Dubai, Makkah, Bangkok, London, Istanbul, New York, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo and Las Vegas are the cities where international visitors spend the most, measured by what arrivals pay for rooms, food, shopping, attractions and transport during their stay. Dubai topped Mastercard's Global Destination Cities Index for visitor spending in its 2019 edition, the last full ranking before the pandemic, and the same group of cities has dominated the spending tables since.
Big spending does not always mean a city is expensive for you. Visitors spend heavily in Bangkok because so many of them arrive, while a single shopping-heavy stay in Dubai can cost more than a week in Istanbul. This guide explains why each city attracts so much tourist money, where that money actually goes, and how a traveller can enjoy the same city without matching the averages.
How to read this ranking: Spending rankings measure the total money international overnight visitors leave in a city, which depends on how many people arrive, how long they stay and what they buy. The order below follows the general pattern of published city spending indexes across several years, because figures shift annually and many surveys paused between 2020 and 2022. For each city we focus on the spending drivers you will meet on the ground, checked in October 2026.
The ten cities profiled here are spread unevenly: six sit in Asia and the Middle East, three in Europe and two in the United States.
Where tourist money goes in each city
Tourist money goes on luxury shopping, hotels and attractions in Dubai, on pilgrim accommodation and services in Makkah, and on shopping and food in Bangkok, where sheer visitor numbers drive the total. Typical stays run from four nights to two weeks. This table sums up what drives visitor spending in each city and gives a rough sense of how heavy a typical day feels on the wallet. Price levels are relative and are not exact figures.
| # | City | Main spending driver | Typical stay | Daily cost feel | Cheapest way to enjoy it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai | Luxury shopping, hotels, attractions | 4 to 6 nights | High | Metro, souks, public beaches |
| 2 | Makkah | Pilgrim accommodation and services | 7 to 14 nights | Varies by season | Book outside Ramadan peaks |
| 3 | Bangkok | Sheer visitor numbers, shopping, food | 4 to 7 nights | Low to medium | Street food, BTS and river boats |
| 4 | London | Hotels, theatre, retail | 4 to 7 nights | High | Free national museums |
| 5 | Istanbul | Shopping, food, medical and business trips | 4 to 6 nights | Medium | Istanbulkart transit card, ferries |
| 6 | New York | Hotels, Broadway, dining | 4 to 6 nights | Very high | Walking, subway, free parks |
| 7 | Paris | Hotels, fashion, gastronomy | 4 to 6 nights | High | Bakeries, picnics, museum passes |
| 8 | Singapore | Hotels, shopping, transit traffic | 3 to 4 nights | High | Hawker centres, MRT |
| 9 | Tokyo | Shopping, dining, record arrivals | 5 to 7 nights | Medium | Konbini meals, day passes |
| 10 | Las Vegas | Shows, gaming, conventions | 3 to 4 nights | Medium to high | Midweek stays, free Strip shows |
The 10 cities where tourists spend the most, one by one
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
As the top spender on this list, a shopping and luxury capital and a favourite stopover, Dubai earns its place through design. The city built its economy around visitors, and nearly everything is set up to encourage spending: giant malls such as The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, a calendar of shopping festivals, beach resorts on Palm Jumeirah, and attractions like the Burj Khalifa observation decks and desert safaris. Average stays are longer than in many cities, and a high share of visitors are on holiday, with business travel a smaller slice.
Dubai International is also one of the busiest international airports in the world and the hub for Emirates, so millions of travellers pass through. Many turn a connection into a stopover of two or three nights, which adds a steady stream of short, high-spend stays.
You do not have to spend like the averages. The Dubai Metro links the airport, Downtown and the Marina cheaply, the old souks of Deira and the abra boats across Dubai Creek cost very little, and public beaches such as Kite Beach are free. The caveat is summer: from June to September heat pushes most life indoors, into air-conditioned and pricier spaces.
Most of the money lands in Downtown, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, and the Dubai Shopping Festival is the big winter draw. Come between November and March, and load a Nol card for the Metro to keep transport cheap. Shoppers and stopover travellers get the most out of the city; book Burj Khalifa tickets online for a non-sunset slot to pay less.
Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Makkah runs on a faith economy built around Hajj and Umrah, which makes it unlike any other city on this list. Visitor spending comes almost entirely from pilgrims, and because Muslims from every part of the world travel here, the volume is enormous. Hotels around Masjid al-Haram, especially the towers of the Abraj Al Bait complex overlooking the mosque, command some of the highest room rates anywhere during peak periods.
Spending is concentrated in accommodation, food, transport between Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, and gifts such as dates, prayer mats and Zamzam water. Ramadan, and particularly its last ten nights, is the busiest Umrah period, and hotel prices close to the Haram rise sharply.
Non-Muslims cannot enter Makkah, so this entry is relevant to Muslim travellers. For them, the main lever on cost is timing: Umrah outside Ramadan and school holidays costs much less, and hotels a little further from the mosque, linked by shuttle buses, can cut the room bill significantly. Saudi Arabia's tourist e-visa has also made independent Umrah possible for eligible passports.
Entry is on an Umrah visa or that tourist e-visa, and the Haramain high-speed railway links the city to Madinah and Jeddah. Pilgrims planning Umrah should compare each hotel's walking distance to the Haram, since a few hundred metres can change the price a lot.
Bangkok, Thailand
Year after year Bangkok ranks among the world's most visited cities, a magnet for food, shopping and nightlife, and its spending total reflects that huge number of arrivals more than high prices. Visitors fan out across temples, malls, markets and rooftop bars, and many pass through several times on the way to Phuket, Chiang Mai or the islands.
The money goes into a remarkable spread of things: luxury malls like Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM, the Chatuchak Weekend Market, river hotels on the Chao Phraya, Thai massage, cooking classes and medical treatment at private hospitals. Grand Palace and Wat Pho admissions, and long evenings in Sukhumvit, add up.
For a traveller, Bangkok is one of the easiest big cities to enjoy cheaply. Street food from vendors in Chinatown's Yaowarat Road, the BTS Skytrain and MRT, and the Chao Phraya Express boats keep daily costs low. The caveat is heat and traffic: plan sightseeing for the morning and use the trains over taxis at rush hour.
Siam, Sukhumvit and the riverside soak up most visitor spending, and November to February is the most comfortable season. Value seekers and food lovers do well here, especially with a night of Chinatown street food. Visit the Grand Palace at opening time to avoid the midday crowds and heat.
London, United Kingdom
For most of the last two decades London, a culture capital of theatre, museums and retail, has been Europe's top city for visitor spending. Hotels are expensive, visitors stay several nights, and spending flows into West End theatre, Oxford Street and Knightsbridge shopping, Premier League football, afternoon tea and a restaurant scene that covers every cuisine on earth.
Business travel adds to the total, as does the city's role as a hub for travellers from the Middle East, South Asia and North America. Harrods and Selfridges are destinations in their own right.
The good news for travellers is that some of London's best experiences are free. The British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern and many more national museums charge no entry for their permanent collections. Contactless payment on the Tube and buses caps your daily fare automatically. Check the London page for hotels by area.
The West End, Knightsbridge and the South Bank are where the money goes. May to September is the best stretch, with December worth it for the lights. Culture lovers get the most value; buy theatre tickets on the day from official booths or apps for discounted seats.
Istanbul, Türkiye
Spread across two continents, with its bazaars and food, this crossroads city draws visitors for history, but a lot of Istanbul's tourist money comes from shopping and services. Visitors from the Gulf, Europe, Central Asia and Africa buy textiles, leather, carpets, gold and jewellery, and the city has become a major centre for medical travel, especially hair transplants and dental work. Turkish Airlines' hub at Istanbul Airport connects it to more countries than almost any other airport.
Classic spending happens around Sultanahmet, home to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace, and in the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. Newer money flows into malls such as Istinye Park and Zorlu Center, and into Bosphorus-front hotels and restaurants, with Nişantaşı another spending hotspot.
The caveat is that Turkish lira volatility means prices change quickly, and some tourist-zone menus are priced well above local cafés a few streets away. An Istanbulkart transit card covers trams, metro and the ferries across the Bosphorus, which are one of the city's best bargains.
April to May and September to October bring the best weather. It suits travellers who want history and shopping in one trip: compare bazaar prices before buying, and eat in Kadıköy on the Asian side for better value than Sultanahmet.
New York City, United States
Big-ticket New York, with its Broadway shows, dining and hotels, is the top US city for international visitor spending, helped by some of the highest average hotel rates in the world. Visitors stay several nights in Manhattan, see Broadway shows, shop on Fifth Avenue and in SoHo, and eat in restaurants that range from pizza slices to tasting menus.
Attractions like the observation decks at the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and One World Observatory, plus the Statue of Liberty ferries and the city's museums, add steadily to the bill. Hotel taxes push the room cost higher than the advertised rate.
To keep costs manageable, walk. Central Park, the High Line, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Staten Island Ferry, which passes the Statue of Liberty, are all free. The subway reaches almost everywhere with a contactless card, and the fare is capped. Hotels in Long Island City or Brooklyn usually cost less than in Midtown.
Midtown, Times Square and SoHo take the biggest share of spending, and April to June or September to November are the best months. It works well for first-time US visitors; check museum pay-what-you-wish and free-evening times before you go.
Paris, France
Fashion, gastronomy and art drive the style spend in Paris, which regularly ranks among the world's most visited cities; visitors pay heavily for hotels, restaurants and clothes. Luxury houses on Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, department stores like Galeries Lafayette, and Michelin-starred dining make it a high-spend city for a section of its visitors.
Cultural spending is another big slice. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower and Versailles all charge entry, and timed tickets have become the norm, so book Louvre and Eiffel Tower slots ahead. Paris hosted the 2024 Olympic Games, which brought new investment and a boost in hotel supply.
A traveller on a budget still eats well in Paris: bakeries, markets such as Marché d'Aligre and a picnic by the Seine or in the Jardin du Luxembourg cost little. Many national museums are free for visitors under 26 from the EEA, and on certain days for everyone. Check the Paris page for areas and hotels.
The 8th, 1st and 7th arrondissements absorb most of the spending, and April to June or September to October are the months to aim for. Art and food lovers are best served; book Louvre entry for an evening opening, when queues are shorter.
Singapore
A hub city built for shopping, food and stopovers, Singapore combines high prices with high numbers. Changi Airport is a major Asian hub, hotels are expensive, and visitors spend on Orchard Road shopping, Marina Bay Sands, Sentosa resorts and Universal Studios Singapore. Medical travel and business conferences add further high-value stays.
The city is compact, so most visitors cover Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam within three or four days, often as a stopover before or after a trip to Malaysia, Indonesia or Australia.
The best bargain in Singapore is the food. Hawker centres such as Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat and Old Airport Road serve chicken rice, laksa and char kway teow for a fraction of restaurant prices, and some hawker stalls have held Michelin recognition. The MRT is clean and quick, and contactless cards work on it. The caveat is that alcohol is heavily taxed and hotel rates rarely drop much.
Orchard Road, Marina Bay and Sentosa collect most of the spending, and February to April is the best window. It is ideal for short stopovers: catch the free evening light show at the Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is the rising spender of the group, pulling visitors in with shopping, food and pop culture, and it has climbed the tables as Japan set new arrival records. The weak yen encourages visitors to buy more: electronics, cosmetics, fashion, anime and gaming goods, whisky and knives. Tax-free shopping for tourists at registered stores makes larger purchases even more attractive.
Spending clusters in Ginza for luxury, Shinjuku and Shibuya for department stores, and Akihabara for electronics and pop culture. Dining is a major draw, from sushi counters to ramen shops, and Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city.
Day to day, the city can be surprisingly cheap. Convenience stores sell good meals, standing soba shops and set lunches give value, and the trains are efficient. Hotels are the main cost, so look at business hotels near major stations. Our Tokyo page lists options.
March to May and October to November are the best seasons. Shoppers and food lovers will be happiest; carry your passport when shopping to claim the tourist tax exemption.
Las Vegas, United States
Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of shows, conventions and gaming, pulls in visitor money through entertainment and events. Resident shows, concerts, boxing and fight nights, conventions such as CES, and the casinos themselves keep spending high per visitor. The city hosts a Formula 1 night race in November, which adds another peak.
Resort fees, a daily charge on top of the room rate at most Strip hotels, are a frequent surprise for international visitors. Dining has moved upmarket, with celebrity-chef restaurants in most big resorts.
Free attractions help balance the budget: the Bellagio fountains, the Conservatory at Bellagio, and the Fremont Street Experience downtown. Midweek stays cost much less than weekends, and Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover Dam are short drives away. Check the Las Vegas page for hotels.
Spending is split between the Strip and Downtown's Fremont Street, and March to May or October to November are the best times. For an entertainment trip, book Sunday to Thursday nights to cut hotel costs by a large margin.
What makes tourists spend more in a city
Three things push a city up the spending tables. The first is volume: Bangkok and Paris welcome so many international visitors that even moderate daily spending adds up to a huge total. The second is length of stay. Pilgrims in Makkah and holidaymakers in Dubai stay longer than business travellers in, say, Frankfurt, and every extra night means another hotel bill and three more meals. Volume is still rising in the biggest spenders: Dubai recorded 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, its third record year in a row, and its hotels averaged 80.7 per cent occupancy.
The third is what the city sells. Dubai, Singapore and Tokyo are retail destinations with tax incentives and global brands, while London, New York and Las Vegas sell entertainment. Hub airports play a quiet role in all of this, because Emirates in Dubai, Singapore Airlines at Changi and Turkish Airlines in Istanbul turn connecting passengers into stopover guests.
How tourist spending in big cities has changed since 2020
The pandemic years broke most city rankings. International travel collapsed in 2020 and 2021, several spending surveys paused, and cities that depended on long-haul visitors, such as Bangkok, Singapore and Tokyo, recovered later than places within driving distance of large home markets. By 2023 and 2024 the big names were back, but the order had shifted.
Japan is the clearest example of a riser. Reopening, combined with the weak yen, sent visitor numbers and shopping spend in Tokyo to new highs, and Osaka and Kyoto followed. Istanbul also gained, helped by Turkish Airlines' network and a lira that made shopping attractive for visitors paid in dollars, euros or Gulf currencies. Saudi Arabia's opening to leisure tourists has begun to add holiday spending in Jeddah and Riyadh on top of the pilgrim economy in Makkah and Madinah.
Spending patterns changed too. Visitors book more experiences and food tours and slightly fewer pure shopping trips in some cities, while luxury retail in Dubai and Paris has stayed strong. Hotel prices rose faster than inflation in many of these cities as demand returned before new rooms opened, which is why accommodation is the first place to look for savings. For travellers, the practical lesson is simple: compare total trip costs and ignore reputations, because a city that tops a spending table can still be a good-value trip if you stay in the right district and travel outside its peak events.
How to visit high-spending cities on a sensible budget
To visit a high-spending city on a sensible budget, stay one district out, in Deira (cheaper than Downtown Dubai) or Brooklyn (cheaper than Midtown), and use the free culture: London's national museums, Paris parks, New York's High Line and the Gardens by the Bay light show in Singapore cost nothing.
- Stay one district out. Hotels in Deira cost less than Downtown Dubai, and Brooklyn less than Midtown, so you save money while keeping a short train ride to the sights.
- Use free culture. London's national museums, Paris parks, New York's High Line and Singapore's Gardens by the Bay light show cost nothing.
- Eat where locals eat. Hawker centres, street stalls, bakeries and set lunches cost a fraction of hotel restaurants in every city here.
- Claim tax refunds. Japan, the UK (for some goods), the EU countries and the UAE run tourist tax refund or tax-free schemes. Keep receipts and your passport handy.
- Avoid event peaks. Hotel prices spike for Ramadan in Makkah, conventions in Las Vegas and major festivals. Check event calendars before you fix dates.
- Turn a layover into a stopover. Dubai, Singapore and Istanbul all suit a two-night break. Compare flight options that allow a stopover at no extra fare.
Planning a trip to Dubai? Read our Dubai travel guide, compare hotels in Dubai, browse tours or search flights.
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