Food for thought: What costs US$9.90 in Budapest and US$25.65 in London? The answer: A cheap meal.
And if fine dining is your thing, then a swanky spread in Budapest
will cost US$135.73, while a similar meal in London will set you back a
whopping US$233.99.
Budapest stands out as the most affordable city for dining out in
Europe in 2023 with an average cost of US$56.04 including meals from
different restaurant categories.
Sail Croatia’s latest study compared the average costs of eating out
in different restaurant categories in the 10 most searched travel
destinations in Europe by accessing data from 2023 Google Flights.
For each destination, the study calculated prices of cheap eats,
three course meals in a middle-of-the-road restaurant and a tasting menu
in a Michelin star luxury restaurant for one person, and then ranked
cities by the affordability.
Budapest leads the ranking of the cheapest European cities for food
lovers with an average meal price of US$56.04. Notably, its cheap eats
at US$9.90 are the lowest among the top 10 cities, making it an ideal
destination for budget travellers.
Warsaw ranks as the second cheapest city for dining out in Europe,
following closely with an average meal price of US$56.42. While slightly
higher than Budapest, Warsaw's fine dining options are almost identical
in price, indicating strong competition between the two cities for
affordable dining.
Barcelona takes the third spot of the cheapest European cities for
foodies with an average meal price of US$58.77. Its fine dining options
at a Michelin star restaurant are less expensive than both Budapest and
Warsaw, offering a unique selling point for travellers looking for a
luxury experience on a budget.
Paris, where the average meal price is US$68.21, is fourth on the
list of the cheapest European cities for food lovers. While its
mid-range meals are comparable to Barcelona's, its fine dining options
are more expensive.
Next is line for average meals prices are Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, Dublin and Stockholm.
London rounds off as the most expensive city for dining, with an
average meal price of US$103.65. Despite its high costs, it remains the
most searched-for travel destination, emphasising its appeal to
travellers.