IN 1994, the Gallagher brothers were looking for some action, but – famously – all they found was Cigarettes and Alcohol.
You might be out of pocket if you find yourself in a similar bind these days, however, according to new research from Deutsche Bank, who have crunched the numbers on the famous combo.
Edinburgh ranks as one of the most expensive cities in the world on the “Oasis Index”, which measures the cost of five beers and two packets of cigarettes.
Two other UK cities placed inside the top ten: London led the way at $63.90, then Birmingham on $62.80, with Edinburgh not far behind at $60.50, just behind Dublin on $61.60.
These prices still pale in comparison to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, where sin taxes have pushed prices up to an eyewatering $111.20 and $109.50, respectively.
This is part of the German bank’s annual “mapping the world’s prices” report.
The study tracks the essentials like living costs, utilities and amenities, but also makes space for vices, recreation, and revelry. It tracks the cost of a bottle of wine ($4.60 in Rome), a “cheap date”, and the price of a packet of cigarettes.
The Oasis Index – one of the study’s most eye-catching metrics – was inspired by the frequently-intoxicated rock and roll lifestyle enjoyed by the Gallagher Brothers, as well as their famous 1994 single.
In terms of the cheapest places, five beers and two packets of cigarettes will only cost you $10.40 in Shanghai, with the price actually falling by around 16% over ten years.
The ten cheapest cities on the Oasis index were predominantly Asian, South American, and African, with Moscow the only European city in the bottom ten:
- Taipei, Taiwan: $16.00
- Bogota, Colombia: $15.10
- Cape Town, South Africa: $13.80
- Sao Paulo, Brazil: $13.70
- Beijing, China: $13.00
- Manila, The Philippines: $12.80
- Moscow, Russia: $12.70
- Cairo, Egypt: $12.10
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: $11.70
- Shanghai, China: $10.40
While the top ten was dominated by anglophone countries:
- Melbourne, Australia: $111.20
- Sydney, Australia: $109.50
- Auckland, New Zealand: $68.60
- Wellington, New Zealand: $67.10
- London, United Kingdom: $63.90
- Birmingham, United Kingdom: $62.80
- Dublin, Ireland: $61.60
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom: $60.50
- New York, United States: $54.10
- Oslo, Norway: $53.40
It remains to be seen whether the prohibitive price of Cigarettes and Alcohol will preclude the emergence of the next Oasis, but it is clear that it has never been more expensive to emulate the Gallaghers, which, some might say, is for the best.
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