Twice what you’d pay in Nashville.

Hm, okay. thanks.

This question has been answered so many times with so many different answers. Europe is just like home with small mini-markets, larger neighborhood markets, cheap Gyro or Kebab stands, Crepe stands, pedestrian streets with bakeries and produce stands, pizza shops, sit down restaurants and total dives as well as 5 star restaurants and of course McDonalds, Burger King and KFC. If you want to save money, shop at markets, cook in your hostels, eat away from any tourist area, monument or site. Always pack fruit, snacks and carry bottled water with you every day so when you get hungry, you won’t be taken advantage of at the tourist traps located in the busy toursit areas. McDonalds Big Mac Menu combo meal is anywhere from $7.00 to $11.00USD. The McDonalds cokes are very small, NO refills and very little ice if any at all. The only place that gives FREE refills on soda is at the Hard Rock Cafes. You can eat at some train stations for as little as $5.00 for a big meal to $20.00 and higher at any sit down restaurant. Be forewarned that many restaurants charge a fee to sit at a table outside, for table set up, for bread, for service and it is hard to get free tap water at many restaurants. Read a few guidebooks on eating in your cities you will visit for tips, suggestions and warnings on overcharges and scams. As you walk through the city, sniff around for good food and great rates, ask the locals where they eat out, check out all the food stalls vending machines at the train stations. Cokes in Salburg train station were expensive, but a soda machine outside to the right about 60 yards was more than 1/2 the price. If you explore and compare prices, you will have money left over for more beers, tours and admissions. Only buy bottled water at markets for the best rates. Cheaper than in the US and fill up with tap water (very safe). If you visit the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, 1 liter of beer was Euro 6.90; Meals ran Euro 4.40 – 9.90 in summer 2008, you do the conversion. If you go to night clubs expect to pay anywhere from $10.00 to 20.00 for beer to mixed drinks. Bars and discos can ruin your budget especially after the first 2 – 3 drinks when you buy a round or two. The mom and pop cafe around the corner may sell the same tap beer for Euro 1.80 where you can pre-party before going in.

i can’t say anything about barcelona, but in paris it was 6 euro for a hot dog at the eiffel tower and the cafes weren’t much better. it’s ridiculously expensive- even macdonalds! budget a LOT.
as for amsterdam it depends, i spent about 10 euro on pizza one night, but if you don’t want to spend a lot, or if, make that especicially if because otherwise it’s a little like hm. this might not be a good idea… you’re drunk and/or high, follow the yellow light that looks like god sent it and go to febo.

In Amsterdam, you can get cheap stuff from street vendors, such as waffles or fries. There’s also cheap Indonesian food everywhere, and in the red light district area, cheap little side shops that sell like chicken fingers and burgers for around 6-7 euros including fries and drink.

In Paris, we got some cheap sandwiches and soups at a little cafe down from where we stayed (not a touristy area) for about 5.50 euros (and free tap water… ask for “un carafe d’eau”). Also, little sandwich vendors which sold cold sandwiches for 3-4 euros and of course, Monoprix and Franprix are excellent grocery stores in Paris. I know in Monoprix you can buy a huge baguette there for 1 euro. Also, 1.5 liter water bottles for 0.35 euros! Any bakery you walk into in Paris is gonna have cheap baguettes and croissants as well, and freshly made that morning. A huge jar of nutella at a grocery store is only like 3 euros and lasts forever, and cheese is cheap too, you can get Swiss anywhere (typically called Emmenthal in France) as well as many other kinds of French cheese.

I’d have to agree with the past few people. I’ve been over there twice, and I wasn’t blown away by the price of the food. Then again I didn’t eat at too many fancy sit down places. I mostly at at little Mom n’ Pop places, small shops, and grocery stores.

Some people love to go over there and have wonderful expensive meals, and that is there thing… it’s not really my cup of tea. I’d rather spend it on beer, museums, or beer.