Enjoying a cold beer during a day of sightseeing is one of life’s simple pleasures. But if it’s your turn to buy a round of drinks in one of these cities, be prepared to dig deep. These are 15 of the most expensive places around the world to buy a beer, according to research by Honest Coffees. We’ve listed them in reverse order, along with some suggestions of the best locals beer to try. 

Expect to pay £3.85 ($5.11) for a beer in China’s capital. The nation’s favourite ale, Snow, is the biggest-selling beer on the planet – not surprising when you consider the country is home to around 20% of the world’s population. City-dwellers also enjoy the rice-based tipple Yanjing Beer – around 25% of its sales are made in Beijing.

The first craft brewery in Beijing, Great Leap Brewing was launched in 2010 with just four beers. They now make 20 varieties and own three locations in the city. Try their signature beer, Honey Ma Gold – a floral creation with honey notes. 

Argentina is renowned for producing some of the best wines in the world, but the craft beer scene in the nation’s capital has steadily grown over the last few years. The average cost of a beer is £3.88 ($5.14) – though many city-workers and tourists take advantage of happy hour, offered by the vast majority of bars in this party-loving town.

For a strong local ale, try Antares Caballito’s super-strength Double IPA which combines tropical fruit and floral notes with bitter undertones. 

As Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, most people don’t drink alcohol. But with tourism booming in the city, booze is not impossible to come by and beer can be bought in many hotels and bars for around £3.99 ($5.29).

For obvious reasons, there are only a handful of local beers on offer in Morocco. Casablanca Beer (also known as Casa Beer) is widely considered the best, a pale lager with a sweet, malt flavour and a hint of spiciness. 

New Zealanders love their beer, with pale and amber lagers being the most popular. These will set you back £4.49 ($5.94) in Auckland – where there’s also a booming interest in craft beer.

For an overwhelming choice of local beers, head to 16 Tun in the Wynyard Quarter where the 80 or so craft beers on offer are all made in New Zealand (strictly no imports). If you like it strong, order the Double Geddon, an 8% IPA with a balanced citrus and malty flavour. 

Contrary to what you might see in adverts, not all Australians drink Fosters. Mid-strength cold lagers are most popular in Sydney, where an average beer costs £4.70 ($6.22). In recent years, there’s been a big rise in interest in craft beers, with pale ales also in demand.

Family-owned Redoak Boutique Beer Café was established in 2004 and has picked up numerous awards. Located in the heart of the city, they offer 20 beers including their award-winning Pommy Bitter, a rich amber ale with notes of citrus and caramel. 

It’s one of the most health-conscious places in the world, but Los Angeles still has plenty of drinkers – expect a beer to cost around £4.70 ($6.23). Following a recent boom in beer-based gastropubs and micro-breweries, sales of Belgian, Korean and German brews are also on the rise.

Los Angeles Ale Works was founded in 2010 by Kristofor ‘Kip’ Barnes. Visit their Hawthorn brewhouse to try the full range, which includes their original Goldilocks lager, a light, crisp and fruity beer that's perfect on a warm sunny afternoon. 

Japan is recognised around the world for creating high-quality, great-tasting beer. You’ll need to pay £4.71 ($6.24) in Tokyo, where locals often raise a glass of Japanese brew Asahi Super Dry.

Tokyo’s most popular local beers are exported around the world, but for something different head to Popeye. Launched in 1985, the brewery and bar has been described as the ‘birthplace of craft beer in Japan’ and has more than 70 brews on tap. Try the Strange Brewing Uptight Bitter, a spicy ale with a biscuity aroma.

Londoners love to drink – you’ll find crowds of beer-swilling customers spilling out of pubs, bars and clubs every night of the week. But with an average price of £4.99 ($6.63), drinking beer in the city doesn’t come cheap. Strong European lagers Heineken and Stella Artois are among the most widely drunk, while new micro-breweries offering more interesting bottles are popping up over the capital.

Founded by Logan Plant, the son of Led Zeppelin’s Robert, Bevertown is one of London’s fastest-growing breweries. Try Gamma Ray (pictured centre) a tropical pale ale with mango and grapefruit aromas. 

Pale lagers and strong bitters are the order of the day in Melbourne, where most beer-drinkers are loyal to classic local brews and splash out £5.11 ($6.77) for a beer. Belgian beers are also in demand and interest in craft beer grows every year.

Moon Dog Craft Brewery was launched by brothers Jake and Josh Uljans with their friend Karl van Buuren in 2010. Head to their bar in Abbotsford where you’ll find standard lagers, pale and dark ales (pictured) as well as some more imaginative brews, such as Mountain Goat, a Vietnamese spiced saison with citrus tones and a bitter finish. 

Chicago was shaped by prohibition like no other city in America, but today its beer (and liquor) drinking culture is booming. It costs £5.22 ($6.91) for a beer, with all-American lagers Millers and Coors topping the most-popular list.

Three Floyds was founded in 1996 by brothers Nick and Simon with their father Mike Floyd and is now one of Chicago’s most respected breweries. Try their BrooDoo, an apricot-coloured IPA with strong flavours and a spicy accent. 

Locally-brewed Tiger dominates the bars of Singapore, where a beer will set you back £6.02 (£7.97). Strong French and German lagers and Irish stout are widely enjoyed and a handful of independent breweries are starting to make their mark on the city.

Established in 1997, Brewerkz brewery is the city’s longest-running microbrewery. Beer geeks will love their signature collection, which includes the award-winning Golden Ale, a straw-coloured brew with floral tones. 

Brooklyn Lager is the go-to choice for many beer drinkers in New York City, where the average brew will cost you the princely sum of £6.09 ($8.07). In one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, it’s no surprise imported beers like Stella, Guinness and Corona are also big sellers.

The Other Half Brewing Company was founded in 2013 by Sam Richardson, Matt Monahan and Andrew Burman, who wanted to bring new IPAs to New York. Head to their taproom in Brooklyn and try Forever Ever, a cloudy orange beer with a bittersweet finish. 

The French love to savour the good things in life, including beer which costs a hefty £6.14 ($8.15). Binge-drinking and drunken behaviour is strongly frowned upon, but you’ll find many bars busy with drinkers sipping demi-pressions and Belgian ales.

Iconic brewery Gallia was launched in 1890. Forced to close in 1969, it was re-launched 40 years later by Guillaume Roy and Jacques Ferté, who were determined to bring it back to its former glory. The brewery now produces more than a dozen beers, including the original Gallia Lager, a golden blonde French malt with a light and refreshing taste. 

Very few things come cheap in this city, including the beer, which on average costs £6.31 ($8.36). Locally-brewed San Miguel is the most popular choice.

Young Master Ales are largely credited with jump-starting the craft-brewing craze in Hong Kong. Since 2013 their beers have been served throughout the city, including at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons. Try their Classic Pale Ale, a refreshing blend of floral, fruity flavours – and winner of the Hong International Beer Awards for the best beer produced in the city. 

With a beer costing £8.87 ($11.63) on average, Dubai is by far and away the most expensive place to drink according to this survey – that’s £2.47 ($3.27) more than Hong Kong. Although it’s considered a playground for the rich and famous, this city has some very strict rules around drinking alcohol. Tourists must stick to licensed clubs, bars and hotels, where heavily-taxed Dutch and Belgian beers are big hitters.

Black Tap restaurant is the place to go for speciality beers, shipped from around the world and served on tap (they also serve great burgers and milkshakes). Try Rogue America Amber Ale, a dark ale with layers of caramel and coffee.