[seanmcdirmid]

Many things are cheaper in Europe, eating out especially (you don’t even have to tip!). It varies of course, the Netherlands, France, and Germany are much cheaper than Denmark and Switzerland. Salaries are lower, true, but prices are fairly competitive to the states.

[weberc2]

Eating out is considerably more expensive in Europe, even factoring in the tip. Meal prices might be slightly larger in some states, but you’re reliably getting almost twice the food. Personally I’d rather have European portions with the US price/kilo, but my wife and I usually split a meal anyway so it comes out about the same.

[seanmcdirmid]

Last time I was in Paris, we ate fairly cheaply at the local kebab places that would have easily been twice as expensive in the states. Heck, they are cheaper than the states even in Lausanne.

Ya, portions are a bit different, but meal prices still come under on average.

[weberc2]

I lived in France and travel regularly. Maybe kebab is cheaper (not really a thing in the US like it is in France), but meals on average are slightly more expensive in Europe.

[seanmcdirmid]

Even the cafes are cheaper, Paris, nice, Lyon, where do you eat such expensive food? Maybe Geneva or Lausanne, but that isn’t France.

It’s like Tokyo, expensive place to live, but good food is cheap.

[weberc2]

I lived in Rennes, but traveled all over. The food is more expensive all over France compared to the US. If you compare France prices with major US metropolis prices, then sure, the prices in the US are perhaps more expensive, but overall food (and almost everything else) is cheaper in the US.

Take a look at the indices linked below—notice that food is pretty close, and notice also that the meal prices aren’t adjusted by serving size. Notice also the salaries. Notice also the rent prices (which appear astronomical in the US vs France until you realize that they don’t adjust for sq ft), then look at the adjusted sq ft prices.

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries_resu...