The inaugural TripIndex Room Service 2013 released by TripAdvisor, which compares popular hotel amenities in 46 of the world’s key destinations, reveals Moscow (Russia) as the most expensive city for travellers while Cape Town (South Africa) is the most affordable.

Six of the10 most expensive cities for room service in the survey are in Europe, with Moscow in Russia) topping the list with a TripIndex value of US$83.09, closely followed by Paris in France with US$69.19. Stockholm (Sweden), Oslo (Norway), and Zurich (Switzerland) are in third, fourth and fifth place respectively.

Cape Town in South Africa, with TripIndex value of US$19.74, is the most affordable city while Sharmt El Sheikh (Egypt) comes in second with US$23.94. Mumbai (India), Istanbul (Turkey) and Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) come in third, fourth and fifth. (see details in charts below).

Samples of room service charges:

• Club sandwich: The most expensive destination for this common hotel food order is Zurich, Switzerland, where the average cost is US$29.19, over five times that of the cheapest on the list – US$5.52 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
• Bottle of water:  Oslo, Norway has the highest cost for a bottle of water at US$8.18. In both Hong Kong, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia all the hotels contacted provided bottled water free of charge.
• Peanuts: At US$12.46 Moscow, Russia is the most costly for peanuts taken from the minibar. The snack is over seven times cheaper in hotels in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at US$1.60.
• Can of coke: A can of coke from the hotel minibar is most expensive in Oslo, Norway at US$7.93, over four times that of the cheapest in the list, US$1.87 in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Mini bottle of vodka: The most expensive destination for a mini bottle of vodka from a minibar is Stockholm, Sweden at US$18.07, nearly six times that of Cape Town. Moscow is the second most expensive destination (US$17.28), surprising considering vodka is Russia’s national drink.
• Dry cleaning (one shirt): Moscow, Russia has the highest cost to dry clean a shirt in a hotel at  US$17.70, over six times that of Sharm el Sheikh – the cheapest on the list at US$2.84.

TripAdvisor spokesperson, Jean Ow-Yeong said, “By comparing the cost of these popular items from hotels around the world, TripIndex Room Service gives travellers a useful snapshot of where their money will stretch the furthest,

• The TripIndex Room Service is based on the combined cost of a club sandwich ordered on room service, a bottle of water, peanuts, mini bottle of vodka and a can of coke from the mini bar and the dry cleaning of one shirt. All costs are taken from top TripAdvisor rated 4 star hotels in each featured destination.