per year, as well as related spending. The least beer is consumed by residents of Asian cities: in them, the average number of liters drunk is less than 20 liters per year. In Cairo, 4 liters per capita are drunk, in Delhi – 6 liters, in Abu Dhabi – 8 liters, on the island of Bali – 9 liters, in Hong Kong – 16 liters, in Kuala Lumpur – 18 liters. The biggest beer lovers, unsurprisingly, turned out to be citizens of Eastern Europe. The average resident of Bucharest drinks 133 liters of beer per year, Prague – 130 liters, Warsaw and Krakow – 127 liters, and Belgrade – 119 liters.
Interestingly, Ho Chi Minh City entered the top 5 cities that appreciate beer not only in quality but also in quantity. In Vietnam's largest city, 119 liters of beer are drunk annually.
With the calculation of spending on beer, the ranking of the most economical settlements (and, consequently, less drinking) hardly changes. In Cairo, Delhi, Abu Dhabi and Bali, less than $150 per year is spent on this alcoholic drink. The situation is opposite with the ranking of cities whose residents spend the most on beer: neither Prague nor Bucharest are in the top 5 or top 10 in terms of spending on beer. The most money on beer is spent by residents of Helsinki ($1,550), Sydney and New York ($1,340 each). The top 5 is rounded out by Miami and Moscow. Americans living on the Atlantic coast in Florida spend $1,320 annually on beer. Residents of the Russian capital are not far behind: their spending on this drink is estimated at $1,276.
As the researchers point out, the prices identified in 2015 are explained by the increase in the exchange rate of a number of national currencies and devaluation. For example, as a result of the fact that the Swiss franc was no longer pegged to the euro, Zurich and Geneva entered the 15 most expensive cities for beer. The cost of beer in the US is also rising, as the dollar is currently strengthening against the euro.