OK - in the 'old days' BA used to base destination allowances on hotel 'meal costs' (generous ones at that!) in the location eg b/f £15 lunch £25, dinner £40, and obviously some spots were better than others! I can always recall the 'mainliners' ranting on about Switzerland.
The 'pay restructure' in the early 2000's took these away and replaced them with a daily rate. I am well out of touch with current rates and I doubt you'll get a Nigel 'owning up' to what they are now
.
My current airline (like a lot of operators) pays, per hour, report to off duty at base, with no 'costs at destination' and to squeeze extra out of them for an expensive destination is a work of art. B&B is provided and all the rest is from your pocket. (Makes Cost Index 0 look appealing.....
). Typical rates are in the £2-2.50 p/hr range. Quite 'skinny' in Iceland and Sweden, I can assure you! I would expect Virgin etc will have 'done a deal' to cope with more expensive locations although of course with the $ at............................