The Straight Dope on Prostitution Prices

[Guest Ed Wood]

An interesting read from Cecil Adams:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3124/corrected-for-inflation-have-prostitution-prices-been-essentially-the-same-for-thousands-of-years

More recently, in the period between the two world wars in London, one pound would buy a high-end prostitute — about $230 in today’s money, which as we’ve seen is within the current premium range.

[Guest]

When the day comes, where I am selling my body for these rates....

$25, $30 , $40 , $50, $80, 90. The risk of HIV, STD's, going to jail, having my life changed if I am busted.....It will no longer be worth risk.

I will begin to use my hard earned education, and get a job working for firm. I would only escort P/T

Hell I know girls making more money doing web cam for those's rate.

[Guest Ed Wood]

When the day comes, where I am selling my body for these rates....

$25, $30 , $40 , $50, $80, 90. The risk of HIV, STD's, going to jail, having my life changed if I am busted.....It will no longer be worth it.

I will begin to use my hard earned education, and get a job working for firm.

Keep in mind those prices were for Chicago "streetwalkers".

A survey of Chicago streetwalkers from 2005 to 2007 found on average they worked 13 hours a week, performing a total of ten sex acts and making $340: $34 per trick, or $26 an hour. The overall weighted average costs for manual stimulation, oral sex, straight vaginal sex, and anal sex were $27, $37, $80, and $94 respectively. In terms of labor value, a dollar in 1911 was the equivalent of somewhere between $75 and $110 in 2007, meaning the real numbers didn’t move much over the intervening century.

[pitbull]

When the day comes, where I am selling my body for these rates....

$25, $30 , $40 , $50, $80, 90. The risk of HIV, STD's, going to jail, having my life changed if I am busted.....It will no longer be worth risk.

I will begin to use my hard earned education, and get a job working for firm. I would only escort P/T

Hell I know girls making more money doing web cam for those's rate.

This odd subculture is truly a study in pure capitalism. Price is entirely dictated by demand, as it should be. And as Nikki points out, there is a floor price where it becomes not worth the effort/risk.

Hell, it's a lot like so many freelance jobs, albeit in an underground economy where the risk is much higher. It makes you wonder why this whole enterprise is not decriminalized, but that's off topic.

[lilithia]

Risk is Risk, no amount of money is worth our lives, health or well-being. Yet, we do it everyday hoping we don't fingered.

WE live ours lives on hope, so here is too not getting fingered.

Lilithia

[Audrey Astor]

Well, I don't think I will be relocating to Greece anytime soon.

[urfan]

oh don't worry your pretty little heads, my dears. this 'study' is total bullshit more worthy of 'The Onion." its author 'cecil adams' is a fictitious nom de plume for a semi-skilled moronic hack who uses faulty 'research' techniques, cobbled together with half-baked theories, urban legends and pure damn fiction.

kinda reminds me of myself . . .

[inkspot]

For being a hack, you have to admit the author is entertaining.

[Guest Ed Wood]

oh don't worry your pretty little heads, my dears. this 'study' is total bullshit more worthy of 'The Onion." its author 'cecil adams' is a fictitious nom de plume for a semi-skilled moronic hack who uses faulty 'research' techniques, cobbled together with half-baked theories, urban legends and pure damn fiction.

kinda reminds me of myself . . .

Whether Cecil Adams is a "nom de plume" is irrelevant. To say the study is "total bullshit" is hubris. He states several times in the column that due to the inherent underground qualities of prostitution (it being illegal and morally unacceptable in many societies) it isn't easy to prove the history of prostitution prices..."Ergo, prices for sex ought to be historically stable. However, proving this conjecture is a bitch."

"The Straight Dope" has had a good reputation for accuracy and dedicated research for many years. It is unconventional but that's due in large part to the unusual nature of the questions their willing to research and answer (as opposed to something like The Huffington Post).

Finally, to compare yourself to Adams or Ed Zotti or whomever writes The Straight Dope, well, keep aspiring.

[fork]

This odd subculture is truly a study in pure capitalism. Price is entirely dictated by demand, as it should be.

It's not pure capitalism, because the illegality of prostitution it is an artificial "cost". A $200 session has a small chance of costing a lot more in legal fees, ruining your life/marriage/job/health, etc, and people factor that in to the amount of times they are willing to engage in the marketplace.

[pitbull]

It's not pure capitalism, because the illegality of prostitution it is an artificial "cost". A $200 session has a small chance of costing a lot more in legal fees, ruining your life/marriage/job/health, etc, and people factor that in to the amount of times they are willing to engage in the marketplace.

I forgot about the illegality of the endeavor, and you are definitely correct. It warps the "purity" of the capitalism. Good point, Fork.

I suppose even the legalized prostitution of Amsterdam would lack the "purity" that I'm talking about -- because I suspect the rules and regulations are quite significant, but I'm no expert on European prostitution, or American for that matter.

[lilithia]

If you break down the pricing Say average $25.00 per item

1)Fucking,$25.00

2)pussy licking $25.00

3)UTF $35.00

4)TF $25.00

5)titty playing $25.00

6)kissing $25.00

7)Deep tongue kissing $35.00

8)MSOG $25.00

--------------------------------------averages out to about <200>250

so really it cums out to be about the same.

And that does not include any kink play, multi hours or a unmentionable topic which can easily top out at >500 or more per hour.

lilithia

[irisheyes]

So, if I only cared about getting 2 of those............say fucking and titty playing.............I should expect to pay $50? Shit, I'm in, hell, throw in the titty fucking for an extra 25 bucks. $75 with fucking, titty playing, and titty fucking is all I really need. Provide me with sucking for an added $25 coming in at 100 on top of all of that...........I'm all smiles

[Ghost_Rider]

So, if I only cared about getting 2 of those............say fucking and titty playing.............I should expect to pay $50? Shit, I'm in, hell, throw in the titty fucking for an extra 25 bucks. $75 with fucking, titty playing, and titty fucking is all I really need. Provide me with sucking for an added $25 coming in at 100 on top of all of that...........I'm all smiles

I would prefer the "full meal deal" over "al la carte" :D ......maybe it's just my appetite.

[lilithia]

There are a number of ladies who offer awesome prices 15 minute quickies $50-$100 so its not like you are unaware of what's being offered. But Like Ghost Rider most Jons wants it al, so just hand over $200-$250 and everyone cums out a happy camper.

Lilithia

[DiscoMoon]

I really wish the girls would unionize - or at least form a sisterhood; I've seen girls on backpage who deserve at least TWICE what they're charging per hour.

Disco Moon

[MAG]

I really wish the girls would unionize - or at least form a sisterhood; I've seen girls on backpage who deserve at least TWICE what they're charging per hour.

Disco Moon

Holy shit, really? And who the fuck are you to determine the price point?

If you think they're underpaid,then by all means feel free to tip them double. But even though this is an underground market, it's still driven by supply & demand.

[pitbull]

Holy shit, really? And who the fuck are you to determine the price point?

If you think they're underpaid,then by all means feel free to tip them double. But even though this is an underground market, it's still driven by supply & demand.

Bingo. Nothing is stopping anyone from paying the ladies double their rate.

You know how Warren Buffett is always belly aching that the ultra rich do not pay enough? Well I always say, the IRS is glad to accept donations. Feel free to pay what you think is fair, Warren.

Hookers unionizing?! If they went on strike, the fabric of society would tear in half.

[DiscoMoon]

Holy shit, really? And who the fuck are you to determine the price point?

Um, no need to fall apart at the seams, bro. It IS like any other business, and yeah, sometimes the girls sell themselves short, that is a fact.

[MAG]

Um, no need to fall apart at the seams, bro. It IS like any other business, and yeah, sometimes the girls sell themselves short, that is a fact.

I'm not your bro, sis.

[urfan]

ladies, ladies . . .

but to be cereal for a second, if there were more guys who thought like Disco, who knows? it might serve to squeeze out them penny-pinchin 'price-line hobbyist' bastards who are keepin the 'sisters' down.

if more guys were willing to kick a few bucks it would be the economic trifecta: the integration of capitalism (asp girls are a pure entrepreneur class) socialism (the amalgamated sisterhood of sluts - A.S.S.) and Karl Marx - they by and large own and control their means of production and aren't alienated from the fruits of their labor.

from each according to their abilities and all that . . .

[macho]

I'm going to have to disagree with most of you. If you unions then you guys just might be able to get decent health insurance at a reasonable price.

[urfan]

yeah but if they were to unionize and still be independent contractors, would that still make us 'management'?

my god, think of the 1099's that would have to start flyin around here

[DiscoMoon]

LOL Nahh, I just mean get organized. Talk to one another, be supportive, not try to lowball one another with super duper specials and maintain a decent price level. On [other sites], everyone seems to be fairly consistent with pricing and I think that makes the girls look good while providing customers a reasonable level of expectation regarding pricing and service. Professionalism and support of one another.

Can I get an AMEN?

yeah but if they were to unionize and still be independent contractors, would that still make us 'management'?

my god, think of the 1099's that would have to start flyin around here

[MAG]

LOL Nahh, I just mean get organized. Talk to one another, be supportive, not try to lowball one another with super duper specials and maintain a decent price level. On [other sites], everyone seems to be fairly consistent with pricing and I think that makes the girls look good while providing customers a reasonable level of expectation regarding pricing and service. Professionalism and support of one another.

Can I get an AMEN?

Hardly.

Pricing varies from hooker to hooker depending on many variables....age, weight, menu, ethnicity, breast size, review history, etc. What you're talking about is essentially price fixing, and it cannot work, nor should it.

"Lowballing" is a time-honored strategy (in many industries) for increasing client base, or to obtain a short-term increase in revenue. Price increases are also traditional. If you have a great reputation, you can jack up your prices and earn roughly the same revenue for less work. You can also jack up your prices to give the impression that you are high-class, thereby attracting a (theoretically) higher-class clientelle.

This is economics 101, for pete's sake.

[inkspot]

...while providing customers a reasonable level of expectation regarding pricing and service.

Can I get an AMEN?

I am in the AMEN corner but, cough, cough...the level of service is sooo out of balance compared to pricing in the Denver area. It goes from one extreme to the other.

You may as well be tilting windmills.

[urfan]

Hardly.

Pricing varies from hooker to hooker depending on many variables....age, weight, menu, ethnicity, breast size, review history, etc. What you're talking about is essentially price fixing, and it cannot work, nor should it.

"Lowballing" is a time-honored strategy (in many industries) for increasing client base, or to obtain a short-term increase in revenue. Price increases are also traditional. If you have a great reputation, you can jack up your prices and earn roughly the same revenue for less work. You can also jack up your prices to give the impression that you are high-class, thereby attracting a (theoretically) higher-class clientelle.

This is economics 101, for pete's sake.

well i barely passed econ 101 and you have an interesting theory there av8r, assuming there is a higher class clientele out there to be attracted

my impression has been that pricing stays pretty static. i figure girls jack up (or off) a lot of things around here but when's the last time you remember one doing it to her price?

[NaughtyNiceGuy]

Obviously you do not pay much attention. Changing rates up and down is constantly occurring on the advertising board.

[MAG]

Obviously you do not pay much attention. Changing rates up and down is constantly occurring on the advertising board.

+1

[George Taylor]

Um, no need to fall apart at the seams, bro. It IS like any other business, and yeah, sometimes the girls sell themselves short, that is a fact.

And one of the original reasons for the creation of this hobby board back in the day, to find and point these ladies out by review