How is the market price for escorts determined in various places?

[discreet]

It's an odd question but I started wondering about it recently because of a conversation with an escort. I had an experience with a smart escort in Europe earlier this month and he asked about me, so in return I asked about him and his job. He told me his sense on how he chooses where he goes. He lives in a big city but we met in a small city. I was just guessing that the price would be lower in smaller cities because of the living cost. But he says that is not the case because there are tons of escorts in big cities, so he cannot really charge a lot because it's really competitive. Maybe that might be the case...But this made me wonder and I have a bad habit of thinking again and again if I don't have an answer for something...In any case, I am new to hiring escorts and started wondering about how the price determined. Is it always cheaper in bigger cities? What are your experiences? and any ideas why?

[tyro]

In most of the ads I've seen, prices are higher in bigger cities. However, as my moniker suggests, I'm hardly a veteran at this.

T

[JT Brooklyn]

There was a Time when the Euro Working Guys could only get Lower Rates than the U.S. Guys. So the "Streets are Paved with Gold" attitude was Born among Traveler's to the U.S. But I'm sure things have changed when NEWBIE "Working Guys" on Rentboy start their illustrious Career at 300 an Hour! Market Prices there is no such thing anymore! The guy either will get Clients at his Rate or a deal is made on what is acceptable. It's like buying a Car actually!

[bigvalboy]

In most of the ads I've seen, prices are higher in bigger cities. However, as my moniker suggests, I'm hardly a veteran at this.

 

I have found that to be true more often than not. Major metropolitan areas like NYC, Chicago, LA, seem to command a little higher price. This has been discussed thoroughly on the forum, and as I remember the consensus is that many escorts and masseurs are not getting what many of us in "big" cities are paying, however if a well reviewed escort is traveling, there will always be those additional costs that he has to consider, and I would imagine dropping prices just because he is somewhere in Kansas, may not be an option.

 

For me however, I don't shop prices, or negotiate, I just don't, it is a personal choice that I have made. I am not saying that is a good or bad thing, it is just what I do, so..... Each to his own. Whatever an escort advertises, or quotes me a price from an ad that says "ask me"... I pay that rate or I just move on.

[Xander]

I was just in Phoenix. The cost of living seemed to be about half of what it is in Atlanta -- I could get a nice 1br apartment for $400/month, and food was REALLY cheap - especially produce. To top it all off, escort rates are about the same as what they are here in Atlanta.

 

And people wonder why Atlanta has such crappy escorts? Because the good ones all move away!

[+ dupontversDC]

I found London, an incredibly expensive city by most measures, to have plentiful, amazing escorts for reasonable rates.

 

I had quite a bit of fun my last week long trip there.

 

So its not a simple formula, and to some extent, quality does come with a cost.

[discreet]

do you have any idea why London escorts are inexpensive? I really cannot find a reason except being too competitive.

 

In Atlanta's case, I am sure there are some guys who are willing to hire a good escort, so why don't GOOD escorts stay in Atlanta and charge more?

 

sorry about too many questions, it's just my curiosity...

[Kevin Slater]

do you have any idea why London escorts are inexpensive? I really cannot find a reason except being too competitive.

 

I'd assume it has to do with prostitution being legal in the UK. That's just one less barrier to new entrants to the market which would tend to drive prices down.

 

Kevin Slater

[KMEM]

Kevin-

 

You almost always seem to "get it".

 

HNY.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[JT Brooklyn]

I'd assume it has to do with prostitution being legal in the UK. That's just one less barrier to new entrants to the market which would tend to drive prices down.

 

Kevin Slater

 

Totally Agree! But the influx of Brazilians who apparently aren't that great at their JOB can be dicey at best.

[jimboivyo]

when a human being is the product, theres no real rule as to what 'market value' is. it's different for each person and what the market or a specific client will bear. I've seen people in manhattan for very low rates. I've seen guys in the middle of nowhere for very high rates

[discreet]

I'd assume it has to do with prostitution being legal in the UK. That's just one less barrier to new entrants to the market which would tend to drive prices down.

 

Kevin Slater

maybe that is the main reason, I found Berlin to be cheap as well probably because of the legality and huge amount of eastern european guys

[discreet]

when a human being is the product, theres no real rule as to what 'market value' is. it's different for each person and what the market or a specific client will bear. I've seen people in manhattan for very low rates. I've seen guys in the middle of nowhere for very high rates

 

I agree that there are extreme cases in every city. What surprised me when I talked to this escort this month is that he seriously thinks about how much he can charge in a particular city. I've never thought that escorts usually think about it, I was actually thinking more like jimboivyo: they just have a price they set and it doesn't vary much for that person wherever he goes. But now I am realizing that is actually a not-very-smart way of doing a business.

 

He was a really smart guy and his logic made a lot of sense once he explained to me. I've never realized that their job was that complicated in terms of price setting etc. But he analyzes it very intelligently. Not to mention that he had the body, face, and size to match his brain

[Francois]

I was just in Phoenix. The cost of living seemed to be about half of what it is in Atlanta -- I could get a nice 1br apartment for $400/month, and food was REALLY cheap - especially produce. To top it all off, escort rates are about the same as what they are here in Atlanta.

 

And people wonder why Atlanta has such crappy escorts? Because the good ones all move away!

 

I agree. Most of the escorts that stay here for long are a little sketch.

[Steven_Draker]

It's hard to compare apples to oranges. I think the U.S. market works a bit differently than European.

 

The big cities versus smaller cities doesn't have the same signification in Europe. Moreover the differences between countries in Europe vary greatly.

 

Re: legalization in the UK and the number of escorts in London. Prostitution being legal is not a valid factor for the large number of escorts. Take New York City for instance: 400 male escorts and prostitution is illegal. IMO the main factor is the demand: London and New York both have high demand.

 

I think it's hard to build patterns in this industry. You have to look it case by case and bear in mind that the simple answer to your question is: what the market will bear. I'm sure others can explain that better than me.

[JoeyBryant]

I was just in Phoenix. The cost of living seemed to be about half of what it is in Atlanta -- I could get a nice 1br apartment for $400/month, and food was REALLY cheap - especially produce. To top it all off, escort rates are about the same as what they are here in Atlanta.

 

And people wonder why Atlanta has such crappy escorts? Because the good ones all move away!

 

And what makes you different from those 'crappy' escorts, because you're White? Are they leaving due to White flight? lol...I'm just teasing. Sort of. No really what makes you different?

 

I will agree though as I also just got back from Arizona as well and yes COL is alot cheaper than similiar places. But it's not all peaches and cream (pun intended re: Atlanta) either. I was overhearing a conversation about 1 district closing 11 schools in the area (of course that's government sector which runs 2 years behind everything else anyway). So although it's cheap, they are still trying to get their economy together. However, this last visit was better than my previous ones so it seems to be getting better.

 

I was considering moving to Phoenix but on this last visit was a bit taken aback at how similar it seemed to West Texas. I was also informed by a local that the gay scene is pretty small. If you erased the borders to many southwestern states, only the change of geographical features would alert you to being in a different state. The culture isn't too much different. It takes a regional change to make a difference. Now Atlanta and Phoenix, 2 different worlds absolutely.

 

when a human being is the product, theres no real rule as to what 'market value' is. it's different for each person and what the market or a specific client will bear. I've seen people in manhattan for very low rates. I've seen guys in the middle of nowhere for very high rates

 

Exactly. Even moreso, being in large cities can even mean cheaper rates to compete with the competition and smaller cities a person can justify charging higher rates not to rip the client off...but because they aren't spending money on other escorts popping up every cotton-picking day of the week.

 

It's sort of like hotels. Sure you may not find $300/night in small cities. But, their hotel rates across the board tend to be higher because they know they are the only option around. Take Las Vegas and Orlando. Hotel competition very stiff so rates are very low. However, since both places also attract people with money to spend, the $300/night stuff sells as well.

[Zapped]

So many factors go into what any professional can charge. The size of the market, competition, reputation, income levels among your customer base, etc. In another thread, someone is looking for lower-priced escorts in NYC (i.e., $225 and under). In the same market, there are surely clients who will pass over a $225 guy for someone more expensive, thinking you get what you pay for. Some people like paying a lot.

[jimboivyo]

And what makes you different from those 'crappy' escorts, because you're White? Are they leaving due to White flight? lol...I'm just teasing. Sort of. No really what makes you different?

 

was it the hood that gave him away?

[SteveEscort]

Many London based escorts charge around £120-£150 an hour which is about $190-$240 but the norm would be about £100 an hour ($160). You'd have to be really something exceptionally special to be charging more than the aforementioned rates in England.

 

Where I live it's a city of about 850,000 residents in a radius of about 10 miles from the city centre plus other outlying areas within 20-30 miles of about another 300,000 so I am in a market of around a million people within 20-30 minutes drive from my home. My rates are £70 ($110) for incall and £80/90 ($130/145) for outcalls for one hour. Most of my outcalls are two hours which I charge £140 ($240). This is about right for where I live and I have never increased my prices in over 12 years. I have ALWAYS worked on these prices. I am still well paid compared to other professions and I get most of the days to myself, plus I have a home based job in accountancy on a self employed basis so I am not hard done by. I would rather have 10 appointments a week at £70 than 4 appointments a week at £100 because that is how much my work would drop if I price myself out of the market. My regulars would find someone else if I was no longer in their budget and I couldn't suddenly start telling regulars I have seen for years that from next month it's an extra £30 to see me. I would feel awful and I am the wrong side of 30 to increase prices. I know my market and what I am doing.

 

Another escort once told me. Work at the price level you feel happiest with that gives you the amount of work you want and the activity you're comfortable with and don't let anyone else tell you what you should be charging and don't let others put you down for charging less because you'll get repeat regular work being at an acceptable level for everyone. No one wants to see a greedy escort.