Sofia is the cheapest city in the world for a short break, according to new research.

The Bulgarian capital took top place in a price index by airport transfers company Hoppa, with a night’s stay in the city, including a hotel, food, drink, a taxi journey and entertainment, costing just £38.21. As an added bonus, return flights to Sofia are available for as little as £50.

Top 10 cheapest cities Sofia, Bulgaria - £38.21 Cairo, Egypt - £39.09 Cartagena, Colombia - £39.70 Bucharest, Romania - £43.87 Antalya, Turkey - £43.97 Siem Reap, Cambodia - £44.89 Kiev, Ukraine - £46.73 Manilla, Philippines - £46.90 Mexico City, Mexico - £50.62 Sliema, Malta - £51.64

The next cheapest destination was Cairo, Egypt, with all of the above setting you back just £39.09. Cartagena in Colombia was marginally dearer, at £39.70.

Caracas was a surprise inclusion in the world's most expensive cities Credit: © 2016 Bloomberg Finance LP/Wilfredo Riera

At the other end of the spectrum in Hoppa’s annual survey, which this year included 84 cities, was Zurich, where the package of purchases costs £170.43. New York ranked second (£157.29), followed by Copenhagen (£150.72).

London registered as the 12th most expensive city, just behind Dublin, with a cost of £121.41 next to the Irish capital’s £122.80.

The top 10 was largely occupied by cities traditional renowned for their expense - Venice, Stockholm and Rome - and then there was Caracas.

The Venezuelan capital made a surprise appearance in tenth place. Known for its problems with crime, a night in Caracas apparently costs £123.08, dearer than 74 other cities, including Paris, Sydney and Ibiza.

Top 10 most expensive cities Zurich, Switzerland - £170.43 New York, US - £157.29 Copenhagen, Denmark - £150.72 Oslo, Norway - £147.36 Stockholm, Sweden - £131.14 Venice, Italy - £127.03 Amsterdam, Netherlands - £126.47 Honolulu, Hawaii, US - £124.23 Rome, Italy - £123.37 Caracas, Venezuela - £123.08

Hoppa also broke down the costs of each night, highlighting where in the world has the most expensive hotels (New York) and the cheapest (Sunny Beach, Bulgaria).

And what of the cost of a pint, a timeless barometer. The most expensive beer is to be had in Doha, Qatar, where it will set you back £6.39. Next is Oslo and Dubai, both tied at £6 a pint.

Doha, where a pint will set you back £6.39

For those looking for bargain booze, head to Manilla in the Philippines, where a pint costs just 38p, as it does in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In Beijing, a lager costs just 48p.

The cost of a burger is another way decent yardstick for measuring a city’s value, and it is once again Manila that offers the cheapest bite, at just £1.97, followed by Kiev in Ukraine, where a burger costs just £1.98.

At the other end of the scale, peckish punters will face the prospect of spending £12.81 for a burger in Zurich. That's enough to make you lose your appetite.

For a full breakdown of the results, see here.