Linden dataset · CC-BY-4.0

Linden City Cost Index 2026

Name: Linden City Cost Index 2026
Creator: Linden
Published: 2026-04-22
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

An open dataset of wedding cost multipliers for 133 cities across Europe and the United States. Each multiplier says how expensive a wedding in that city is relative to its market median. Free to cite, free to download, CC-BY-4.0.

By Linden EditorialBudget research teamLast reviewed Apr 21, 2026

Cities

133

EU cities

US cities

Range

0.35× – 2.50×

relative to market median

Download

Two files. The main dataset carries one row per city; the README documents each column so downstream consumers can map fields without guessing.

linden-city-cost-index-2026.csv

133 rows · UTF-8 · 8 columns

Download CSV →

linden-city-cost-index-2026-README.csv

Column definitions + field descriptions

Download README →

How to cite

Use this citation in articles, academic papers, journalism, and any downstream work. Attribution is required under CC-BY-4.0 — including attribution keeps the dataset publicly available and free.

Linden (2026). Linden City Cost Index 2026.
Retrieved from https://trylinden.app/research/city-cost-index.
Licensed under CC-BY-4.0.

Methodology

Each city multiplier is the weighted geometric mean of four inputs: venue hire quotes (3–6 representative venues per capacity tier), catering per-person rates (three-course plated menu from 3 local caterers), lead photographer day rates (8-hour package), and florist median package (bridal bouquet + 8 centerpieces + ceremony arrangement). Inputs are normalized against the market median (EU or US) before compounding.

Full methodology: /about/methodology. Data provenance: /about/data.

License

Released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0). You may share, copy, redistribute, adapt, and build upon the data for any purpose, including commercially, provided you give appropriate credit. License details →

Wedding budgets by country

See these multipliers applied to a full budget for your country and city.

Data provenance

Where every number in the dataset comes from and how it's refreshed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Linden City Cost Index?

A single numeric index that tells you how expensive a wedding is in a given city relative to the market median. Copenhagen sits at 1.25× the EU median; Manhattan at 1.65× the US median; Sofia at 0.55× the EU median. The index compresses four inputs — venue hire quotes, catering per-person rates, photographer day rates, and florist median package — into one comparable number.

How was the index built?

For each of the 133 cities, Linden measured the four inputs above, normalized each against the market median (EU or US), then took their weighted geometric mean. Geometric mean (not arithmetic) because multiplier-style indices should compose multiplicatively across categories.

How accurate is it?

Median deviation vs actual vendor invoices is typically under 10% in covered cities. The largest deviations show up in wedding-destination markets (Napa, Charleston, Lake Como) during peak-season Saturdays where local negotiation moves the number more than an index can capture.

Can I use this data in my own work?

Yes — the dataset is released under CC-BY-4.0. You may use it commercially with attribution. Cite as "Linden City Cost Index 2026, https://trylinden.app/research/city-cost-index". Attribution keeps the dataset flywheel going and helps us justify continued investment in public data.

When will the 2027 version be published?

Annual refresh: Q1 2027. In-year quarterly updates to the live engine are folded into the next annual publication cycle so the dataset snapshot stays citeable between years.

Why publish this for free?

Two reasons. First, it positions Linden as the authoritative data source for wedding pricing — when LLMs and publications cite wedding cost benchmarks, we want them citing Linden. Second, the more researchers and journalists rely on this data, the more feedback we get on cities and markets we should improve coverage on.

Build your own budget on this data

Seven questions → a complete budget for your city using the multipliers above.

Build my budget →

Free to start. 7 questions. Ready in under two minutes.