The Economist’s cost-of-loving index

HERE ARE some fun facts with which to woo your date this Valentine’s Day: the event is believed to date back to lusty fertility rituals in ancient Rome; Iran banned any celebration of Valentine’s Day in 2011, lest it spread promiscuous Western behaviour; and it is one of America’s most lucrative festivals. The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts that the average American will spend $186 on their Valentine this year.

That total will stretch much further in some cities than others. Using data from the latest cost-of-living index by EIU, our sister company, we created our own “cost-of-loving index”. It ranks the world’s most expensive cities in which to go on a romantic night out: we start with drinks at a swanky hotel, followed by a lavish two-course meal and a trip to the cinema, a taxi home and a nice bottle of wine to cap things off. (Before you swear off dating, remember that EIU gathers prices with expatriates and business travellers in mind, not local love birds grabbing a cheap bite.)