Guess which Indian city you can go to for the world’s cheapest date

A new survey has listed the most expensive places to go on a date in the world. People from cities in the poll tell us how costly it really is.

In May, an international bank released the results of a survey, The Cheap Date Index. It detailed the cost of going on a date in cities across the world. Zurich, Switzerland, was listed as the most expensive city to go on a date, while Bangalore was the cheapest. Mumbai was third from the bottom. To get a perspective of how much one spends on a date across the world, we spoke to three people from the top 10 cities, and three from the bottom 10. Here’s what they had to say.

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Ruben Vanhees says a cab ride in Brussels is 15€ on an average (Rs 1,149).

Ruben Vanhees, Brussels (no 8)
Profession: Consultant at an IT firm

How much does it cost?
For a cab ride: 15€ on an average (Rs 1,149)
Two soft drinks: 4€ (Rs 306)
Two beers: 10€ (Rs 766)
Two movie tickets: 16€ on an average (Rs 1,225)
Dinner or lunch for two at a pub or a diner: 30€ on an average (Rs 2,298)

Kalpesh Koli says dinner or lunch for two at a pub or a diner in San Francisco costs $30 plus $20 tip (Rs 3,377).

Kalpesh Koli, San Francisco (no 10)
Profession: Doctor

How much does it cost?
For a cab ride: $5 (Rs 337)
Two soft drinks: $10 (Rs 675)
Two beers: $10 (Rs 675)
Two movie tickets: $30 to $40 (Rs 2,026 to Rs 2,702)
Dinner or lunch for two at a pub or a diner: $30 plus $20 tip (Rs 3,377)

Is dating expensive in San Francisco?
“Going on a date is expensive in San Francisco as compared to other places in the US because of the high cost of living. Watching movies and eating out are the most expensive. There are cheaper options available, but I wouldn’t take my date there. Travelling by shared cabs such as Uber Pool and Lyft Line is cheaper,” says Koli.

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Akanksha Sharma says the best thing about living in Delhi is that there are plenty of eating-out options.

Akanksha Sharma, New Delhi (no 34)
Profession: Entrepreneur

How much does it cost?
For a cab ride: Rs 200 on an average
Two soft drinks: Rs 100
Two beers: Rs 700
Two movie tickets: Rs 500
Dinner or lunch for two at a pub or a diner: Rs 800 to Rs 4,000

Is dating expensive in New Delhi?
“The best thing about living in Delhi is that there are plenty of options. It depends on an individual how much he or she wants to spend,” says Sharma.

Newton Lewis says you can enjoy a cheap evening in Mumbai for under Rs 1,000.

Newton Lewis, Mumbai (no 37)
Profession: AGM, operations and technology, at a media company

How much does it cost?
For a cab ride: Rs 300 on an average (by Uber from Santacruz to Colaba)
Two soft drinks: Rs 150 to Rs 200
Two beers: Rs 300 to Rs 1,200
Two movie tickets: Rs 300 (price varies depending on the day of the week)
Dinner or lunch for two at a pub or a diner: Rs 1,500 or more

Is dating expensive in Mumbai?
“The good thing about Mumbai is that there is a restaurant for every budget. You can enjoy a cheap evening out for under Rs 1,000. Going out on dates isn’t that expensive in the city. But if you want to go all out, sky is the limit. However, with the increasing taxes and inflation, we are starting to feel the pinch. Almost one third of your bill amount, in an air-conditioned restaurant, is made up of taxes,” says Lewis.

Ajantha Devi says it is expensive to go on a date in Bangalore.

Ajantha Devi, Bangalore (no 39)
Profession: Architect

How much does it cost?
For a cab ride: Rs 200 on an average
Two soft drinks: Rs 200
Two beers: Rs 700
Two movie tickets: Rs 450
Dinner or lunch for two at a pub or a diner: Rs 1,500 on an average

Is dating expensive in Bangalore?
“It is expensive to go on a date in Bangalore. Travelling is expensive as the auto drivers rip you off. Uber taxis are hard to find on a busy night. The traffic makes things worse. When it comes to selecting places, the probability of getting a table is tough unless you book in advance,” says Devi.

Natalie Barrass says two soft drinks in London cost 3£ (Rs 297).

Natalie Barrass, London (no 7)
Profession: Video Maker, RJ

How much does it cost?
For a cab ride: 15£ to 20£ (Rs 1486 to Rs 1982)
Two soft drinks: 3£ (Rs 297)
Two beers: 6£, 8£ or 10£ for a pint (Rs 594, Rs 792 or Rs 991)
Two movie tickets: 20£ (Rs 1,982)
Dinner or lunch for two at a pub or a diner: 30£ to 35£ (Rs 2,973 to Rs 3,469)

Is dating expensive in London?
“Everything in London is expensive. Leicester Square Cinema sells tickets for a 3D movie during peak hours for £20 (Rs 1,982). But if you know where to go and on which days, you can get a good deal. There are websites and apps that offer two-for-one deals. Almost all museums and art galleries have free entries. A romantic picnic in one of the parks or eating noodles late at night in China Town are acceptable ways to date without crossing the budget. As a couple, there is nothing wrong in going on a cheap date, but for first-timers, it might not set a good impression,” says Barrass.

(The prices were calculated on the following exchange rates: 1€= Rs 76.6 approx, 1$ = Rs 67.55 approx, 1£ = Rs 99.12 approx)