What a city really costs, line by line.
Pick a city to read an itemised receipt for a week there or a month living there. Every price shows the month it was collected and where it came from.
These receipts hold made-up sample numbers so you can see how one works. Real city receipts appear here as each video goes up.
- Per person
- $0
- Per day
- $0
First-month extras
Where these prices came from
Cities
The first city receipt is on its way
Each receipt adds up a week of visiting or a month of living in one city, with the source for every price. Check the channel below for the latest city.
Before you go: five costs to price-check
One city per video, priced line by line
The Optimize Journey channel adds up one city at a time. Visiting videos price a week there. Moving videos price a month living there. Each description links to that city’s receipt on this page.
The channel is launching soon.
- 1
Watch a city on the channel.
- 2
Open the receipt link in the video description.
- 3
Read every line, its note and where the price came from.
Questions
Where do the prices come from?
Each receipt lists its sources and the month the prices were collected. Open “Where these prices came from” under the receipt to see them. Prices change, so a receipt older than six months is marked as old.
What does a receipt include?
A visiting receipt adds up lodging, food, local transport, things to do and phone data for the days and travelers shown on it. A moving receipt adds up one month of rent, bills, groceries, eating out, transit and health cover for one person. First-month extras such as deposits are listed separately so they do not inflate the monthly total. Flights, visa fees and income taxes are not included.
Why do these numbers differ from other sites?
Large databases average many different lifestyles. A receipt here prices one described basket, such as a mid-range double room for two, so you can see what that exact choice costs.
Are the prices in US dollars?
Yes. When a city is priced in another currency, the receipt notes the exchange rate used.
Does this site sell anything?
No. Nothing here is for sale, and the page has no affiliate links. Every receipt is free to read, and its prices come from the sources listed under it.
Can I ask for a city?
Yes. Email contact@optimizejourney.com with the city and whether you are visiting or moving.