Believe it or not, life in Mayfair doesn't have to cost a fortune. But it mostly does.
We're not talking about buying property... or staying at a hotel... or hiring a personal shopper... or buying a car... or even going for a pee in a public toilet - obviously all of those things are spirit-crushingly expensive... but a simple, inexpensive bite to eat? Now that we can do...
From bistros to pizza to curries to good ol' heart pies, we walk you through some of Mayfair's best cheap eats...
When in Mayfair, eat lobster! Here you can chow down on the whole thing with fries and salad for just £20. If you don't fancy that there's also a mammoth 10oz burger for the same price.
At this vegetarian restaurant you pay by weight, so head to the self-service counter and pile your plate up as high as your appetite dictates. The food changes with the seasons, but you can always expect super healthy options like dal and noodle salads as well as comforting lasagnes and pizzas.
Classic French cuisine at bargain prices is offered at this quaint restaurant moments away from Hyde Park. There's raclette for £15 per person, two for one burger deals and wine at supermarket prices, all the sort of stuff you wouldn't expect to find in Mayfair.
This all-day restaurant and cafe specialises in providing affordable meals in posh areas - they have branches in Knightsbridge, St. John's Wood, South Kensington, and this one near Park Lane. It's all about comfort food, so think all day full English breakfasts, Shepherd's pies and fish and chips.
Sofra is a Turkish restaurant, although there are additions from other cuisines such as wagyu steak and eggs Florentine for breakfast. Be thrifty by ordering one of the spicy meat, fish or vegetable stews with rice for £15, or any of the chargrilled meats for just £12.
This little bistro has famous French dishes like beef Bourguignon and cassoulet on the menu for under £15. Located on historical Shepherd Market, some may call it cramped, but we prefer to see it as charmingly busy.
Given that Kerala is on the southern tip of India the food is characterised by tropical ingredients - mangoes, coconuts, cardamom and cashews are staples. At Rasa they stay true to their roots with aromatic curries and dosas filled with pulses and chutneys, and you can fill up for just over a tenner.
The pretty courtyard off New Bond Street where Mayfair Pizza Co is situated is always lively thanks to the alfresco seating of the several restaurants lined up here. Cheaper than its neighbours, this pizzeria does pizzas for under £15, from the standard margherita to novel varieties topped with pulled pork and smoked chicken.
NAC - or North Audley Cantine - is halfway between a casual bistro and an upmarket restaurant. The food reflects this, so you'll find crowd-pleasing small plates like buttermilk popcorn chicken and refined dishes such as sea bass tartar with lemongrass and Szechuan peppers.
After spending a day hobnobbing around Mayfair, sometimes you just want a good old fashioned pub. The Windmill has a fine selection of pies, from tried and tested steak and kidney to seasonal varieties like spicy chicken and chorizo. It's a Young's pub so it's all keenly priced.