Auckland proves to be good value

Auckland is the seventh-cheapest tourist-friendly city in the world, a travel website has found.

The website Tripadvisor has launched TripIndex, which compares the cost of 50 tourist cities around the world.

The cities were ranked on the prices of an 8km taxi ride, a night in a four-star hotel, some pizza and a dry martini from a five-star restaurant.

Auckland came seventh, with a total of $173. Number one, Bangkok, cost $131.80 and Beijing $141.30.

The most expensive city was Paris, which cost $507.20.

The only Australian city to make the list was Sydney, which fell close to the middle on $280.30.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown said the news was "fantastic" in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup.

He said he was surprised Auckland was cheaper than cities such as Marrakesh in Morocco.

Former head of Tourism Auckland Graeme Osborne said the result was a mixed blessing.

"It's marvellous and helpful to be communicating our affordablility, but it's also an indication that we're coming through a really hard time."

Auckland could afford to increase its prices further because of its growing popularity as a destination, he said.

Mr Osborne said tourist demand had been down recently, so prices had fallen to reflect that.

"We're hoping that with this news going to the world, that it will remind people about how great a value-for-money destination we are.

"So it's an extremely positive message to be communicating to our key markets, but it's a reminder that our marketplace is a little bit suppressed."

TOP 10
1. Bangkok
2. Beijing
3. Sharm el Sheikh
4. Kuala Lumpur
5. Sofia
6. Budapest
7. Auckland
8. Marrakesh
9. Warsaw
10. Dubai