Price comparison: Ice skating

While ice skating is a popular winter activity in northern latitudes, ice skating rings can increasingly be found all over the world – even in cities located in the tropics or in the desert. Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for 2 hours of ice skating with skate rentals in various cities in Asia and around the world. Surprisingly, the survey found that prices were highest in (icy) London and other European cities and lowest in Asia. In fact, prices in London, the highest price city, were about US$35.56 while prices in Kuala Lumpur were only about US$3.88. In other words and if you are in London, skate outdoors and if it is summer, wait until winter!

Price Comparison*

London	22 Pounds	US$35.56
Rome	€16	US$23.16
New York City	US$19.13	US$19.13
Brussels	€12	US$17.37
Paris	€10	US$14.48
Frankfurt	€9.5	US$13.75
Singapore	S$18	US$12.59
Shanghai	58 Yuan	US$8.54
Bangkok	250 Baht	US$7.56
Manila	300 Pesos	US$6.55
Hong Kong	HK$50	US$6.45
Jakarta	42,000 Rupiahs	US$4.58
Kuala Lumpur	13 Ringgit	US$3.88

* For two hours and includes skate rentals. Prices based upon exchange rates as of January 13, 2010.