Working through your ultimate list of eats around the world doesn't always have to break the bank. However, some cities cost a pretty penny, whether you're eating at 5-star restaurants with pristine white tablecloths or keeping it casual at local counter joints. Using cost of living data from holiday rental company Holidu, we round up the cheapest and most expensive food cities in Europe based on the basics – how much it costs for a mid-range three-course meal for two, and the price of a bottle of wine in a shop.
When the cost of living is high, restaurant menus tend to follow suit. Whether you're eager to dine at the best places no matter the price tag or want to be in the know to avoid a hefty bill at all costs, here are the 10 most expensive foodie cities in Europe.
You might not be eating cheap, but you'll certainly be eating well. Parisian boulangeries (French bakeries), street café culture and incredible fine dining ensures that any visitor to Paris can make their food dreams come true. The average cost for a bottle of wine bought in a shop is higher than elsewhere in Europe at around £7 (€8/$9), but what’s a trip to the City of Light without a nice glass (or three)?
Home of the concept "fika" – the delightful practice of a midday break to enjoy a coffee, cake or other treats – Stockholm offers cosy vibes to the dull sting of higher costs. Famous for chic, minimalist cafés, you can’t visit this city without stopping daily for some fika of your own, with the average cost for a cappuccino at around £3.29 (€3.84/$4.06). Don’t miss the traditional cinnamon buns either, known as kanelbulle.
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In a city known for beer, a pint sure doesn’t come cheap at nearly £5 (€6/$6), but it is the home of Guinness and a plethora of popular local craft brews. Pub eats to go with your pick of the Irish offerings on tap are sure to please, but don’t overlook the wine bars plating up dishes to show off local produce and ingredients.
Everyone knows the best of British cuisine often comes from its fusion with other food traditions from around the world, and nowhere in the UK offers better diversity of food options than the country’s capital. Sure, a meal for two in London will see the bill coming in on average at £60 (€71/$75), but you’re bound to eat splendidly, whether you’re after a classic roast dinner, tasty curry or street market eats.
If you can make it to Finland in October, you can catch Helsinki’s annual Baltic Herring Festival, which celebrates one of the region’s favourite local catches. Specialties such as caviar, reindeer meat and pistachio cake can be found at high-end restaurants, while you can’t go wrong with sausages grilled to perfection at many of the city’s casual counters. A mid-range three-course meal for two at this destination comes in at around £68 (€80/$84).
Irresistible local delicacy Smørrebrød isn’t cheap, but luckily the open-faced sandwiches are not limited to fine dining establishments. You’ll find these rye bread sandwiches at nearly every restaurant in town, and pros know to go for one topped with salmon or freshly fried frikadeller (Danish pan-fried meatballs). For a bottle of wine, you're looking at spending around £9 (€10/$11).
Between chasing the Northern Lights and hopping into hot springs, you’re going to need to eat for an energy boost on your Icelandic adventure, but a three-course meal for two will cost £82 (€96/$101) on average, and alcohol is often even more expensive. However, if you’re going to splurge, make it fish, lamb or a delicious Nordic mocha at one of the city’s adorable coffee houses.
If you’re on a quest for raclette, you’re probably OK with shelling out a bit for the incredible signature cheese dish. Generally, Zürich is a spenny city – a mid-range three-course meal for two will set you back around £99 (€116/$123). With a mix of haute cuisine and fine dining in the style of the old-school European grand cafés, you won’t be hard pressed to find a tasting menu here to match some of the absolute best restaurants anywhere in Europe.
Even a beer can feel like a splurge in Geneva, costing around £6 (€7/$7). Those looking to sample Swiss specialities such as fondue might find the price tag high – but isn’t it worth it for all the delicious cheese? Not to mention the lure of light, airy and sweet Swiss meringue.
Not only the most expensive foodie city in Europe, but also the costliest in the entire world – a dinner for two in Oslo comes in at an average of £84 (€98/$104). That figure might be slightly cheaper than a couple of other cities on the list, but you're going to be paying top price for alcohol. However, the quality of ingredients here are standout. Think fresh salmon and cod – prime examples of the city's dedication to sustainable food practices and highlighting local ingredients.
It's time to eat like a queen on a shoestring budget that would please any penny-pinching backpacker – or just anyone who loves a bargain. From Croatia to Portugal, the 10 cheapest cities are about to tempt you into booking your next foodie holiday.
Located on the stunning Adriatic Sea, the obvious main draw here is the seafood. Look for menus that advertise fresh catches of the day and marvel at the affordable price tag on fish, scampi and squid. Croatian wines are a favourite of aficionados in the know, and a bottle costs on average £4 (€5/$6).
Classic Bucharest restaurants, housed in historic buildings with stained glass windows and painted ceilings, offer traditional dishes such as sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls) alongside modern bar snacks like loaded fries with sweet chilli, garlic and dill – and all for the average price of around £28 (€32/$34) for a three-course meal for two.
You can't visit Warsaw without seeking out some traditional pierogi (filled dumplings), whether you sample old school eats using recipes passed down for generations or try some of the city's trendy eateries that are putting new spins on the classics. Obviously, meals should be paired with a tipple of Polish vodka or wine – which is less than £5 (€5/$6) per bottle in a shop.
Porto’s coastal location and proximity to the Douro Valley means exceptional seafood and wine, and a nearly unlimited number of eateries offering small plates to pair with a bottle. With a three-course date night meal averaging £31 (€36/$39), this is the place to bring the romance, with slow dinners sipping red wine and nibbling on fresh fish dishes.
There’s a reason this city is on every student's gap year backpacking itinerary. The dishes are hearty, the portions large, the food is cheap – and the beer is even cheaper (£1.50/€1.78/$1.88). But for those looking for the finer things in life, you’ll find Michelin-starred eateries here too, often highlighting excellent local meats such as duck and game.
Croatia’s capital city is truly a playground for foodies, with seafood brought in from the country’s coast, and chefs blending traditional cooking with modern gastronomy. Think shrimp risotto, duck, steak and lungić (a traditional cut of pork), and don’t forget the Croatian wine, with a bottle here averaging around £5 (€5/$6).
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Yes, Polish vodka is iconic, but the craft beer scene in Kraków is also worth your attention – with a beer here costing, on average, less than £2 (€2/$2). The city’s breweries offer barrel-aged, smoked and classic pours, which pair well with classic Polish dishes such as pierogi (filled dumplings), savoury pancakes and even the signature Kraków roasted duck.
Silk Road city Sofia has influences from the Balkans, Middle East, Mediterranean and Asia, and it’s evident in the food culture. You’ll find spiced grilled meats, pasta, Bulgarian wine and the unforgettable rakia, which is the country's national liquor. A mid-range three-course meal for two will only set you back around £26 (€31/$32) – an absolute bargain.
Famed for its ruin bars with aesthetic interiors and affordable drinks on tap – less than £2 (€2/$2) for a beer – Budapest’s traditional food of goulash (a soup or stew of meat and vegetables) and sausages impress, as well as creative cooking at the city’s hipster kitchens. For a sweet treat, delicious kürtőskalács (chimney cakes) are roasted over charcoal and coated in butter and cinnamon sugar – a must-eat as you wander the city.
Classic Balkan dishes such as ćevapi (grilled minced meat sausages), stuffed pastries and the classic spiced ajvar spread (made from peppers, aubergine and garlic) shine in Belgrade, but don’t miss some of the vibrant city’s more quirky eateries. Think dining on small plates and bar snacks on a houseboat, a velvet-curtained theatre or a maximalist warehouse, all for about £25 (€30/$31).