Summer is just around the corner and new data has revealed Australia is the most expensive country in the world to host a BBQ.

A study compiled by Magnet Kitchens has analysed data from cost-of-living database Numbeo on 190 cities globally, including the European Union, UK, US, Australia and Canada.

Magnet Kitchens examining several factors crucial for a successful at-home summer event. These included the prices of beer, wine, and food. Additionally, the study looked into taxi fares to ensure guests could get home safely and affordably after a fun-filled evening. It also considered curfew hours to ensure your party won’t be cut short by local regulations, and the hours of sunlight, as longer days provide more time for outdoor enjoyment.

The results showed the best city for hosting a BBQ worldwide was Cordoba in Spain, while the worst city for hosting worldwide was Launceston. In fact, Australia took out six of the top 10 most-expensive spots.

1. Hobart
2. Launceston
3. Adelaide
4. New York
5. Sydney
6. San Francisco
7. Washington
8. Brisbane
9. Canberra
10. Victoria (Canada)

Townsville was the most economical city in Australia to host a BBQ, followed by Ballarat and Newcastle.

Australia’s alcohol excise taxes are among the highest in the world and increased on 5 August 2024 to $103.89 per litre for spirits and as much as $61.32 per litre for beer. The CPI increase was the 75^th tax hike on alcohol since automatic indexation was introduced by Paul Keating in August 1983.

The cities paying the most for a bottle of wine

The data also revealed the most expensive places to buy a bottle of wine, with two Australian cities making the top 10.

New York City topped the worldwide ranking of the most expensive city for a bottle of wine, costing an average of US$20 per bottle. The cheapest city to buy a bottle of wine was Cordoba, Spain, at $3.55.

Launceston and Hobart in Tasmania were the only two cities in the top 10 that are located outside of the US. Launceston took fifth place on the list, with an average cost of $16.45. Hobart was in sixth place, also with an average cost of $16.45.

Don’t expect wine in Tassie to get cheaper any time soon. The state’s wine grapes harvested in 2024 set new records, averaging $3674 per tonne across all varieties and styles (compared with $613 per tonne nationally), with the value of Tasmanian sparkling wine grapes up to $3797/tonne.

Magnet said: “If you’re looking for an affordable bottle of wine to drink in the kitchen whilst having fun with family and friends, then don’t expect to find it in any of these cities…”