How we measure cost
This index ranks cities based on an aggregated "Price Tier" score (1-5), which factors in: average race entry fees for marquee events, peak-season accommodation costs during race weekends, and general travel expenses.
1
New York, USA
Pop: 8.3M•Climate: humid continental
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
2
Chicago, USA
Pop: 2.7M•Climate: humid continental
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
3
Boston, USA
Pop: 692K•Climate: humid continental
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
4
San Francisco, USA
Pop: 874K•Climate: Mediterranean
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
5
Honolulu, USA
Pop: 350K•Climate: tropical rainforest
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
6
London, UK
Pop: 9M•Climate: temperate oceanic
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
7
Paris, France
Pop: 2.2M•Climate: oceanic
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
8
Oslo, Norway
Pop: 697K•Climate: humid continental
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
9
Zurich, Switzerland
Pop: 421K•Climate: oceanic
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
10
Geneva, Switzerland
Pop: 203K•Climate: oceanic
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
11
Tokyo, Japan
Pop: 14M•Climate: humid subtropical
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
12
Sydney, Australia
Pop: 5.3M•Climate: humid subtropical
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
13
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Pop: 7.5M•Climate: humid subtropical
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
14
Dubai, UAE
Pop: 3.3M•Climate: hot desert
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
15
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Pop: 1.5M•Climate: hot desert
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
16
Tel Aviv, Israel
Pop: 460K•Climate: Mediterranean
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
17
Doha, Qatar
Pop: 2.4M•Climate: hot desert
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
18
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Pop: 7.7M•Climate: hot desert
Estimated Cost$$$+ (Very Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
19
Los Angeles, USA
Pop: 4M•Climate: Mediterranean
Estimated Cost$$$ (Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
20
Seattle, USA
Pop: 737K•Climate: oceanic
Estimated Cost$$$ (Expensive)
AffordableVery Expensive
Methodology & Data Sources
Data Collection:
This index aggregates data from over 50 major international race destinations. Pricing tiers (1-5) are calculated based on a weighted average of:
- Marquee event entry fees (e.g., World Major Marathons)
- Average 3-star hotel cost during race weekend
- Flight accessibility and average travel costs
Sources:
- Entry fees sourced directly from official race websites (2025-2026 seasons).
- Population data: World Bank / local census bureaus (2024 estimates).
- Climate classification: Köppen climate classification system.
Last Updated: Feb 2026. Data is for informational purposes only.
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