Well, the Club Sandwich Index, released by Hotels.com, has the definitive answer to that question. The study shows that Tokyo has retained its position as the most expensive city in Asia: A club sandwich will cost S$27.69. Hong Kong, is in eighth spot, at S$26.62. 

And if that hasn't killed one's appetite, the most expensive place is Switzerland's Geneva, which prices its sandwich at an average of S$40.83. 

Indicators such as these shed light on which cities around the world are the most expensive; that Geneva, renowned home of private banking and other services, is at the top of the rankings is perhaps not surprising. This isn't the only barometer of its kind: The Economist magazine has, for years, issued its Big Mac Index, designed to show changes, in the purchasing power parity terms, of the legendary McDonald's burger. Organisations such as Stonehage, the multi-family office, for example, has created an index of luxury goods items.

Among other details of Asian cities where a club sandwich price is measured, Seoul stands as number 11 with S$25.34, Australia is at 15 with S$21.21, Singapore is at 18 with S$19.24, while Beijing is at 22 with S$16.97, tied with Bogota. Taipei ranks 24th with an average club sandwich price of S$15.55, Bangkok is at 25 with S$15.00 and New Delhi is at 28, the cheapest, with S$10.99.

The study, now on its third year, said the index reflects not just changes in the pricing of the club sandwich, but also the effect of currency fluctuations. The classic staple of chicken, bacon, egg, lettuce and mayonnaise sandwich the barometer for affordability. Over 840 three- to five-star hotels globally were canvassed to arrive at above result. The CSI average price is calculated from the real prices paid by guests for a club sandwich in 30 hotels in either the capital or an important tourist city in 28 tourist countries surveyed.

European countries dominate the top 10 in terms of the most expensive places. Besides Geneva (mentioned above). Paris is the second most expensive place, at S$36.78; followed by Helsinki, at S$30.50, then Sweden, at S$30.13, and Oslo, at S$29.81. London is at sixth, at S$28.39. 

The average price was converted from local currency to the Singapore dollar, with the exchange rate as at 15 April. Hotels.com is an accomodation booking website.