Data compiled from 190 cities around the world has revealed the most expensive places to buy a bottle of wine, with two Australian cities making the top 10.
The study analysed information from cost-of-living database Numbeo, compiled by Magnet Kitchens. It included cities in the European Union, UK, US, Australia and Canada.
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 $3797/tonne.
The cities paying the most for a bottle of wine
Magnet said: “If you’re looking for an affordable bottle of wine to drink in the kitchen whilst having fun with family and friends, then don’t expect to find it in any of these cities…”
| Rank | City | State/Province | Price of a bottle of wine ($US) |
| 1 | New York | NY | $20 |
| 2 | Columbus | OH | $18 |
| 3 | San Francisco | CA | $17.75 |
| 3 | Oakland | CA | $17.75 |
| 4 | Philadelphia | PA | $17 |
| 5 | Launceston | Tasmania | $16.45 |
| 6 | Hobart | Tasmania | $16.45 |
| 7 | Washington | DC | $16.00 |
| 8 | Denver | CO | $16.00 |
| 9 | Tucson | AZ | $15.50 |
| 10 | Victoria | British Columbia | $15.29 |
The most expensive cities in the world to host a BBQ
The data compiled by Magnet was part of a larger study about the cheapest and most expensive cities to host a BBQ, where Australia also dominated the least affordable cities list.
Magnet Kitchens used data from Numbeo to examine several factors crucial for a successful at-home summer event. These included the prices of beer, wine and food. Additionally, Magnet looked into taxi fares, curfew hours to ensure the party wouldn’t be cut short by local regulations and the hours of sunlight.
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 spots.
- Hobart
- Launceston
- Adelaide
- New York
- Sydney
- San Francisco
- Washington
- Brisbane
- Canberra
- Victoria (Canada)