德意志银行推出的"Oasis指数"通过追踪全球城市五瓶啤酒和两包烟草的购买成本，为衡量生活成本变化提供了新视角[1]。该指数纳入了69个城市的数据[1]，涵盖工资、房租以及咖啡、出租车等商品价格[1]。
根据该指数，墨尔本以111.20美元（约160澳元）位居全球最高，远超悉尼的109.50美元（约157澳元）和纽约的54.10美元（约78澳元）[1]。墨尔本和悉尼高居榜首的主要原因是两地对酒精和烟草实施了持续高额且不断上升的消费税[1]。在过去十年间，墨尔本该指数篮子的成本从2016年的59美元（84澳元）上升至当前水平，增幅达89%[1]。这类指数与裙长指数、Big Mac指数等"新奇"经济指标一样，能够提供真实的经济洞察，帮助公众理解通胀和经济状况[1]。
Deutsche Bank has introduced the "Oasis Index," a novel approach to measuring global living costs by tracking the price of five beers and two packs of cigarettes across major cities worldwide [1]. This unconventional metric reveals significant disparities in purchasing power: Melbourne tops the global rankings at $111.20 USD (approximately $160 AUD), while Sydney follows closely at $109.50 USD ($157 AUD), far exceeding New York's $54.10 USD ($78 AUD) [1]. The stark difference reflects the cumulative impact of taxation rather than raw production costs, with both Australian cities bearing substantially higher alcohol and tobacco excise duties [1].
The index documents a dramatic escalation in Melbourne over the past decade. The same basket of goods cost $59 USD ($84 AUD) in 2016, representing an 89% increase to today's $111.20 USD [1]. According to Deutsche Bank's analysis, this surge is driven primarily by "sustained high and rising consumption taxes on alcohol and tobacco" in both Melbourne and Sydney [1]. Beyond this simplified basket, the bank's broader "Mapping World Prices 2026" report extends its analysis across 69 cities globally, examining wages, rental costs, and everyday goods including coffee and taxi fares [1]. Such alternative economic indicators, while unconventional, function as practical tools for understanding inflation trends and real economic conditions affecting ordinary consumers [1].
